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 A' C //sti/ - 
 
 
THE 
 
 TRUE HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 CONQUEST OF MEXICO, 
 
 By CAPTAIN BERNAL DIAZ del CASTILLO, 
 
 One of the Conquerors. 
 
 WRITTEN IN THE YEAR 1 568. 
 
 •Lahore, et expenjis, et damno, 
 
 Tempore, veritatis cognitio adquiritur. 
 
 Tranflated from the Original Spanish, 
 By MAURICE KEATINGE Esq; 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 PRINTED FOR J. WRIGHT, PICCADILLY, 
 BY JOHN DEAN, HIGH STREET, CONGLETON, 
 
 l800. 
 
u 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 I 
 
 BERNAL DIAZ del CASTILLO, rcgidor of this loyal city of 
 Guatimala, and author of the following moft true hiftory, during the 
 time I was writing the fame, happened to fee a work compofed by 
 Francifco Lopez de Gomara, the elegance of which made me blufli for 
 tl,ie vulgarity of my own, and throw down my pen in defpair. But 
 when I had read it, I found that the whole was a mifreprefentation, 
 and alfo that in his extraordinary exaggerations of the numbers of the 
 natives, and of thofe who were killed in the different battles, his account 
 was utterly unworthy of belief. We never much exceeded four hun- 
 dred men, and if we had found fuch numbers bound hand and foot, 
 we. could not have put them to death. But the fad: was, we had 
 enough to do to protect ourfelves, for I vow to God, and fay Amen 
 thereto, that we were every day repeating our prayers, and fupplicating 
 to be delivered from the perils that furrounded us. Alaric a moft brave 
 king, and Attila a proud warrior, never killed fo many of their foes 
 as we are faid by that hiftorian to have done in New Spain. He alfo 
 fays we burned many cities and temples; and this he does to aftonifh 
 his reader; not feeming to recollect that any of the true conquerors 
 exifted, to contradict him. He alfo enhances the merit of one officer 
 at the expence of another; fpeaking of fome as captains who were not 
 with us. 
 
 A 2 He 
 
IV 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 He fays that Cortes gave orders, fecretly, for the deflruclion of 
 the (hips; whereas it was done by the common confent of all, to have 
 the afliftance of the mariners. He alfo depreciates Juan dc Grijalva 
 moft unjuftly; he being a very valiant captain. He omits the difcovery 
 of Yucatan by De Cordova, and is in an error again when he fpeaks of 
 the firft expedition of Garray, as if Garray had come with it. In what 
 concerns the defeat of Narvaez, his account is conformable to the rela- 
 tions given ; but in that df the wars of Tlafcala> he is as erroneous as 
 ever. As to the war in Mexico* where we loft above eight hundred 
 and feventy foldiers, this he treats as a matter of little importance; and 
 he makes no mention of our loffes in the fubfequent fiege, but fpeaks 
 of it as if it had been a feflival, or a marriage! but why fhould I wafle 
 paper and ink in the detection of his numerous errors j I will therefore 
 proceed with my relation, for according to what the wife fay, the art 
 and beauty of hiftorical compofition is, to write the truth; and proceed- 
 ing upon this rule, with fuch embellifhment and ornament as I fhall 
 hereafter judge expedient, I will relate and bring into full light the 
 conqueil: of New Spain, and the heroic fervices of us the true conque- 
 rors, who with our fmall numbers, under the adventurous and brave 
 Captain Hernando Cortes, and with great danger and hardfhips, gained 
 to his Majefty this rich country; for which fervice his Majefty has 
 frequently iffued his orders that we fhould be amply rewarded. More- 
 over, as a good pilot founds, and difcovers fhoals and fands as he pro- 
 ceeds y by the lead and line, fo will I, with my pen in my hand, expofe 
 mifreprefentations, in my voyage through the hiftory of Gomara, to 
 the haven of truth ; but if I were to point out every error, the chaff 
 would outweigh the grain. 
 
 My relation will give to hiftorians fufficient whereby to celebrate 
 
 our 
 
PREFACE. v 
 
 our general, Cortes, and the brave conquerors by whofe hands this 
 holy and great undertaking ilicceeded ; for this is no hiflory of diftant 
 nations, nor vain reveries; I relate that of which J was an eye witnefs, 
 and not idle reports and hearfay: for truth is facred. Gomara received 
 and wrote fuch accounts as were intended to enhance the fame and merit 
 of Cortes; no mention being made by him of our valiant captains and 
 foldiers; and the whole tenor of the work mews how much he was 
 influenced by his attachment to that family by whom he and his are 
 patronifed. He has alfo milled the Doctor Illefcas, and Bifhop Paulus 
 Jovius, 
 
 The following hiflory I have brought to its conclufion, in the 
 loyal city of Guatimala, the refidence of the royal court of audience, on 
 this twenty fixth day of February, in the year of our Lord, one thou- 
 fand five hundred and feventy two, ' 
 
 
THE CONTENTS. 
 
 PART I. 
 
 PAGE 
 1 
 
 *3 
 
 25 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Expedition of Hernandez de Cordova. A. D. 1517. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 Expedition of Juan de Grijalva. A. D. 1518. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Expedition of H. Cortes. A. D. 1518. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Arrival of ike armament commanded by H. Cortes, at St. 
 Juan de Ulua. Tranfatlions and occurrences there. 54 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 The Spanijh army advances into- the country. 66 
 
 CHAPTER. VI. 
 
 March of the Spanijh army for the city of Mexico. Wars 
 in Tlafcala. Submifjion of that nation. 89 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 The Spanijh army proceeds on its march to Mexico. 116 
 
 CHAP- 
 
THE CONTENTS. 
 
 vu 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Mexico, November 8th, 15 19. Defer iption of that court 
 and city. Tranfatlions and occurrences there. 1 32 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Expedition of P. de Narvaez. His army defeated by Cortes 
 at Cempoal, May 26th. 1520. — Return of the Spaniards to Mex- 
 ico. War there. Death of Montezuma. Expulfion of the Spa- 
 niards > July ifl. Battle of Obtumba, Reception of the Spaniards 
 in Tlafcala, July iotk. 178 
 
 PART II. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Tlafcala, July, 1520. Tranfaclions and occurrences there. 
 Foundation of the colony of Segura de la Frontera. Subjugation 
 of the neighbouring diftrifis by the Spaniards. 229 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 March of the Spaniards to befiege Mexico, December 2,8th; 
 T520. Invejlment of Mexico, May 1,0th. 1521. Siege of thai 
 city, and final conqucft Augufl 16th. 1521. 
 
 PART IIL 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 TranfaBions and occurrences in New Spain fubfequent to 
 the conquefl. 3 l 9 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Expeditions of G. de Sandoval and P. de Alvarado. 333 
 
 CHAP- 
 
vm 
 
 THE CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Armament of Francifco de Garay. 340 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Expeditions under various officers. 351 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Tranfatlions in Old Spain. 370 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Tranfatlions and occurrences in Old and New Spain. Ex- 
 
 pedition againfl the Zapotecans. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Expedition of Cortes to Higueras. 
 
 379 
 
 39° 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Return of Cortes to Mexico; occurrences there. Return of 
 the author to Mexico. 436 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Cortes goes to Europe; is created Marquis of the Valley of 
 Guaxaca. Account of various tranfatlions and occurrences in 
 Old and New Spain. Death and cjiaratler of the Marquis of 
 the Valley. 453 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Enumeration and account of the valiant companions who 
 paffed over to the conquefl of New Spain with the mojt adventu* 
 rous and magnanimous Don Hernando Cortes Marquis of tht 
 Valley,. Advantages refulting from the conquefl — Tranfatlions at 
 court. Concluding obfervations of the author. 483 
 
THE TRUE HISTORY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 
 
 ■~dC*XOC*»C*X*y»- 
 
 PART THE FIRST. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 •^rrseso&j^' 
 
 Expedition of Hernandez de Cordova. A. D. 1517. 
 
 IN the year 1514, I left Caitille in company with Pedro Arias de Avila, 
 who was then appointed governor of Tierra Firma, with whom I arrived 
 at the port of Nombre de Dios. A peftilence raged at that time, of 
 which many foldiers died, and moft of the furvivors were invalids. The 
 governor P. A. De Avila hadajealoufy which terminated fatally, with 
 an Hidalgo who had conquered that province, of which he was Captain : 
 his name was Vafco Nunez de Balboa, a rich man, and to whom Avila 
 had married his Daughter; but being afterwards fufpicious that his Son- 
 in-law had an intention of revolting, he caufed him to be beheaded. 
 
 B When 
 
( 2 ) 
 
 When we faw that troubles were likely to enfue, and learned that 
 the Ifland of Cuba had been lately gained under the government of Diego 
 Velafquez, a certain number of us, perfons of quality who had come 
 with Avila, relblved to demand his permiilion to go to Cuba. This he 
 readily granted us ; not wanting {o many foldiers as had come with him 
 from Caftille, for the country of which he was appointed to the govern- 
 ment, had but few inhabitants, and was already conquered. Permiilion 
 being obtained we failed for Cuba, and arriving there, waited on the go- 
 vernor, who received us kindly, and promifed to give us the firft lands 
 that mould fall vacant. Three years however elapfed, reckoning from 
 the time we left Caftille, and no fettlements had as yet offered* Con- 
 sidering this therefore as fo much lofs of time, one hundred and -ten of 
 us elected for our Captain a rich Hidalgo of Cuba named Francifco Her- 
 nandez de Cordova, and determined to fet out under his command, upon 
 a voyage of difcovery. For this purpofe we bought two veffels of con- 
 siderable burthen, and our third was a bark which we obtained on credit 
 from the governor Velafquez ; he however propofed as a condition, that 
 we fhould engage the foldiers to make a defcent on certain Iflands be- 
 tween Cuba and Honduras, named Los Guanages, to feize a number of 
 the inhabitants and make (laves of them, in order thereby to pay the coft 
 of the bark; but when the propofal of Velafquez was made known to 
 the foldiers, we to a man refufed it, faying, that it was not juft, nor did 
 -God or the King permit, that free men fhould be made Slaves. 
 
 Velafquez was immediately convinced, and aiTented to the juftice of 
 what we faid, and he gave us^lfo what affiftance he could as to provi- 
 sions. We laid in a .Store of Hogs, which were then fold at three 
 Crowns each, and Caflava bread, there being in Cuba neither Oxen or 
 Sheep. With .fuch poor provifions, and fome trifling Toys and Orna- 
 ments for the Indians, we prepared ourfelves for the voyage, having 
 engaged three Pilots, the principal of whom was Anthon de Alaminos, 
 a native of Palos; the other two were named Camacho de Triana, and 
 Juan Alvarez el Manquillo de Huelva. Having provided ourfelves as 
 well as we could with every neceflary, we all affembled at a port on the 
 
 North 
 
( 3 ) 
 
 North of the Ifland, eight leagues from the town of St. Chriftopher, the 
 fettlers of which were two years after removed to the Havannah. This 
 port is called in the language of Cuba, Agaruco. That our expedition 
 might be conducted on proper principles, we perfuaded a Clergyman of 
 that town named A-lonzo Gonzales, to accompany us, and we alfo chofe 
 for Veedor a foldier named Bernardino Iniguez, that in cafe Gold (hould 
 happen to fall in our way, the proper Officer might be at hand, to take 
 care of his Majefty's rights. 
 
 On the eighth of February 1517, having recommended ourfelves to 
 God, and the blelfed Virgin, we failed from the port of Agaruco, and in 
 twelve days paffedSt. Anton, otherwife called the land of theGuanatareyes, 
 a tribe of favages. Doubling this Point, we failed at hazard towards 
 that part of the Horizon where the Sun fet, utterly ignorant of (hallows, 
 currents, or prevailing winds. During our voyage a fbrm came on, 
 and for two days and two nights we were in the rnofr. imminent danger ; 
 the wind however fubfided, and in twenty-one days from our leaving 
 the Ifland of Cuba, we faw land which had never before been difco- 
 vered. We alfo on approaching perceived a large town, at the diftance 
 of two leagues from the coafl, which from its fize, it exceeding any 
 town in Cuba we named Grand Cairo. The fmallefr. Veffel was then 
 ordered to approach and examine the neighbouring coafl. 
 
 On the morning of the fourth of March, five Canoes came off to 
 us. Thefe vefTels are like troughs, made of one entire tree, and many 
 of them capable of containing fifty men. We made fignals of invitation 
 to thofe on board, with which they readily complied, not fhewing the 
 leaft apprehenfion. Above thirty entered the principal veffel, where 
 they were treated with fuch provifions as we could give them, and each 
 w r as prefented with a firing of green beads. After admiring the vefTels 
 for fome time their chief defired to return, faying that he would on the 
 enfuing day come again to us with more Canoes, in order to bring us to 
 land. Thefe Indians wore clofe dreffes of cotton, their waiffs being 
 girded with a narrow cloth; in which, we obferved that they exhibited 
 
 B 2 more 
 
( 4 ) 
 
 more fenfe of decency than the natives of Cuba, with whom this dw£s 
 was ufed by the women only. On the enfuing day, the fame chief 
 came with twelve large Canoes, and made fignals to our Captain that he 
 would bring us to land. This he expreffed by faying, " Con-Efcotoch," 
 *•* Con-Efcotoch," which fignifles, come to our town : and it was from this 
 that we gave it the name of Punta de Cotoche. It was determined by us 
 to accept the invitation, obferving the proper precaution of going all in a 
 body, and by one embarkation, as we perceived the more to be lined 
 with Indians. We therefore hoifted out our own boats', and in them, 
 with twelve 'Canoes brought to us by the chief, and our fmalleff. velTel 
 we proceeded to the land. On arriving there we halted for a time to 
 confider what mould be done, but the Cacique or Chief frill urging us by 
 figns to advance, we proceeded in good order, with fifteen crofs-bows and 
 ten mufquets, the chief guiding us, and accompanied by a number of 
 the natives. On a fudden, as we pafTed by fome thick woods, the 
 Cacique began to call out loudly to a body of Indians which he had 
 polled there in ambufcade; they fallied out upon us at the fignal, and 
 poured in a difcharge of arrows, whereby they wounded fifteen of our 
 •foldiers. 
 
 Thefe warriors were armed with thick coats of cotton, and carried, 
 befides their bows and arrows, lances, fhields and flings; they alfo 
 wore ornaments of feathers on their heads. Having difcharged their 
 arrows they advanced, and attacked us with their lances, but the keen- 
 nefs of our fwords and the effect of our crofs-bows and mufquetry foon 
 drove them to a diftance, with the lofs of fifteen left dead upon the fpot. 
 Near the place of this ambufcade were three buildings of lime and flone, 
 wherein were idols of clay with diabolical countenances, and in ftrange 
 unnatural poftures, and feveral wooden chefts which contained fimilar 
 idols but fmaller, fome veiTels, three diadems, and fome imitations of 
 birds and fifties in alloyed gold. The buildings of lime and flone, and 
 the gold gave us a high idea of the Country we had difcovered. On 
 our return to the fhore we had the fatisfa&ion to find, that while we 
 were fighting, our chaplain Gonzales had taken care of the chefts and 
 
 their 
 
( 5 ) 
 
 their contents, which he had with the affiftance of two Indians of Cuba 
 brought offfafely to our mips. In'this action we made two natives pri- 
 foners, who were afterwards baptized, and called by the names of Melchor, 
 and Julian. Having re-embarked., we proceeded as before, coafting 
 towards the Weft. 
 
 After fifteen days cautious failing by an unknown coaft, we dis- 
 covered from our mips a large town with an inlet which was apparently 
 a River. This place we named from the day on which we difcovered it, 
 which was Sunday of Lazarus ; and here we determined to endeavour to 
 procure water, of which we were in want, owing to the badnefs of our 
 cafks, our limited means not enabling us to purehafe proper velfels for 
 that purpofe. As the tides run very far out, we left our large {hips a 
 league's diftance from the fhore, and proceeding thither well armed, 
 came to the water which fupplied the town; for in this Country as far as 
 we could obferve, there are no running ftreams. Here we filled our 
 calks, and juft as we had finifhed, about fifty Indians dreifed in cotton 
 mantles and to all appearance chiefs, approached us, enquiring by figns 
 what we wanted ; to which we replied in the fame manner, that we came 
 for water, and were returning to our vefTels. They then pointed to the 
 Eaft, by way of alking if we came from that quarter, repeating feveral 
 times the word " Caftillan;" after which they invited us to their town, 
 to which we proceeded with them, and arrived at fome large, and very 
 well conftructed buildings of lime .and .(tone, with figures of ferpents 
 and of idols painted upon the walls. When we entered thefe temples, 
 for fuch they were, we perceived about one of the altars traces of blood 
 frefh fpilled ; there were alfo feveral idolatrous figures and fymbols, all 
 which contributed to imprefs us with furprife and horror. During this 
 time the Indians behaved peaceably, but collected in great numbers, 
 -which put us upon our guard though they appeared only to be attracted 
 by curiofity. A body of natives foon appeared, drefled in very ragged 
 mantles, and each bearing a bundle of dry reeds, which having depo- 
 fited together, they retired. After them came two bodies of warriors, 
 each .commanded by its captain, who drew them up oppofite to us; im- 
 mediately 
 
( 6 )' 
 
 mediately after which, ten prietts rufhed out of an adjoining temple. * 
 
 They were drefled in loofe robes of white cotton, their long hair was clot- 
 ted with blood, and matted and twitted together fo as to be apparently 
 impoflible to be feparated ; they had in their hands veflels containing fire 
 and aromatics, with which they fumigated us, making figns at the fame 
 time, that unlefs we quitted their Country before the fuel lying by us was 
 confumed, they Would put us to death. They then kindled 1 the faggots, 
 and retired without doing any thing more. The warriors however 
 began to make a noife by whittling,, founding their horns, and drums. 
 Thefe formidable preparations made us think it moft prudent to retire, 
 which we accordingly did, and regaining our boats on board of which 
 the water calks had been already put, we embarked, and reaching our 
 veflels, proceeded on our voyage. We coafted for fix days, during 
 which time we encountered a violent gale of wind from the North, and 
 were in imminent danger of being driven on fhore. We alfo flittered 
 from want of water, owing to the badnefs of the veflels, and were con- 
 ftantly obliged to go on fhore and fink wells, in order to procure a daily 
 fupply. Continuing our route, we arrived oppofite a town about a 
 league from the coaft, which we determined to proceed to, and for that 
 purpofe catt a 
 
 uichor. 
 
 This town the name of which was Fontonchan, contained feveral 
 buildings of lime and ttone, and was furrounded by fields of maize. — 
 Having landed and found a fpring of water, while we were engaged in 
 filling our calks, large bodies of warriors approached us in iilence ; they 
 Were armed with their ufual mittile weapons, fhields, and two handed 
 fwords. Their bodies were covered by a defenfive armour of cotton 
 reaching to the knees, their faces painted black, white, and red, and 
 plumes of feathers ornamented their heads. They accotted us in the 
 fame manner that the natives of Campeche had done, pointing to the 
 Eaft and faying " Caftillan, Caftillan," we replied to them by figns 
 that we came from the Eaft, but were much perplexed to know the 
 meaning of this expreflion, or whether to conftrue it favorably or other- 
 wife j and as we meant to remain on more, for the night, we formed 
 
 ourfelves 
 
( 7 ) 
 
 ourfelves into a body, and kept a good watch in every direction j being 
 alfo occupied in confulting upon the arrangement of our future move- 
 ments. During this time we heard a great noife among the Indians, 
 which we confidered as portending us no good. Some of us were for 
 embarking, but that was confidered too dangerous to attempt in the 
 face of the enemy, others were for attacking them, on the old principle 
 that he who makes the firft attack conquers; but we had at leaft three 
 hundred to encounter, for each one of us, and this was confidered too rafh. 
 While thus occupied, day broke, and gave us a.iight of our danger. We 
 comforted each other with hopes of God's mercy, and each determined 
 to exert himfelf to the utmoff We foon perceived great bodies of war- 
 riors advancing, with colours flying, and joining themfelves to thofe 
 who had alTembled on the preceding night. They then enclofed us on 
 all fides, fighting with us foot to foot, and wounded above ten of our 
 foldiers ; the execution however of our fire arms and fwords made them 
 draw offa little, but it was. only to ufe their arrows to more effect. — 
 They continually cried out, " Al Calachioni," or moot at the captain; in 
 eonfequence, he received.no lefs than twelve arrows. I alfo got three for 
 my fhare, one of which, in my left fide, was very dangerous, and two 
 of our foldiers they carried off alive; one was named Alonzo Bote, the 
 other was an old Portuguese. Our captain feeing that all our exertions 
 to drive them off were ineffectual, that the enemy were continually 
 receiving fupplies, while we had above fifty of our number killed, de- 
 termined to endeavour to cut his way through them. This we effected, 
 being formed into a compact body; but they purfued us at our heels, 
 attacking us with their lances, and with mowers of arrows. We how- 
 ever reached our boats, but it was only to encounter new difficulties; 
 the hurry and preffure to embark was fuch, that the boats were funk, 
 and we wereibrced, half wading, and half fwimming, to endeavour to 
 reach the fmall veffel, which came as far as poiTible to. our afiiftance; 
 our foldiers received many wounds, while in and about the boats, and it 
 was with -the utmofl difficulty that any of us efcaped with our lives. On 
 counting our numbers when we- arrived on board the (hips, we found 
 "hat our lofs amounted to fifty- feven. This action lafled above half an 
 
 hour 
 
( 8 ) < 
 
 hour. In the marine charts this bay is named " De Mala pelea." 
 Our wounds after a little time became very painful, from the cold and fea 
 water, and we began to grow very much out of humour with the pilot 
 Alaminos, and his difcoveries. He ftill however perfifted in his origi- 
 nal opinion, and in denying that this land was a continent. 
 
 One foldier t>nly of thofe who furvived had efcaped unwounded ; 
 moil of us had three or four wounds, our captain twelve. The mariners 
 alfo were many of them difabled; for which reafon we burned our 
 fmalleft vefTel, and divided her crew between the others. But I have 
 yet to mention the greateft misfortune that attended us. In the hurry 
 to efcape from the natives, we had been forced to leave our caiks be- 
 hind. The thirft we endured in confequence thereof, during the time 
 that we were at fea was fuch that our very tongues and lips cracked : 
 Such cruel hardfhips attend thofe who go on voyages of difcovery ! After 
 three days fail, we perceived an inlet which we concluded would lead to 
 a river or fome frefh water ; fifteen mariners and three foldiers entered to 
 examine it, but what water they found was all fait, even where they funk 
 pits on the more, and when they returned with it, diftrefling as our 
 thirft was we found it undrinkable. We called this the inlet of alliga- 
 tors, from the number of thofe animals {ten there. The reigning 
 winds of North and North Eaft at this time increafed to a ftorm which 
 we fortunately weathered, and then, having determined- to return to the 
 Havannah, by the advice of Alaminos we ran for the coaft of Florida, 
 which by his maps, his degrees, and altitudes, he found to be diftant 
 about feventy leagues. With this navigation he was well acquainted, hav- 
 ing been in that country in a voyage of difcovery with Juan Ponce de Leon, 
 ten or twelve years before. Accordingly, having failed for four days 
 acrofs the gulf, we difcovercd that part of the coaft of America to which 
 we were bound. 
 
 When we approached the coaft, the firft object with us was to 
 obtain a fupply of water. Our captain, from his wounds and fuflerings 
 by thirft, was linking hourly ; on his account therefore and our own, 
 
 twenty 
 
( 9 ) 
 
 twenty of us, of which number I was one, went on fhore with the cafks. 
 The pilot Alaminos warned us to be prepared againfl a fudden attack of 
 the natives, who had in that manner fallen on him, in his former vifit 
 to this coaft. We accordingly put a good guard in an open place near 
 the fhore, and proceeded to make wells, in which to our great fatisfac- 
 tion we found excellent water. We flayed about an hour fleeping 
 cloths in it, and warning our wounds^ and this delay enabled the In- 
 dians to fall on us ; for at the expiration of that period, one of our out 
 centinels came to give us the alarm of their approach, a few moments 
 only before they appeared. Thefe Indians were very tall of ftature, and 
 were clothed in the fkins of animals. They aflailed us with a fright of 
 arrows, with which they wounded fix of us, and myfelf among the 
 reft . We however beat them off, and they then went to fupport another 
 body of their countrymen, who, in their canoes, had attacked and 
 feized our boat, and were dragging it away with them, having 
 wounded the pilot Alaminos, and four of the mariners. We followed 
 them clofe, and wading above our middles in the water, refcued the 
 boat, leaving in all twenty-two of them dead, and three who were 
 flightly wounded, we made prifoners; thefe however died in the voy- 
 age. After the natives were beaten off, we enquired of the foldier 
 who brought the report of the enemy, what had become of his com- 
 panion; he faid that a fhort time before, he faw him go towards the 
 water fide with a hatchet in his hand, to cut a palmita; that he fhortly 
 after heard him cry out as he fuppofed when the enemy were putting 
 him to death, and therefore he gave the alarm, the Indians appearing 
 immediately after. This foldier was named Berrio: he was the only 
 perfon who efcaped without a wound in Pontonchan. We went in 
 fearch of him, and found the plant which he had begun to cut, and the 
 fand much trodden, but no trace of blood : of courfe we concluded that 
 he had been carried off alive. After fearching for the fpace of an hour 
 we gave him up, and returned to the veffels with the water, which, 
 when our companions faw, they knew no moderation in their joy. 
 One man in particular leaped into the boat when it came along-fide the 
 veffel, and feizing a cafk of water, did not ftop drinking until he died. 
 
 C We 
 
( io ) 
 
 We then proceeded on our voyage by fome low lilands named Los 
 Baxos de los Martires, where the veflel on board which our captain was 
 flruck ground, and in confequence took in fo much water that (he was 
 near finking; indeed we feared that our utmofl exertions in pumping 
 could not bring her into port. There were as I recollect two failors of 
 the Levant on board : when we called to them to aflifl: us in pumping 
 they replied, " facetelo vos ! Do it yourfelves!" At this time we wereex- 
 haufted by fatigue, and the veflel in the moil imminent danger of fink- 
 ing : however we forced them to give us their afliftance, though un- 
 willingly: and by our exertions, with the bleiling of God, we arrived 
 fafely at Puerto de Carenas, where is now built the city of the Havan- 
 nah. 
 
 On our arrival an exprefs was forwarded to the Governor D. 
 Velafquez, to inform him that we had difcovered a Country where the 
 houfes were built of lime and ftone, and the inhabitants decently clad ; 
 that they fowed maize, and poflefled gold. Our captain went imme- 
 diately to his eftate near Santi Spiritus, where he died in ten days after 
 his arrival. Three foldiers alfo died of their wounds in the Havannah, 
 and the reft difperfed to their different homes or avocations. The fame 
 of our difcovery was fpread through the Iflands by the veffels on 
 their arrival. When the figures and idols which they brought were 
 produced, it was believed that they were antiques conveyed to thofe 
 countries by a Jewifh colony, after the deftruction of their city by Titus 
 and Vefpafian. Our Indian prifoners on being afked if their country 
 produced gold, replied in the affirmative, which is contrary to fact, as 
 has been fince well afcertained. The name which that part of the con- 
 tinent now acquired, was owing to an equivocal expreflion or miftake of 
 words. Yuca isthelnfular name of the plant made ufe of for bread, 
 the heap of earth in which it is planted is called by thefe people, Tale; on 
 being queftioned relative to it, they faying they knew it, and ufing this 
 word with its fignification in their language, the two repeated together 
 made the* word Yuca-tal, or Yucatan as it was expreffed by the Spaniards, 
 and ever after remained applied to that part of America. Such was all 
 
 that 
 
( 
 
 II 
 
 } 
 
 i hat the foldiers gained by this difcovery, from which we came back, 
 poor and wounded, and thought thofe fortunate who had reached their 
 homes alive, for our lofs from firft to lair, amounted to feventy of our 
 number. Diego Velafquez wrote to his patron the Bifliop of Burgos 
 relating the particulars of his difcovery and the expences he had been at, 
 for all which he obtained fame and credit With his Majcfty, but not a 
 fy liable was faid of the poor foldiers who had expended their properties, 
 and loft, or rifqued, their lives in the expedition. 
 . 
 
 Three foldiers of us whofe object was to reach the town of Trini- 
 dad, as foon as our wounds were healed, agreed with an inhabitant of 
 the Havannah who was going thither in a canoe with a cargo of cotton 
 to fell, for our paflage, for which he was to be paid ten crowns in gold. 
 \ccordingly we embarked with him, and after eoafting for eleven days, 
 we arrived near an Indian town named Canarreon, where we were driven 
 on more by a violent gale of wind. The canoe was dafhed to pieces, 
 and we with difficulty reached the land, naked, wounded, andbruifed, 
 by the violence of the waves. We had no refource but in the clothing- 
 adopted by the nrft pair, and in the fame wood where we procured this, 
 we found a fpecies of tough flexible roots called Bejucos, with which 
 we tied on our feet fandals made of the bark of trees, which we cut out 
 for that purpofe with (harp ftones; and travelling thus for two days, 
 we came to the village of Yaguarrama where Fray Bartholome de las 
 Cafas afterwards bifhop of Ghiapa was then parifh prieit. On the next 
 day I went to another town named Chipiona, belonging to Alonzo de 
 Avila, where, at the houfe of a friend named Anthoniode Medina I got 
 clothed, and then purfued my journey to St. Jago, where I found the 
 governor Velafquez bufily employed in fiting out another armament for 
 difcovery. As he was my relation, and alfo as governor, I went to 
 wait upon him, and after paying him my refpe&s, he alked me if I was 
 able to undertake another expedition to Yucatan. I told him that he 
 fliould fay the land of wounds and calamity; to which he aniwered 
 that he knew we had fuffered much in the former voyage, but that 
 
 C 7, iuch 
 
( fc ■> 
 
 fuch was the fate of thofe who fought honour and fame in new difco- 
 veries; and that his Majefty fhould know and reward our merits. 
 " And now," continued he "my fon, try your fortune again, and I 
 *' will put you in a ftation where you (hall acquire honour." 
 
( '3 ) 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Expedition of Juan de Grijalva. A. D. 151 8. 
 
 HE governor Diego Velafquez, encouraged by the accounts of 
 thofe who returned from the lafl expedition, now fitted out a fecond 
 armament confifting of four mips," two of which were employed in the 
 former voyage, and the other two were purchafed by himfelf. Thefe 
 vefTels were to be commanded by his relation Juan de Grijalva, (in 
 chief,) Pedro de Alvarado, Francifco de Montejo, and Alonzo de Avila, 
 all perfons of valour, and pofTefTed of eftates in the iflands. The charge 
 of the equipment was divided thus ; each captain found provifions and 
 failors, the arms and fome trifling necefTaries were provided by the go- 
 vernor. The accounts of the richnefs of the country, efpecially thofe 
 given by the native Melchorejo, created an univerfal difpofition in thofe 
 who were unprovided in the iflands to engage in the expedition. Ac- 
 cordingly, two hundred and forty companions immediately entered them- 
 felves, amongft whom I determined to try my fortune a fecond time. 
 
 Each of us depofited a certain fum to provide various neceflary 
 articles, both for the veffels and for ourfelves in the field. The orders 
 and inductions given by the governor to our chief were, to procure 
 and bring back all the gold and filver that he could, and he gave him 
 difcretionary power to act as he thought belt, in regard to colonization 
 or eftablifnments. The veedor appointed by us was named Penalofa, 
 and our chaplain was named Juan Diaz. We had the fame pilots who 
 had gone the former voyage, and a fourth whofe name I do not recollect. 
 Our rendezvous was at the port of Matanzas, which was convenient for 
 victualling, as the colonifts had their plantations and flores of hogs in 
 that neighbourhood , 
 
 The- 
 
( H ) 
 
 The name of Matanzas was given to this place on the following 
 account. Before the ifland was conquered, a Spanifh veffel was wrecked 
 on this coaft, in her voyage from St. Domingo to the Lucayan Iflands 
 to procure flaves. Thirty men and women efcaped to the land, and were 
 met by a number of Indians who offered them an hofpitable reception, 
 and propofed to take them in their canoes. Our people being embarked, 
 when they were in the middle of the river the Indians upfet the canoes, 
 and killed or drowned them all except three men and one woman who 
 was handfomej fhe was taken by one of their principal caciques, and 
 the three men were allotted to others. After the conqueft of the ifland 
 was effected, fhe and the Indian chief parted, and I afterwards knew her 
 married in the city of Trinidad to one Pedro Sanchez Farfan. I was alfo 
 acquainted with the three men ; one was named Gonzalo Mexia, another 
 Juan de St. Eftevan, and the third Cafcorro. This laft mentioned had 
 married the daughter of the cacique to whofe lot he fell, and had his 
 ears and nofe bored like the Indians. 
 
 On the fifth day of April 15 1 8, after having heard mafs with great 
 devotion, we fet fail, and in ten days paffed the point of Guaniguanico, 
 railed bv the pilots S f c Anfon Jn ri^ht davs more w came in {\gh? of 
 
 J ' ' i O J o 
 
 the Ifland of Cozumel, whither we were driven in part by the currents, 
 which forced us farther down than when we came with Cordova. 
 Coafting along the ifland by the South, we perceived a landing place at 
 which our captain Grijalva went on more with a confiderable body of 
 foldiers. The natives of an adjacent town fled at the fight of the fliips, 
 but our people found two old men who could not follow them concealed 
 in fome maize. Our interpreters, Julianillo, and Melchorejo, under- 
 ftood thefe Indians very well, for that ifland is diftant but four leagues 
 from their native country. Grijalva treated them well, and made them 
 fome prefents, in hopes to be thereby able to induce the inhabitants to 
 return to their town, for which purpofe they were then difmifTed. 
 Some time after, an Indian girl of a good perfon and countenance joined 
 us, and addreiled us in the language of the Ifland of Jamaica, which is 
 the fame with that of Cuba. The account (he gave of herfelf was, that 
 
 me 
 
( 
 
 1Z 
 
 -} 
 
 fhe had failed from Jamaica two years before in a large canoe with ten 
 of her countrymen, to fllh at certain fmall Iilands, and that the current 
 had driven them hither, where the natives had killed and facrificed her 
 hufband and all her companions. Our captain thought that this woman 
 might be ferviceable in inducing the natives to return ; he therefore fent 
 her en a meflage to that effecT:, for which he allowed them a period of 
 two days; but on the enfuing one (he came back and informed us that fhe 
 could not prevail on any of them to do fo. We named this place Santa 
 Cruz, having difcovered it on the day of that holy fefiival. In the 
 town we found a quantity of honey in hives, vegetables, fuch as boniatos 
 and potatoes, and droves of hogs of the fpecies of the country with the 
 navel on the back. There were two fmaller towns in the Ifland which 
 we did not vifit, Grijalva perceiving further flay to be lofs of time, 
 
 Purfuing the route of F. H. de Cordova, in eight days we arrived 
 at Champoton, and cafting anchor at the diflance of a league from the 
 fhore, on account of the height of the tides, we difembarked one half 
 of our foldiers, landing them clofe to the to w r n. The natives, proud of 
 their former fuccefs, attacked us immediately on our landing in great 
 bodies, and with much military parade. Experience had taught us to 
 go well prepared, and accordingly we brought falconets in our boats. 
 Half our number was wounded before we reached the land, but when we 
 formed, and had received a reinforcement by a fecond embarkation, we 
 foon drove them to the marfhes, with the lofs however of three of our 
 foldiers, and our captain received three arrows, and had two of his 
 teeth beaten out. When we entered the town after the defeat of the 
 natives, we found that they had removed all their effects. Three of 
 them whom we had taken prifoners we thought by kind ufage to have 
 made friends of, and that they would have induced their countrymen 
 to return, but after we had difmined them they never came back to us, 
 and we fufpected that our interpreters had treacheroufly fpoken to them in 
 oppofition to our intentions. The field where we fought with thefe 
 people was very flony, and there was on it a prodigious fwarm of 
 Jocufts. Thefe animals during the a&ion fprang up and flruck us in 
 
 the 
 

 ( i6 ) 
 
 the faces, fo that we hardly knew when to put up our fhields to guard 
 us, or whether they were arrows or locufts which flew round us, they 
 came fo mixed together. 
 
 After four days ftay in Champoton wc re-embarked, and purfuing 
 our voyage arrived at what appeared to be the entrance of a large river ; 
 but our pilot Alaminos infifted that what we faw before us was an 
 Ifland, and that he faw the termination of it. Thefe circumftances 
 caufed us to name the bay, Boca de Terminos. Captain de Grijalva 
 with many officers and foldiers went to examine the bay and neigh- 
 bouring country ; on the more they found fome adoratories or temples, 
 built oflime and ftone, and containing idols made of clay and wood, 
 fome in the figures of women, others of ferpents, and many horns of 
 deer. Thefe were the occafional offerings of traders or hunters, who 
 frequented thofe parts, for they were entirely uninhabited, but abun- 
 dantly ftocked with deer and rabbits. We killed ten of the former with 
 one greyhound, and many rabbits. The dog was left behind us on our 
 embarking, but when we returned with Cortes we found him on the 
 more, and he feemed to have fared well in our abfence for he was very 
 iat ana neck. 
 
 From the harbour of Boca de Terminos we coafted weflward, and in 
 three days arrived at another inlet, which being difcovered by founding 
 to be mallow, was entered by the velTels of the lighteft burthen, in which, 
 together with the boats, we embarked our whole force, as we perceived 
 numbers of armed Indians in canoes. We therefore judged that we 
 were near fome populous town or diftricT:, and the more fo, as we found, 
 and took fifh out of nets, which were laid in the track of our velTels. 
 This River was called Tabafco from a native chieftain ; but it was from 
 this time named in honor of our Captain, de Grijalva, and it is fo put 
 down in the maps. When we approached the fhore we heard thenoife 
 occafioned by the falling of timber, which was a preparation of defence, 
 for they were very well acquainted with the tranfactions of Pontonchan. 
 We dilembarked at a point of land which was diftant about half a 
 
 league 
 
( '7 ) 
 
 league from the town, where was a grove of palm trees, and the na- 
 tives advanced againft us here, painted and prepared for battle, in about 
 fifty canoes; but fortunately it was determined on our part, to addrefs 
 them through our interpreters, who declared to them our pacific inten- 
 tions, and invited their chiefs to an interview. Upon this, about 
 thirty Indians landed, to whom we prefented beads and coloured glafs. 
 Our captain then caufed to be explained to them how we had come from 
 a diftant country, and were the vafTals of a great prince to whom we re- 
 commended them to fubmit, and further, that in exchange for thofe 
 beads and glafles, we expected that they fhould give us a fupply of pro- 
 vifions. Two of them, a chief and prieft made anfwer to us by faying 
 that they would barter, and give us provifions: that as to a fovereign, 
 they already had one, and that our demand was fo unfeafonable that 
 they advifed us to be cautious Jiow we repeated that, or any fimilar one, 
 left they fhould attack us as in Pontonchan, they having two xiquipils 
 (eight thou land men each,) of warriors ready for the purpofe, adding, 
 that though confident of their force, they had come to treat with us 
 amicably, and would repeat to their chiefs our propofal, and return to 
 us with their deeifion for peace or war. Grijalva embraced them in 
 token of peace, and prefenting them with firings of beads, required 
 their fpeedy return with an anfwer, which they promifed and fulfilled, 
 aiTuring u«s on the part of their chiefs, of the moft pacific conduct;- 
 and as it is the cuitom of that country in amicable treaties to make 
 prefents, thirty Indians fhortly afterwards came to us loaded with broiled 
 fifh, fowls, fruit, bread of maize, and veffels with lighted coals to 
 fumigate us with incenfe, and fp reading a mat upon the ground and a 
 mantle over it, they laid thereon fome toys of gold made in the form 
 of birds, and lizards, and three necklaces of gold caft like beads, with 
 fome other trifles not altogether worth two hundred crowns ; they alfo 
 produced fome cotton mantles and other articles of clothing ufed by them, 
 faying, that we mould receive their prefent kindly, it being the whole 
 of the gold that they were able to collect. But they added, that more 
 to the Weil: there was abundance thereof, repeating feveral times, 
 ••'Mexico,"and t< Culua," words which we at that time did not underftand. 
 
 P We 
 

 ( i8 ) 
 
 We were fatisfied however by this proof that there was gold in the 
 country, and we haftened to quit our Station, where a gale of wind from 
 the North, fuch as was to be hourly expected, might prove fatal to us. 
 
 In two days fail from this place, we arrived oppofite to a town on 
 the coaft, named Aguayaluco, where we obferved the inhabitants pa- 
 rading, armed with fhields of the (hell of the turtle, which being po* 
 limed and mining in the fun our foldiers infifted were of gold. This 
 place we named La Rambla. We next came to an inlet where the river 
 Farole difcharges itfelf: this we named the river of St. Anthonio. Con- 
 tinuing our route by the mouth of the great river Guacayalco, and the 
 high chain of mountains which are covered with perpetual fnow, as alfo 
 others nearer the fea and which we named the ridge of St-. Martin, be- 
 caufe they were firft. defcribed by one of our foldiers of that name, Alva- 
 rado difcovered and entered the river called by the natives Papalohuna, 
 but by us afterwards the river of Alvarado, where the natives of a place 
 named Tlatocalpa prefented him with fome fifh. Our chief was much 
 difpleafed with the conduct of this officer, for vvhofe return we were 
 obliged to wait during three days, and gave orders that in future no fhip 
 fhould ever fcparate from the fquadron, left, an accident mould happen 
 where it might not be poflible to afford aiTiftance. As foon as Alvarado 
 had rejoined us we proceeded on our voyage until we came to the river 
 Vanderas, {o called by us on account of the white banners which we 
 obferved upon the more, and which were borne by numbers of Indians, 
 who waved them as a fignal of invitation to us. 
 
 It is now well known through moft of Christendom, that Mexico 
 is a city as large as Venice, and built in the fame manner upon the 
 water, alfo that the numerous and extenfive provinces of that empire 
 were ruled by a great monarch named Montezuma, whofe thirffc for 
 £onquefr. induced him to extend his views to the utmoft limits of pofli- 
 bility. This monarch had received information of our firil expedition 
 under Cordova, of the battle of Champoton, that we were very few in 
 number, and that we came to procure gold in exchange for certain 
 
 articles 
 
( '9 ) 
 
 articles which we brought with us. All thefe particulars had been 
 faithfully reported to him by painted reprefentations tranfmitted by ex- 
 preiTes to his court. Montezuma therefore on our arrival coming to his 
 knowledge, iflued orders to his officers to procure from us in exchange 
 for gold, our green glafs beads, on which they fct great value, not 
 knowing them to be artificial, and he had alfo given them instructions, 
 to endeavour to make particular enquiry, both as to our perfons and in- 
 tentions. We alfo underftood that he was much influenced by an ancient 
 prophecy which is faid to have declared, that men were to come from 
 where the fun rifes to rule that country. In compliance with thefe 
 orders, his officers were now upon the coaft and making figns of invita- 
 tion to us. This induced our general to fend a party to the more under 
 the command of Capt. F. de Montejo ; the weather was favorable, an 
 unufual circumftance on that coaft; we therefore landed without diffi- 
 culty, and found the governor of that diftrict, under Montezuma, 
 attended by many natives with provifions of fowls, bread, and fruit, 
 fuch as pines, and fapotes. They were repofing upon mats under the 
 fhadeoffome trees, and invited us by figns to do the fame, for our In- 
 dians of Cotoche did not underftand their language ; they alfo, as on 
 former occafions, prefented us with incenfe. Our reception being re- 
 ported to our chief, Grijalva, he immediately landed with the whole of 
 the foldiers, and as foon as his rank was made known to the Indians, 
 they treated him with the greateft refpect, which he returned with 
 equal courtefy, and ordered beads and cut glafs to be distributed to them, 
 signifying his wifh to procure gold in return; in confequence of which, 
 we obtained pieces of gold of various workmanfhip, to the value of 
 fifteen thoufand crowns. It mull: be this gold that Gomara and Oviedo 
 mean, when they fay in their hiftories that fo much was obtained in 
 Tabafco, a country in which that metal is not to be found at all, or but 
 in very fmall quantity. We at this time took poiTeiTion of thefe terri- 
 tories under the Governor of Cuba, and in his Majefty's name; and 
 after distributing fome fhirts of European manufacture among the na- 
 tives, we re-embarked, taking with us one of them, who was baptized 
 and named Francifco. I faw him after the conqueft of Mexico, fettled 
 
 D 2 and 
 

 i 20 ) 
 
 and married at a place called Santa Fe. After flaying here fix days we 
 
 now re-embarked and failed along the coafl, pairing a low Iiland diftant 
 
 three leagues from the main, called by us Ilia Blanca. Farther on 
 
 we came to a large one, diftant about a league and a half flierefrom, 
 
 where a party commanded by our captain went on more. Our people 
 
 found on this laft mentioned Iiland two buildings of lime and fttone, well 
 
 conftructed, each with fleps, and an altar placed before certaini hideous 
 
 figures, the reprefentations of the Gods of thefe Indians. They found 
 
 alfo here the bodies of five unfortunate perfons who had been facrificed on 
 
 the preceding night, their hearts cut out, their limbs feparated from the 
 
 bodies, and the walls and altars flaincd with their blood. This Ifland 
 
 was named Ida de Los Sacrincios. Oppofite to it on the continent we 
 
 •landed, and conftru&ing huts, remained fometime time in expectation 
 
 of trading with the natives for gold. Many Indians came thither, but 
 
 brought very little of that metal, and appeared fhy and timorous; in 
 
 confequence of which we re-embarked, and proceeded. 
 
 •On our arrival at that part of the coafl: where the town of St. Juan 
 de Ulua is now built, we lodged ourfelves in huts which we conftructed 
 upon the fand hills, and having founded the harbour we found good 
 anchorage, and it was fecure to the North. A party of thirty of us 
 commanded by our captain then proceeded to examine the Iiland, where 
 we found a temple containing a very large and hideous image intended 
 to reprefent a God, the name given to which was Tezcatepuca. Here 
 were four Indians in long black mantles refembling the habit of the Do- 
 minicans; thefe were priefts, and they had that day facrificed two boys, 
 and offered their hearts to that curfed idol. On our entering they came 
 to us with their pots of incenfe, but we could not endure it, being dif- 
 gufted and grieved at the fight, and the horrid cruelty of their facrifices. 
 Our interpreter who fhewed fome marks of intelligence being queftioned 
 as to the caufe of thofe victims being put to death in that manner, made 
 anfwer as well as he could, that it was done by the Indians of Culva or 
 Culchua, meaning the Mexicans ; but he pronounced this word, Ulua, 
 a name which ever after diftinguifhed the place. It was called St. John, 
 
 partly 
 
( » ) 
 
 partly becaufe this was the day of St. John, and partly in compliment 
 to our chief, Juan de Grijalva. The neighbouring Indians brought us 
 fome gold, but in fo trifling a quantity as not to be worth mentioning, 
 and here we remained feven days defperately annoyed by the mofquitos. 
 Our bread now growing very bad, and our wounded men declining, 
 being alfo convinced that the land where we were was a part of the con- 
 tinent, and our number having been fo reduced as to be inefficient for 
 colonization, it was determined to fend P. de Alvarado to Cuba for a 
 reinforcement, which was accordingly done, for our chief was very 
 anxious to eftablifh a fettlement, and always fliewed himfelf a moil va- 
 liant officer, the very reverfe of what would be fuppofed, from the 
 afperfions cafl upon him by Gomara. 
 
 From the time of our failing the Governor of Cuba had always 
 been penfive and uneafy as to our fate ; at length he determined to fend 
 a vefTel in fearch of us, commanded by a valiant foldier naiued Chrif- 
 toval de Oli : but after De Oli had failed for fome time in our track, he 
 met with a gale of wind which fo mattered his veiTel that he was obliged 
 to return to Cuba, without having gained in any degree the intelligence 
 he was ient for. This was a great difappointment to Velafquez ; how- 
 ever he was foon relieved by the arrival of Alvarado. The difplay of 
 the gold ftruck the governor and all who faw it with aftonifhment ; and 
 Velafquez thought he never could fufficiently (hew his favor to one who 
 had brought fuch agreeable intelligence ; Alvarado was feafted and ho- 
 nored, and the fame of the newly difcovered and wealthy country was 
 diffufed and enhanced through the Iilands, and foon reached Caftille. 
 
 We determined now to extend our difcoveries as far as circum- 
 ilances would permit, and palling by the mountains of Tufta and Tufpa, 
 we approached the province of Panuco, thickly fet with populous towns, 
 about three or four leagues from the coafr. ; and advancing further, ar- 
 rived at the river de Canoas, fo named by us on account of what I am 
 going to relate. We were here fuddenly attacked while at anchor by 
 ten canoes filled with Indians ; they fell violently on the fmalleft (hip, 
 
 which 
 
( M ) 
 
 which was commanded by Alonzo dc Avila, and it feems as if their in- 
 tention was to have carried her off, for they cut the cable, notwith- 
 standing the gallant defence made by thofe on board ; bur we fent them 
 fpeedy affiitance , whereby the enemy were forced to retreat with a con- 
 siderable lofs. We then weighed anchor and purfued our route, until 
 we arrived at a very bold point of land, which the violence of the cur- 
 rent, according to the report of our pilot, did not allow us to double; 
 whereupon it was determined in council to return to the Ifland of Cuba, 
 contrary to the opinion of Grijalva who was anxious to eftablifh a fettle- 
 ment, but was oppofed for Several' reafons, fuch as the latenefs of the 
 feafon, want of provisions, and hardships already fuftained by the 
 troops. 
 
 We therefore fet fail upon our return, in which, aided by the cur- 
 rent, we made way rapidly, and entering the river of Tonala, were 
 obliged to delay, in order to repair one of our (hips. This veSTel {truck 
 three times in croSTing the bar, on which the water is mallow. The 
 natives came to us here very amicably, and brought provifions of bread, 
 fiSh, and fruits. We prefented them with beads and cut glafs, defiring 
 gold in return, and this being made known in the neighbourhood, the 
 inhabitants of Guacacualco and other places brought to us what gold 
 was in their poSTeSTion. 
 
 It was a cuftom of the Indians of this province invariably, to carry 
 fmall hatchets of copper, very bright, and the wooden handles of 
 which were highly painted, as intended both for defence and ornament. 
 Thefe were fuppofed by us to be gold, and were of courfe eagerly pur- 
 chafed, infomuch that within three days we had amongft us procured 
 above fix hundred, and were while under the mistake as well pleafed 
 with our bargain, as the Indians w r ith their green beads. One mariner 
 thought he had made his fortune, having purchafed feven of them. I 
 recoiled: alfo that a foldier named Bartholome Pardo entered a temple 
 which was on the fummit of a high mount, and there found in a cheSt 
 fome diadems and collars of gold, and two figures of idols. The gold 
 
 he 
 
( n ) 
 
 he kept for himfclf, and prefented the idols to our commandant. The 
 ftory however came to the ears of the latter, who infifted on having the 
 gold, but was induced to leave it with the poor man on his paying his 
 Majefty's fifth, and the whole was not worth eighty crowns. 
 
 As this country is infefted by mofquitos, in order to avoid them 
 I went to fleep in a large temple, near which I at this time fowed feven 
 or eight feeds of oranges, which I had brought from Cuba. They 
 grew very well, for the priefts of the temple took care of them when they 
 faw that they were uncommon plants. This I mention, becaufe they 
 were the firft trees of the kind that ever grew in New Spain. After the 
 conqueft of Mexico, this province being confidered as offering the 
 greateft advantages, was chofen by moft of the principal perfons amongft 
 the conquerors, of which number I was one; and on my arrival there 
 I went in fearch of, and found my young trees flourifhing, and having 
 tranfplanted them, they all did very well. 
 
 tVe now embarked, leaving the natives very well fatisfied with us, 
 and failed for Cuba, where we arrived after a voyage of forty-five days. 
 The governor was well pleafed with the gold, which amounted in value 
 to twenty thoufand crowns : but there was much laughter when the fix 
 hundred hatchets were produced, and allayed;, the governor however 
 was on the whole contented, though he appeared for a time difpleafed 
 with Grijalva, which was owing to the unjuft afperfions of the two 
 captains, Avila and Montejo. 
 
 Velafquez now wifhing to convey to his Majefty the firft account 
 of his voyages of difcovery, and the refult of them, fent his chaplain 
 Benito Martinez to Caftille with letters to his patron the Bifhop of 
 Burgos, and to the licentiate Juan Zapata, and fecretary Lope Con- 
 chillos, both of whom were employed in the affairs of the Spanifh fet- 
 tlements in the Weft Indies. With all thefe, who were perfons in 
 power, Velafquez had created a ftrong intereft for himfelf, by giving 
 them rich diftricts in the iflands, preferring thereby his own intereft 
 
 to 
 
( H ) 
 
 to that of his Majefly. Martinez was inftrudkd to obtain for the go- 
 vernor a patent or commiilion to procure gold, and to make conquefts 
 and fettlements as he judged expedient, through all the newly difcovered 
 countries. This he not only completely effected, but fuch was the fatis- 
 faction of thofe in power with the conduct of Velafquez, and the proofs 
 which he fent of the wealth of thofe countries, that Martinez alfo 
 brought back with him a commiilion for his employer, of adclantado 
 of the Illand of Cuba. 
 

 ( 25 ) 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 ^-VTV»<^W 
 
 Expedition of H. Cortes. A. D. 151 8. 
 
 HE Governor of Cuba was anxious to profecute the advantages of 
 which the expedition of Grijalva afforded him fo flattering a profpect. 
 For this purpofe he provided ten fhips at the port of St. Jago, four of 
 which had been on the former voyage, and fupplied them with fuch 
 provifions as that place afforded, but their full complement of neceflaries 
 and appointments was to be taken in at the Havannah. Great differ- 
 ence of opinion exifted as to the appointment of a chief:. Vafco Porcallo 
 a man of quality and related to the Count de Feria was propofed, but 
 Velafquez was afraid to truft his armament with one of his bold cha- 
 racter, left he mould revolt, and declare himfelf independent. Auguftin 
 Vermudez, Anthonio Velafquez Borrego, and Bernardino Velafquez, 
 all relations of the governor, were alfo fpoken of, but the foldiers were 
 in general inclined towards Grijalva. 
 
 Juft at this time Andres de Duero, fecretary to the governor, and 
 Amador de Lares, the Contador of his Majefty in Cuba, made a private 
 propofal to a refpectable Hidalgo named Hernando Cortes, a native of 
 Medellin in Eftremadura, and fon of Martin Cortes de Monroy, and of 
 Catalina Pizarro Altamirano, both, though poor, Hidalgos, and of the 
 good lineages of that province. Hernando Cortes poffefled a property 
 in the Ifland of Cuba, had been twice Alcalde there, and had lately 
 from motives of inclination married a lady named Donna Catalina Suarez 
 Pacheco, daughter of Diego Suarez Pacheco of Avila, and of Maria de 
 Mercaida a Bifcayan. This marriage brought much trouble upon 
 Cortes, and he was frequently in confinement by the interference of D. 
 Velafquez. Leaving this to be related more fully by others, I will now 
 however proceed in my narrative of what took place between Cortes and 
 
 E the 
 
( 26 ) 
 
 the Secretary and Contador. Thefe two officers, the particular confi- 
 dential friends of Velafquez, agreed with Cortes to procure by their in- 
 tcrefr. with the governor his appointment to the command of the arma- 
 ment, on condition of his giving them, each, equal parts with himfelf, 
 in the treafure which mould come to his mare; for the commifTion was 
 to be extended no farther than barter and obtaining g •' i, and not to 
 colonization. This being agreed amongft them, the Secretaiy and Con- 
 tador took fuch meafures, praifing and recommending Cortes, and 
 vouching for his fidelity, to Velafquez, who had ftood as father to him 
 at his marriage, that they fucceeded in obtaining the commiflion for 
 him, which, it being the office of the fecretary to draw it up, was done 
 as the proverb fays with very good ink, and fully ratified, according to 
 the wifli of Cortes. 
 
 As foon as the appointment was made public, to fome it gave fa- 
 tisfaction, and others were difpleafed at it ; and one Sunday, the gover- 
 nor going as ufual to mafs attended by the moft refpeclable perfons of 
 the town and neighbourhood, he placed Hernando Cortes by way of 
 diftinction on his. right hand; upon which occafion one Cervantes, 
 called the macr, a kind of buffoon, ran before them repeating his abfur- 
 dities fuch as, " Huzza for my matter Diego, what a captain has he 
 " chofen! And how foon he will lofe his fleet !" With much of that 
 kind, but all having a malicious tendency. Andres deDuero who was 
 prefent cuffed him, and bid him be fiient, faying he well knew that he 
 repeated what others put in his mouth, but the rogue perfevered, adding, 
 that he would quit his old matter, and follow the fortunes of Cortes. 
 It was certain that the relations of Velafquez hired him to repeat thofe 
 things under the colour of folly, and to alarm the governor ; but all he 
 faid turned out literally true. 
 
 Cortes immediately on his appointment proceeded with the greatctt 
 activity in. making his preparations; he alfo drefled. and appeared in 
 much greater ttate as to his own perfon than before; wearing a plume 
 >of feathers, and a gold medal in his cap, which ornaments became him 
 
 very 
 
( *7 ) 
 
 very well. His funds were very inadequate to this expence, for he wa> 
 much indebted and diiTrefTed, although he had a good eilate; being very 
 extravagant, both as to himfclf and the drefs and flate of his wife; but 
 certain merchants, his friends, named Jaime or Jeronymo Tria, and 
 Pedro de Xeres, perceiving that he was riling in the world, and fortune 
 likely to favor him, advanced him four thoufand crowns in money, and 
 merchandizes alfo, upon his property. With this, he caufed to be made 
 a ftandard of gold and velvet, with the royal arms and a crofs embroi- 
 dered thereon, and a latin motto, the meaning of which was, M Brothers 
 "follow this holy crofs with true faith, for with it we (hall conquer." 
 
 It was proclaimed by beat of drum and found of trumpet, that all 
 fuch as entered the fervice in the prefent expedition, mould have their 
 mares of what gold was obtained,, aud grants of land, as foon as the 
 conqueft was effected.. I mull: obferve,. that notwithftanding this was 
 announced to be by his Majefty's commillion and authority, the Chap- 
 lain Benito Martinez had not yet returned from Caifille. The procla- 
 mation however was no fooner made, than by general inclination, as 
 well as the private influence of Cortes, volunteers offered themfelves 
 every where. Nothing was to be feen or fpoken of but felling lands to 
 purchafe arms and horfes, quilting coats of mail, making bread, and 
 faking pork for fea flore. Above three hundred of us alTembled in the 
 town of St. Jago.. The principal perfons in the family of the governor 
 entered with us; Diego de Ordas his firil Major Domo was fent by 
 him as a fpy upon Cortes, whom he already began to fufpecl, although 
 he diffimulated : and F. de Morla, Efcobar, Heredia, Ruano, Efcu- 
 dero, Ramos de Lares, and many others were all adherents of the 
 governor. 
 
 The relations of Velafquez ftiH continued to be much difTatisfied 
 with him, and envious of the fortune of Cortes upon this occafion ; 
 they knew that a bitter enmity had fubfifted between the two on account 
 of certain circumftances attending his late marriage, and they omitted 
 nothing that could be done to induce the governor to revoke his com- 
 
 E 2 million. 
 

 ( <3 ) 
 
 miftion. Of this Cortes was very well a.lvifeJ, and for that reaion 
 took care always to be in his company, and to appear entirely devoted 
 to him. Andres de Duero alfo warned Cortes to ufe all pofiible expe- 
 dition, as he perceived that Velafquez was already wavering, from the 
 importunities of his relations. » Leaving therefore to his Lady Donna 
 Catalina the care of fupplying him with what was necelTary for his 
 voyage, Cortes warned all his captains, maflers, pilots, and foldiers, 
 to be on board at the given time, which having fcen fully complied 
 with, he went, accompanied by his friends the Secretary and Contador, 
 to take his'leave.of Velafquez, whom he parted from with great polite- 
 nefs, and many affurances of fervice on both fides. On the enfuing 
 morning he embarked, being accompanied by the governor to his fhip, 
 and fetting fail immediately, our fleet arrived in a few days at the town 
 of Trinidad. 
 
 There were in the town of Trinidad at this period very refpectable 
 and opulent Hidalgos, from whom all of us, but Cortes in particular, 
 experienced a moft hofpitable reception. Cortes here planted the royal 
 ftandard in front of his quarters, and caufed a proclamation to be made, 
 invitiiijr volun'e^s .a number of whom. Hidalgos of mofl refnec^able 
 families, and perfons of wealth, immediately joined us ; amongft thefe 
 were the Alvarados and Alonzo de Avila. 
 
 At the call of Cortes, Alonzo Hernandez Puertocarrero, coufin of 
 the Count de Medellin, Gonzalo de Sandoval, Juan Velafquez de Leon 
 a relation of the governor, .Rodrigo Rangel, Gonzalo Lopez de Ximena, 
 his brother Juan Lopez, and Juan Sedeno alfo came from the town of 
 Santi Spiritus. They joined us in a body, and were received with re- 
 joicings, difcharge of artillery, and all the marks of refpect and courtefy, 
 due to fuch honorable perfons. Provifions were procured from the 
 eflates of thefe Cavaliers, and the number of our companions- was hourly 
 increasing, but it was very difficult to obtain horfes. Cortes flripped 
 himfelf of fome-of his golden ornaments, and therewith purchafed a 
 j^rey marc for his friendPuertocarrero, whofe means did not permit him 
 
 to 
 
( -9 ) 
 
 to go to that expence, and at this time a vefTel arming with a cargo of 
 provifions, the owner immediately waited on Cortes to kifs his hands, 
 and enrolling himfelf with us, Cortes bought both {hip and lading 
 from him upon credit. His name was >Sedeno, 
 
 From the time that we quitted the port of St. Jago, the relations 
 of Velafquez had not ceafed to work upon his mind, in order to induce 
 him to fupercede Cortes in the command. In this they were much aided 
 by one Juan Millan, an aftrologer, and considered to be mad. This old 
 man, to whom the governor gave an car, was conitantiy telling him 
 how Cortes would be revenged for fome former injuries, upon an occa- 
 fion when Velafquez had thrown him into prifon. Every action of 
 Cortes was alfo explained in the moft unfavorable manner, his fudden 
 failing was dwelt on, and the fecret treaty with the Secretary and Con- 
 tador furmifed. Velafquez in confequence of thefe reprefentations, fent 
 two confidential perfons, with pofitive orders to his brother-in-law the 
 Alcalde Major of the town of Trinidad, who was named Francifco Ver- 
 dugo, to take the fleet and troops from uuder the command of Cortes, 
 he having been fuperceded, and Vafco Porcallo appointed in his place. 
 Diego de Ordas, Francifco de Morla, and all the friends and relations 
 of Velafquez alfo received orders :to the fame effect;. 
 
 Cortes who was well aware of thefe proceedings, exerted himfelf 
 Jo fuch effect, that by promifes and other ways, he contrived to bring 
 over all thofe upon whom Velafquez relied, and efpecially Diego de 
 Ordas, to his own intereft, which the latter fupported mofl effectually 
 with the Alcalde Verdugo by his perfuafions and arguments, reprefent- 
 ing to him the danger that would refult from any violent meafures. 
 Such was the talent of Cortes in making friends, that the very meffen- 
 gers fent by Velafquez with the orders, came over to him, one of them 
 Pedro LafTo enrolling himfelf under his command. By the other 
 Cortes wrote to the governor, expreffmg his attachment to him in the 
 ftrongeft terms, his furprife at the ftep that he had been induced to take, 
 and his requefl to him, not to let himfelf be deceived by the mifreprer 
 
 fentations 
 
( 3<> ) 
 
 fentations of his enemies, and of the old madman Juan Millan. Thus 
 Cortes continued in his command. The twelve enfuing days were 
 pafTed in preparations ; all the fmiths of the city were employed in 
 making arrow heads for the crofs-bows, and alfo engaged to join the 
 expedition. 
 
 Cortes perceiving that nothing more was to be done at the town of 
 Trinidad, gave orders for the fleet to fail for the Havannah, and alfo, 
 that all fuch as chofe to proceed thither by land mould go under the 
 command of Pedro de Alvarado, who was to receive the volunteers who 
 expected us in fome fettlements upon our road. I and about fifty more 
 marched with Alvarado; and Cortes, having difpatched one veflel to 
 the Havannah under the command of his friend Juan de Efcalante by a 
 northern route, embarked, and fet fail with his whole fleet for that 
 port, by the South. All the fhips except that on board of which 
 Cortes was, arrived at the Havannah without any accident, and our 
 land party having alfo reached that town, we were there for the fpace of 
 feven days, that we could not by any means account for his abfence. 
 We were very apprehenfive that the fhip w r as loft in fome fhoals called 
 Los Jardines, and it was determined to fail with three veflels in fearch 
 of it, but as there was no one to command, the time was fpent in dis- 
 putes, and faction began to exift as to the choice of a fubflitute for 
 Cortes, until We mould know what was become of him. The perfon 
 who was molt particularly bufy on this occafion was Diego de Ordas* 
 At length thefe intrigues were put a flop to by the appearance of Cortes 
 himfelf. The fhip which he was on board of had ftruck upon a fhoal, 
 but being near the land they had got her off, by lightening her of a part 
 of the cargo. 
 
 As foon as Cortes arrived, he took his quarters at the houfe of Pedro 
 Barba the Lieutenant of Velafquez, where he planted his flandard before 
 the door, and beat up for volunteers. He was accordingly foon joined 
 by Francifco de Montejo, Diego de Soto, one Angulo, Garci Caro y Se- 
 baflian Rodriquez, Pacheco, Gutierrez, and Rojas, (not Rojas the 
 
 wealthy) 
 
( I? ) 
 
 wealthy) alfb by a lad named Santa Clara, two brothers named Los 
 
 Martinez de Frexenal, and Juan dc Najara, (not the deaf man of the 
 
 tennis court in Mexico,) all perfons of quality, besides many other 
 foldiers, whofe names I do not recollect. 
 
 Cortes judged it necelTary to fend Diego de Ordas to the eftate of 
 the governor at Guaniguanico, for more proviilons of bread and bacon, 
 and with directions to wait there for further orders. This he did, 
 knowing that during his abfence De Ordas had fhewn himfelf by no 
 means attached to his ..intcreft. Cortes now brought his artillery which 
 confiited of ten brafs guns and fome falconets, on more, and gave them 
 in charge to four cannoniers named Mefa, Arbenga, Juan Catalan, and 
 Bartholome de Uiagre. He alfo ordered the crofs-bows to be infpected, 
 the cords, nuts, and arrows, to be put in proper repair, and their range 
 to be afcertained by trial at a mark; and as the country about the Ha- 
 vannah produces much cotton, the foldiers provided themfelves with 
 good quilted jackets of that material, 
 
 Cortes now began to aHume ftate in his eit/ablifhment, and to ap- 
 pear in a high character. His fteward of the houfehold was one Guz- 
 man, (not he who took Guatimotzin prifoner,) his chamberlain was 
 one Rodrigo Rangel, and his Major domo JuandeCaceres. He ordered 
 mangers to be fitted up in all the mips, and flores of maize and hay to 
 be put on board for the horfes, of which I will now defcribe fuch as 
 palTed over with us. 
 
 Captain' General Cortes, had a chefnut horfe which died in St. 
 JuandeUlua: Pedro de Alvarado, and H. Lopez de Avila, (in part- 
 nership) an excellent chefnut mare, for exercife, or fervice; after our 
 arrival in new Spain Alvacado took her entirely to himfelf, either by 
 purchafe or by force : Alonzo Hernandez Puertocarrero, a grey mare of 
 good fpeed, bought for him by Cortes: J. Velafquez de Leon, a very 
 powerful grey- mare called La Rabona, (docked tail) well dreffed, and 
 of great fpeed : Chrifloval de Oli, a dark chefnut horfe, tolerably good: 
 
 Francifco' 
 
( m ) 
 
 Francifco de Montejo, Alonzo de Avila, (between them) a dark chef- 
 nut, not fit for fervice: Francifco de Morla, a dark chefnut horfe, of 
 great fpeed and well drefled; Juan de Efcalante, a light chefnut horfe, 
 not good for fervice; Diego de Ordas, a tolerable grey mare, but of no 
 fpeed: Gonzalo Dominguez, an excellent horfeman, a dark chefnut 
 horfe, very good, and of great fpeed : Pedro Gonzales Truxillo, a good 
 chefnut horfe, and fpeedy; Moron of Vaimo, a dappled grey, well on 
 his haunches: Vacna of La Trinidad, a dapple, fomewhat black ; this 
 horfc did not turn out well: Lares the good horfeman, a very good 
 horfe, bright chefnut, of great fpeed; Ortiz the mufician and Bartho- 
 lome Garcia who had gold mines, a horfe called El Harriero, one of 
 the befl that came over with ns : Juan Sedeno of the Havannah, a chef- 
 nut mare which foaled in the (hip. Sedeno was the richefr. man in our 
 army, polfe/Ting alfo a (hip, a negro, bread, and bacon; fome of which 
 articles were indications of great wealth at that time, for horfes and 
 negroes were hardly to be procured for any money. 
 
 I muft now revert to the proceedings of Velafquez, who was more 
 determined than ever to deprive Cortes of the command. He was en- 
 raged when he found that Verdugo had neglected his orders, and re- 
 proached his Secretary and the Contador with having deceived him. 
 He now therefore fent a confidential perfon named Garnica to his Lieut. 
 Pedro Baiba at the Havannah, with orders to him, and letters to his 
 friends De Ordas and Velafquez de Leon, earneftly foliciting them by 
 no means to fuffer the fleet to proceed, but to arrefr. Cortes, and fend him 
 a clofe prifoner to St. Jago. The meffenger was no fooner arrived than 
 Cortes knew his builnefs, for he brought with him letters from a friar 
 who was about the governor, to our Chaplain Fray Bartholome de 01- 
 medo, whereby the Secretary and Contador conveyed intelligence of all 
 the fchemes of Velafquez. Diego de Ordas it has been already mentioned 
 had been fent out of the way ; the other perfon, Velafquez de Leon, 
 Cortes had now brought over completely to his fide, for he was dif- 
 pleafed with the governor for not having taken, as he thought, proper 
 care" of him. As to the Alvarados, Puertocarrero, Montejo, De OJi, 
 
 Efcalante, 
 
( 33 ) 
 
 Efcalante, the two Monjarazcs, and all the reft of us, the Lieut. Go- 
 vernor not excepted, we would with pleafure have laid down our lives 
 for him; lo that if the orders oi Velafquez were concealed in La Tri- 
 nidad, they were completely fuppreffed in the Havannah, for Pedro 
 Barba wrote an anfwer telling him that he dare not put them in execu- 
 tion, fuch was the popularity of Cortes ; and that he was fure if he 
 were to attempt it, the town would be facked, and Cortes would carry 
 away all the inhabitants with him. Cortes alfo wrote to Velafquez pre- 
 ferring his eternal devotion to his intereft, and informing him that it 
 was his intention to fail on the enfuing day. 
 
 The whole fleet (ailed for the Ifland of Cozumel on the tenth 
 of February 15 19. Our fhip, which was commanded by Alva- 
 rado, was fent round by the north, under orders to wait for the fleet at 
 the point of St. Anton; and Cortes alfo fent directions to Diego de Ordas 
 to do the fame; but our pilot neglected his inftructions, and proceeded 
 for Cozumel, where we on this account arrived two days before the 
 reft. As foon as we had caft anchor our whole party went to the town 
 of Cozumel, which we found abandoned by the inhabitants. We then 
 proceeded to another place from which the natives fled at our approach, 
 but not in fiufflcient time to move their effects, for we found a quantity 
 of fowls, arid fome idols, toys, and ornaments of debafed gold in the 
 temple of the place, wherewith we returned to the town near which 
 our fhip was at anchor. At this time Cortes and his fleet arrived, and 
 the firft thing that he did was to put our pilot Camacho in irons, for 
 not having obeyed his orders. He then fent for Alvarado, and gravely 
 reprehended him for his imprudence in feizing the property of the na- 
 tives, telling him that was by no means the way to effect any good in 
 the country, and he immediately ordered two men and a woman whom 
 they had made prifoners to be brought before him, and through our 
 interpreter Melchorejo, defired them to call back their countrymen to 
 their habitations, and affured them that they need be under no appre- 
 heniions. He ordered all the articles that had been taken to be returned, 
 for the fowls which had been eaten he paid in beads and trinkets, and 
 
 F to 
 
( 34 ) 
 
 to each of the three natives he prcfented a fhirt. The people were fo 
 fatisfied with this treatment, that on the enfuing day the chief of the 
 place and all the inhabitants returned, and mixed with us in fo eafy and 
 amicable a manner, that it would have been fuppofed we had patted our 
 whole lives together. 
 
 Cortes now began to take the command upon him in earned, and 
 our Lord was pleafed to give him grace, that whatever he undertook 
 he fucceeded in. 
 
 In the three days which we pafTed here, Cortes ordered a review of 
 his troops, which amounted to five hundred and eight, the mariners 
 not included. The number of thefe was one hundred and nine. We 
 had fixteen cavalry, eleven mips large and fmall, including a brigantine 
 belonging to one Gines Nortes, thirteen mufketeers, ten brafs field 
 pieces, four falconets, and (as well as I recoiled:) thirty-two crofs-bows 
 with plenty of ammunition. He alfo ordered the artillery-mfcn to put 
 their guns in order, and appointed one Francifco de Orozca, who had 
 been a good foldier in Italy, his captain of artillery. But I know not 
 V/hy I now wafte fo much ink in relating this, for truly he ufed the 
 greateft vigilance and exaclnefs in all things relating to the fervice he 
 was upon. 
 
 Ccrtes now fent for me and a Bifcayan named Martin Ramos, in 
 order to queftion us as to our opinions of the meaning of the word 
 *' Caftillan," fo frequently repeated by the Indians of Cotoche, when 
 we came with Captain Hernandez de Cordova > adding that he was 
 convinced that it muft allude to fome Spaniards in that country : for 
 which reafon, he queftioned the native chiefs upon the fubjecl:. They 
 all anfwered in the affirmative, and certain indian merchants then in 
 Cozumel allured us that they had fpoken to them a few days before. 
 Cortes was anxious to obtain their releafe, and being informed that 
 compenfation would be expected, he amply provided his meflengers for 
 the purpofe. Bv thefe perfons he fent letters to them, and he ordered 
 
 for 
 
( 3S ) 
 
 for this fervice two light vefTels, with twenty crofsbow-men and muf- 
 keteers under the command of Diego de Ordas . One (hip was to remain at 
 the point of Cotoche for eight days, while the meftengers went and re- 
 turned, and the fecond was to bring the report to Cortes how the 
 bufinefs proceeded. 
 
 The places where the Spaniards were {aid to refide, were diftant 
 from the point of Cotoche only about four leagues. The letter which 
 Cortes fent was as follows, " Gentlemen and brothers; here in Co- 
 14 zumel I have been informed that you are detained priloners by a ca- 
 " cique: I requeftas a favour that you will forthwith join me. I fend 
 " a fhipand foldiers, with whatever is neceftaryfor your ranfom; they 
 " have orders to wait eight days, but come with all difpatch to me, 
 ,, from whom you fhall receive every aftiftance and protection. I am 
 " here with eleven mips and five hundred foldiers, with which J will, 
 " with the affiftance of God, proceed to Tabafco, Pontonchan, &c. &c.'* 
 
 The merchants of Cozumel to whom this bufinefs was intrufted* 
 being embarked, the mips crofted the gulf, and the letters were in two 
 days received by a Spaniard named Jeronimo de Aguilar, together with 
 the beads ftbrrtfor his ranfom. He immediately waited upon his mafter, 
 who accepted them with fatisfaction, and gave him his liberty. Aguilar 
 then went to his companion Alonfo Guerrero, and having made, known 
 his bufinefs, Guerrero replied to him as follows : " Brother Aguilar, I 
 11 am married; I have three fons, and am a cacique and captain in the 
 " wars; go you in God's name; my face is marked, and my ears 
 14 bored; what would thofe Spaniards think of me if I went among 
 '* them ? Behold thefe three beautiful boys ; I befeech you give me for 
 " them fome of thefe green beads, and fay that my brother fent them 
 '* as a prefent to me from our country.'* The man's wife who was 
 prefent now became greatly enraged and faid in her language, " See this 
 " ilave how he comes to feduce my hufband!" Aguilar perfevered in 
 advifing the other not to lofe his precious foul for the fake of an Indian, 
 or at any rate if he could not part from his wife and children, to bring 
 
 E a., them 
 
( 36 ) 
 
 them with him ; but he could not be induced to quit his home. When 
 Aguilar faw that it was impoilible to move him, he came with the In- 
 dian meiTengers to the part of the coail: where the (hips had been {ra- 
 tioned ; but they had already failed, for the eight days to which De 
 Ordas confidered himfelf limited, and one more, were expired ; and 
 De Ordas defpairing of the return of his melTengers, had gone back to 
 Cozumel, fo that Aguilar was forced to return with great forrow to his 
 Indian matter. Cortes was exceedingly difpleafed at De Ordas, for re- 
 turning without the Spaniards, or even thofe whom he fent in quell: of 
 them. 
 
 Certain failors named the Penyates of Gibraleon, were at this time 
 accufed of ftealing bacon from one Berrio a foldier, and a general exa- 
 mination and queftions upon oath taking place, they denied it, but upon 
 a fearch, proofs were brought home to them, and notwithstanding 
 much interceflion was made, Cortes ordered feven of them to be feverely 
 whipped. 
 
 There was on the Ifland of Cozumel a temple, and fome hideous 
 idols, to which all the Indians of the neighbouring districts ukd to go 
 frequently in folernn procefTion. One morning the courts of this temple 
 were filled with Indians, and curiofity having alfo drawn many of us 
 thither, we found them burning odoriferous refins like our incenfe, and 
 fhortly after, an old man in a large loofe mantle afcended to the top of 
 the temple, and harangued or preached to the multitude for a confider- 
 able time. Cortes who was prefentat length called Melchorejo to him, 
 to queftion him in regard to the evil doctrines whieh the old man was 
 delivering; he then fummoned all the caciques and chief perfons to 
 come to him, and as well as he could, by iigns and interpretations, ex- 
 plained to them that the idols which they worshipped were not gods, 
 but evil things, which would draw their fouls down to hell, and that if 
 they wifhed to remain in a brotherly connection with us, they mult pull 
 them down, and place in their ftead the crucifix of our Lord, by whofe 
 aiTutance they would obtain good harvefts, and the falvation of their 
 
 fouls; 
 
( 37 ) 
 
 fouls; with many other good and holy reafons, which he exprefled 
 very well. The priefts and chiefs replied, that they wprfhipped thefc 
 gods as their anceftors had done, becaufe they were kind to them ; and 
 that if we attempted to moleft them, the gods would convince us of their 
 power, by deftroying us in the fea. Cortes then ordered them to be 
 proftrated, which we immediately did, rolling them down fome fteps. 
 He next fent for lime of which there was abundance in the place, and 
 Indian mafons, by whom, under our direction, a very handfome altar 
 was conftructed, whereon we placed an image of the Holy Virgin, and 
 the carpenters having made a crucifix which was erected in a fmall cha- 
 pel clofe to the altar, mafs was faid by the Rev. Father Juan Diaz, and 
 liftened to by the priefts, chiefs, and the reft of the natives, with great 
 attention. 
 
 The regulation of our fleet was now made by Cortes, and the cap- 
 tains appointed. The flrft or admiral's fhip was commanded by Cortes 
 in perfon, and the reft as follows: The St. Sebaftion by P. de Alvarado, 
 the third fhip in fize by Alonzo H. Puertocarrero, the fourth by F. de 
 Montejo, the fifth by Chriftoval de Oli. the fixth by Diego de Ordas, 
 thefeventh by J. Velafquez de Leon, the eighth by J. de Efcalante, the 
 ninth by F. de Morla, the tenth by Efcobar, and the eleventh by Gines 
 Nortes. pilots were appointed, the night fignals given, and each cap- 
 tain received his inftructions. 
 
 In the beginning of the month of March, we fet fail, after having 
 taken a friendly leave of the natives, who promifed to take care of the 
 holy altar and crucifix; and they prefented Cortes on his departure with 
 fome fowls and honey. We had failed but a few hours when a fignal 
 gun and cry of alarm informed us that the veflel of Juan de Efcalante 
 which contained the bread for the fleet was in danger, having fprung a 
 leak. This forced us to put back to the place from whence we had 
 failed. On our return there, we were vifited by the friendly Indians, 
 and the caufe of it being made known to them, they immediately 
 brought their canoes to afllft us in taking the lading out of the veftel, 
 
 and 
 
( 3» ) 
 
 and we had alio the further fatisfaction of perceiving on entering the 
 temple, that fo far from having done any injury to the holy altar afrd 
 crucifix, they had taken care of, and placed incenfe before therh. 
 
 The Indian meffengers and Aguilar hearing of our return, joyfully 
 hired a boat and croffed the gulf to join us. Intelligence of the arrival 
 of a large canoe was given to Cortes, by fome foldiers who had gone 
 out to hunt wild fwine, whereupon he ordered Andres de Tapia and 
 two others to go and fee who and what thefe Indians were, who came 
 to us thus without apprehenfion. Aguilar was not in his appearance 
 to be diftinguifhed from a native, and he had hardly the pronunciation 
 of his own language; his only words at firfr. were, " Dios, Santa 
 " Maria," and "Sevilla." His colour was as dark as a native, and 
 he was marked like them ; he had a few rags about his moulders and 
 waift, an oar in his hand, and the remnant of an old book of prayers 
 tied in a bundle on his moulder. When he came into. the prefence of 
 Cortes, he like the reft of his companions fquatted down upon his 
 hams, and every one was looking for the Spaniard. At length, to the 
 enquiry of Cortes he replied, " Here he is," and then coming forward, 
 he was immediately fupplied with proper clothing. 
 
 Being queitioned concerning himfelf he informed us that he was 
 a native of Ecija, and had been ordained in the church. That eight 
 years before, he was wrecked with fifteen men and two women, going 
 from Darien to the Iflandof St. Domingo, at a time of a certain litiga- 
 tion between one Encifo, and Valdivia. That the veffel which they 
 were on beard was flranded and went to pieces, and with her were loft 
 ten thoufand crowns in gold. Thofe on board taking to the boat, en- 
 deavoured to reach the Ifland of Cuba or Jamaica, but were forced by 
 the current upon this coafl, where the different chiefs had divided and 
 made property of them. Many had been facrificed, fome had died of 
 difeafe, and the two women had funk a fhort time before under hard 
 labour at their mills. He was to have been at one time facrificed, but he 
 made his efcape, and taking refuge with a certain cacique had re- 
 mained. 
 
 % 
 
( 39 ) 
 
 mained with him ever fincc; and of the whole number there w r erc 
 now in exiftence, only himfelf, and Guerrero. As to his knowledge 
 of the country it was very confined, for he was only employed in pro- 
 curing wood and water, and digging in the maize fields,, and had 
 never been farther from the coaft than about four leagues ; but he under- 
 stood that it was very populous. He def bribed Guerrero as exactly re- 
 fembling an Indian, adding that he was confidered by the natives as a 
 very brave man, infomuch that when above a year before, three (hips 
 came upon the coaft at the point of Cotoche, (this was the expedition of 
 H. de Cordova,.) he planned the attack upon thofe who landed, and led 
 the Indians in perfon. Upon hearing this, Cortes regretted much his 
 not being able to get him into his hands, 
 
 Aguilar was well treated by the natives of Cozumel, who fupplied 
 him plentifully with provifions ; he in return earneftly exhorted them to 
 continue faithful to our holy religion, the good effects of which they 
 mould foon perceive; and he alfo advifed them to apply to Cortes for a 
 letter of protection, which would be of fervice to them in cafe of the ar- 
 rival of other Spaniards on their coaft. This was immediately granted 
 them ; and fuch is the true narrative in regard to Aguilar. 
 
 Gn the fourth of March the fleet again put to fea, and was during 
 the night feparated by a gale of wind, but on the next day all the mips 
 joined company except that of Velafquez de Leon, which not appearing 
 on the enfuing day, Cortes made fail for a certain bay on the coaft, 
 where, according to the furmife of the pilot, they found the fhip, which 
 had put in during the ftorm, and was detained there wind bound. Here 
 feveral of our companions went on fhore, and found in the town hard 
 by, four temples, the idols in which reprefented human female figures 
 of large fize, for which reafon we named this place, Punta de las 
 Mugeres, 
 
 Aguilar faid that he had once been fent fo far with a load, and that 
 the town where he refided was about four leagues diftant ; he alfo told 
 
 us 
 
( 4° ) 
 
 us that the refidence of Guerrero was not far off, and that the country 
 contained gold though in very fmall quantity, offering to ferve as a 
 guide, if Cortes thought proper to fend a party on fhore; to which the 
 general replied that he did not come for fuch trifles, but to ferve God 
 and his fovereign effectually. Cortes now ordered Capt. de Escobar to 
 examine the bay called Boca de Terminos ; and to leave figrns on the 
 coaft of his having been there, or cruize off the bay, till the arrival of 
 the fleet, for by the defcription given of the harbour, and the abun- 
 dance of game, he was inclined to think it an advantageous fituation 
 to colonize. 
 
 Efcobar proceeded thither, and on his landing found tlhe grey- 
 hound which had been left behind by Grijalva waiting for him on the 
 fhore, and teftifying his joy at the fight of our people; he was taken 
 on board, and the veffel then cruized, waiting for the arrival of the fleet; 
 but a ftrong gale of wind from the South came on, and forced her con- 
 siderably out to fea, fo that when we arrived there, Efcobar 's fhip 
 was no where to be feen. On fending on more however, a letter was 
 found, wherein he told Cortes of the ftate of the harbour, and country, 
 both of which he reprefented in a favorable light. We then flood out, 
 and in the enfuing day his veffel joined us. At this time we were near 
 the point of Pontonchan, the natives of which Cortes and many of us 
 were well inclined to punifh for their conduct on former occafions, but 
 it was oppofed by the pilots on account of the fhallownefs of the coaft, 
 and height of the tides, whereby veffels are compelled to ride at leafl 
 two leagues out at fea. We therefore continued our voyage for the 
 river of Grijalva. 
 
 On the thirteenth day of March 15 19, we arrived with the whole 
 armament at the river of Tabafco or Grijalva. As we knew that it did 
 not admit veffels of great burthen we felected the lighter ones, and in 
 them, together with the boats, our troops proceeded to the fhore, and 
 idifembarked at the point of Palmares, which was diftant from the town 
 ,of Tabafco about half a league. The borders of the river, which are 
 
 covered 
 
( 4> ) 
 
 covered by mangroves, were filled with canoes containing armed In- 
 dians, and above twelve thoufand warriors had affembled in the town 
 of Tabafco which was at that time pofTeffed of an extenfive domination 
 oVer the neighbouring diftricts. This afforded matter of furprife to us 
 who had been at this place before, and the reafon of their prefent hos- 
 tility we afterwards found to be, that the neighbouring nations of Pon- 
 tonchanand Lazarus, (as we named the place,) had reproached them for 
 their daftardly timidity, as they confidered it, in treating amicably with 
 us, inftead of attacking us at our landing as the others had done. For 
 this reafon they were determined to take the prefent opportunity of re- 
 trieving their character with their neighbours. 
 
 As foon as Cortes perceived what kind of reception he was to ex- 
 pect, he directed Aguilar to addrefs himfelf to fome of the natives who 
 appeared to be chiefs, and who were in a canoe which was then pairing 
 very near us, and afk them the reafon of thefe hoftile appearances when 
 we came to them as friends and brothers, adding, that if they were {a 
 rafh as to recur to hoftilities they mould certainly have caufe to repent it." 
 This, and more to the fame purpofe being explained to them, only 
 feemed to render them more violent againfl us, and they replied by 
 threatening us all with inftant death if we ventured to approach their 
 town, whi<ch they had fortified with parapets aud palifades. Aguilar 
 then requefted permiflion to procure wood and water, and an interview 
 with their caciques, to whom our general had matters of the greateit 
 importance and of a holy nature to communicate, but to this they only 
 replied in the fame manner as before. 
 
 Cortes hereupon ordered three guns to be placed in each veflel, and 
 alfo divided the mufketeers and crofs-bowmen through them. It was 
 recollected by us who had been there before, that a narrow road went 
 from the point of Palmares, by fome brooks and marfhes, to the town 
 of Tabafco. Cortes ordered three foldiers to watch the motions of the 
 enemy, and report to him if they retired to their town; which they 
 fhortly did. 
 
 G On 
 
 
( 4* ) 
 
 On the next morning, after mafs, our general detached Captain 
 Alonzo de Avila with one hundred foldiers, to march by the narrow- 
 road already mentioned, with inftructions, that as foon as he heard the 
 difcharge of the artillery, hefhould attack the town on one fide, while 
 the main body did the fame upon another. This being arranged, Cortes 
 with his troops proceeded in the vefTels towards the more near the town 
 As foon as thofe of the enemy who were in canoes amongft the man- 
 groves perceived that we were proceeding to the attack, they all fallied 
 out, and fuch a prodigious number of them collected at our point of dif- 
 embarkation, that nothing was to be feen around us but arrmed hofts, 
 nor heard except their trumpets, horns, and timbrels. 
 
 * , 
 
 Cortes obferving this, ordered a halt, and that the firing fhould 
 not commence, for he wifhed to proceed in a ftrictly juftifiable manner. 
 He therefore ordered Diego de Godoy a royal notary, formally to re- 
 quire them to permit us to fupply ourfelves with wood and water, and 
 fpeak to them as we were in duty bound upon what concerned the fer- 
 vice of our God and King, warning them, that in cafe of violence they 
 were anfwerable for all the mifchief that refulted. All this, being duly 
 explained to them produced no effect, they feemed as determined to op- 
 pofe us as they were before. They made with their drums the fignals 
 for a general attack, and to clofe upon us, and thefe were immediately 
 followed by difcharges of arrows. Their canoes then proceeded to fur- 
 round us, and we were compelled to fight them up to our middles in 
 water. We were detained a confiderable time here, partly owing to the 
 attacks of the enemy with their lances and arrows, partly to the depth 
 of the mud on the more, from which we could not extricate ourfelves 
 but with great difficulty ; and Cortes in particular, was obliged to leave 
 one of his bufkins behind him in it, and come to land barefooted. We 
 were j uil: at that time in very great difficulty, but as foon as we got to 
 the dry land, with our general at our head, calling upon St. Jago, we 
 fell upon the enemy, and forced them to give a little ground. They then 
 fell back behind forne circular works conftructed of large timber, until 
 we alfo drove them from thence, and entered by certain fmall gateways 
 
 into 
 
( 43 ) 
 
 into the town. We then drove them before us up the ftreet to a fecond 
 barricade, behind which they ported themfelves, fronting us valiantly, 
 whittling, and fhouting, " Al calachioni," or " kill the captain." While 
 we were thus engaged, the party commanded by Captain De Avila and 
 which had marched from the point of Palmares arrived, and joined us 
 moil opportunely. He had been retarded on his route, in crofting 
 marfties and breaking down barricades, whereby he arrived at the mott 
 convenient moment, for we had been detained longer than we expected 
 in making the fummons which I have related. We now drove the 
 enemy before us, though they fought manfully and never could be 
 made to turn their backs, until they arrived at a great enclofed court,, 
 where were fome large apartments and halls, and three houfes contain- 
 ing idols. Here they had collected all their effects, but as they were 
 forced to evacuate this laft pott, our general ordered a halt, and that 
 they fhould be purfued no farther. 
 
 Cortes took poffettion of the country for his Majetty and in his 
 royal name in the following manner. Drawing his fword, he gave 
 three cuts with it into a great ceiba tree which ftood in the area of this 
 enclofure, and faid, that againft any who denied his Majetty's claim, 
 he was ready* to defend and maintain it, with the fword and fhielcj 
 which he then held. This ttep was generally approved of, and it was 
 formally witriefied by a royal notary. It gave caufe for fecret murmurs 
 however amongft the party of Velafquez. In thefe actions fourteen of 
 our foldiers were wounded ; I received a flight one, and eighteen of the 
 enemy were left dead upon the field. Here we potted ftrong guards, 
 and halted for the night. 
 
 On the next day Cortes detached Captain P. de Alvarado with one 
 hundred men, to march through and reconnoitre the country for the 
 diftance of two leagues round our pott. On this occaflon the interpre- 
 ter Melchorejo being ordered to attend,, it was found that he had de- 
 ferted on the preceding night, leaving his clothes behind him. This 
 vexed Cortes much, as it was to be apprehended that he could convey 
 
 Gz to 
 
( 44 ) 
 
 to his countrymen intelligence very injurious to us. Our general de- 
 tached a fecond party of equal ftrength and upon the fame duty under 
 Captain Francifco de Lugo. This laft mentioned detachment had not 
 marched far, when it fell in with feveral large bodies of the enemy's 
 warriors, who attacked our people on all fides, infomuch that all the va- 
 lour of De Lugo and his foldiers could not repulfe them and he was 
 obliged to fall back, which he however did with great regularity, to 
 our quarters, fending before him a fwift Indian of Cuba to call for 
 fuccour. Alvarado with his detachment had advanced fomewhat far- 
 ther, to the diflance of above a league from the town, when his progrefs 
 was intercepted by an arm of the fea, or river. Being obliged thereby 
 to march in another diredion, it was the will of God that he mould 
 come within hearing of the muiketry, and the inftruments and fhouts 
 of the Indians with whom De Lugo was engaged. He immediately 
 flew to his relief, and the two bodies joining repelled the enemy and re- 
 treated towards the town, in which we who occupied it had alt the fame 
 time been attacked by great bodies of the enemy, whom however we 
 foon made retreat by the effed of our muiketry and crofs-bows, and 
 
 our good fwords. 
 
 As foon as Cortes received intelligence that his de- 
 
 tachments were engaged, he fallied out at the head of all of us who 
 could carry arms, and we met our companions in their retreat, at about 
 half a leagues diftance. They had loft in the engagement two foldiers 
 of the company of Captain de Lugo, and had in all eleven wounded. 
 We returned with them to the town, bringing with us three prifoners, 
 one of whom appeared to be a chief. We were informed by them that 
 Melchorejo had advifed them to attack us by day and by night, where- 
 by they would, he faid, deftroy us, being fo few. The native who 
 told us this we releafed and fent to his countrymen with an amicable 
 meflage, but he never returned, and Aguilar was informed by the others, 
 that we were to expeel to be attacked by the whole force of the warriors 
 of that country. 
 
 When Cortes underftood the formidable preparations which were 
 making againft us. Ik ordered the horfes to be landed, and all the 
 
 wounded 
 
( 45 ) 
 
 wounded men who were able to march to turn out. The horfes when 
 firft brought to land were very dull and torpid, but in the courfe of a 
 day they recovered their fpirit. Several of our Deft and moft alert young- 
 men were at this time taken fo ill and weak by an ailment in the reins, 
 that they could not ftand on their feet, or help themfelves : we could 
 only account for it from their good living in Cuba, and the heat of the 
 weather, and weight of their arms. Cortes ordered them to be put on 
 board the mips, and afligning the horfes to the beft horfemen, he fur- 
 nifhed each with a breaftplate with bells hanging to it, and gave his 
 cavalry general inftructions not to halt, or make thrufts with the lance, 
 until the enemy were put to flight, but in their attack to point at their 
 faces. He felected the following officers and foldicrs to ferve in the 
 cavalry. Chriftoval deOli, P. deAlvarado, A. H. Puertocarrero, J. de 
 Efcalante, F. de Montejo, Alonzo de Avila, J. V. de Leon, Francifco 
 dc Morla, Lares (called by way of diftinction the good horfeman,) 
 Gonzalo Dominguez another excellent horfeman, Moron del Bayamo, 
 and P. Gonzales de Truxillo. This body was commanded by Cortes in 
 perfon. The artillery he put under the command of Mefa, the infantry 
 under that of Diego de Ordas, and the colours were borne by Anthonio 
 de Villaroel. Being thus arranged and appointed, our whole force 
 took the fieiki early on. the morning of the day of our lady in the month 
 of March, after hearing mafs, and proceeded to the plain of Cintia, our 
 cavalry making a circuit in order to avoid fome ma rfhy ground. 
 
 Having marched about a league we faw the enemy in the plain in 
 our front, advancing againft us, founding their trumpets, horns, and 
 drums, with plumes of feathers on their heads, their faces painted black, 
 red, and white, all of them bearing defensive armour of quilted cotton, 
 and fhields, and their ofFenfive arms coniifting of large bows and ar- 
 rows, lances, two handed fwords, darts, and flings. Their numbers 
 covered the whole plain, and they fell upon us furioufly, wounding 
 above feventy of our foldiers by the firft di (charge of their mifTile 
 weapons. One foldier fell inftantly dead by an arrow which pierced 
 his ear ; his name was Saldana. The enemy then clofed upon and 
 
 fought 
 
( 46 ) 
 
 fought with us foot to foot, while we with our cannon, mufketry, 
 crofs-bows, and fvvords, maintained our ground firmly. When they 
 had pretty well experienced the fharpnefs of our fwords, they drew off 
 a little, but it was only to moot at us with more advantage ; our artil- 
 lery now however made great havoc amongft them from the manner in 
 w r hich they were crowded together, and they were at that difrance which 
 enabled us to fire at them with the greatefl advantage; but all could not 
 make them give way. 
 
 I advifed Captain de Ordas to clofe with them, becaufe they feemed 
 to be fhy of our fwords, and had the advantage of their milTile weapons 
 when at a little diftance ; but he objected to this, obferving that they 
 were three hundred for every one of us. However we did advance upon 
 them, and as they were unwilling to come within the reach of our 
 fwords they yielded ground, and inclined towards a marfh. During 
 all this time we were anxioufly looking out for Cortes, and very ap- 
 prehenfive that he had met with fome difafter. 
 
 I recollect that in this battle, every time that the cannon were 
 fired, the Indians fhouted, whittled, and founded their inftruments, 
 throwing up ftraw and duft in the air, and crying, " Ala, lala;" 
 this they did to prevent our perceiving the mifchief done by our artillery 
 in their crowded bodies. While we were engaged as I have now de- 
 fcribed, we were rejoiced at the fight of Cortes approaching to our fup- 
 port. As the cavalry came round by the rear of the Indians, who were 
 entirely occupied in their attacks upon us, the latter did not perceive 
 them until they made their charge. The ground being very level, molt 
 of the horfes active, and the men expert, they now rode through the 
 bodies of the enemy as they chofe, and we, encouraged by this fupport, 
 reiterated our efforts on our fide. The Indians ftruck with furprife 
 thought that the horfe and his rider were one; they were terrified at the 
 fight, and in an inftant fled to the adjacent woods and marfhes, leaving 
 the field and victory to us. 
 
 Being 
 
( 47 ) 
 
 Being thus matters of the field, after taking breath Cortes related 
 to us how he had been retarded in his march by bad ground, and the 
 attacks of fomc bodies of the enemy who had wounded five of his men 
 and eight horfes. The cavalry then difmounted, and under a grove of 
 trees on the field of battle, we gave thanks to God and our Lady his 
 blefTed mother with uplifted hands, for the vi&ory which they had 
 given to us ; in confequence whereof, and on account of the day on 
 which the battle was fought, a town was afterwards founded on that 
 fpot named Santa Maria de La Vitoria. We next proceeded to take care 
 of our wounds, which we bound up, and thofe of the horfes we drefTcd 
 with the fat of the Indians whom we found dead thereabout. We then 
 walked over the field to examine the lofs of the enemy, which we found 
 to amount to upwards of eight hundred; dead or dying of their wounds 
 by cannon (hots, and thofe of our fmall arms or fwords ; alfo where 
 the cavalry had charged we found them to lie very thick. For the firft 
 hour of this battle we could not force the enemy to yield us an inch of 
 ground, nor did they until they faw the cavalry coming on them. 
 
 We made five Indians prifoners, two of whom appeared to be 
 chiefs ; the day was growing late, and we were fatigued ; we therefore 
 retreated to our quarters, firfl burying two of our foldiers, who were 
 killed, one by a wound in the ear, and the other by one in the throat, 
 and then, after drefling our wounds with the fat of Indians, and having 
 placed good guards round our poll:, we eat our fuppers, and went to 
 our repofe. 
 
 In his account of this action Gomara fays, that previous to the ar- 
 rival of the main body of the cavalry under Cortes, Francifco de Morla 
 appeared in the field upon a grey dappled horfe, and that it was one of 
 the holy apoftles, St. Peter or St. Jago, difguifed under his perfon. I 
 fay, that all our works and victories are guided by the hand of our Lord 
 Jefus Chrift, and that in this battle, there were fo many enemies to 
 every one of us, that they could have buried us under the dull: they 
 could have held in their hands, but that the great mercy of God aided 
 
 us 
 
( 4g ) 
 
 us throughout. What Gomara aflerts might be the cafe, and I, (inner 
 as I am, was not worthy to be permitted to fee it. What I did fee was, 
 Francifco de Morla riding in company with Cortes and the reft upon a 
 chefnut horfe, and that circumftance, and all the others of that day ap- 
 pear to me at this moment that I am writing, as if actually palling in 
 the view of thefe linful eyes. But although I, unworthy finner that I 
 am, was unfit to behold either of thole holy apoftles, upwards of four 
 hundred of us were prefent, let their teithnony be taken. Let enquiry 
 alfo be made how it happened, that when the town was founded on that 
 fpot, it was not named after one or other of thole holy apoftles, and 
 called St. Jago de la Vitoria, or St. Pedro de la Vitoria, as it was Santa 
 Maria, and a church erected and dedicated to one of thole holy faints. 
 Very bad chriftians were we indeed, according to the account of Gomara, 
 who when God fent us his apoftles to fight at our head, did not every 
 day after acknowledge and return thanks for fb great a mercy ! Would 
 to heaven that it were fo, but until I read the chronicle of Gomara I 
 never heard of it, nor was it ever mentioned amongft the conquerors 
 who were then prefent. 
 
 I have related how we made two chiefs prifoners in the late battle : 
 having been kindly treated by Cortes, and exhorted to induce their 
 countrymen to come into amicable terms, they were difmilTed for that 
 purpofc, after having been prefented with a number of beads, and arti- 
 ficial diamonds. Thefe Indians faithfully executed their million ; and 
 to fuch an effect, that the chiefs of the province immediately fent 
 fifteen of their llaves with their faces befmeared with black, and in 
 wretched habits, in lign of contrition for what had palled, and bearing 
 fowls, roalted filh, and maize, as a prefent. Cortes received them 
 with kindnefs, but the interpreter fpeaking fomewhat angrily to them 
 faid, v that it was with chiefs, and not with llaves that we were to treat. 
 
 On the enfuing day thirty Indians of rank came in good drelTes 
 with another prefent, and to requeft permiflion to inter their dead that 
 they jliould not be eaten by lions and tygers. This being granted 
 
 them 
 
( 49- ) 
 
 them, they proceeded to burn and inter the bodies. They alfo informed 
 us that on the next day we mould receive an cmbaffy to treat conclu five] y 
 of peace. Accordingly, at the time mentioned, ten chiefs richly drefled 
 arrived with much ceremony, and faluted Cortes and the reft of us ; they 
 brought with them veffels of incenfe which they offered to us, demand- 
 ing pardon for the paft, and declaring their good intentions in future. 
 Cortes affuming a grave countenance told them they defcrved death for 
 their neglect of our former offers of peace; but that our great Monarch 
 Don Carlos had enjoined us to favour them fo far as they fhould deferve 
 it, and in cafe of their adopting a bad line of conduct, they fhould again 
 feel the effect of our vengeance. He then caufed a cannon to be fired, 
 the noife of which terrified them, whofe imaginations were under the 
 impreftion of its being a living creature; and the noife of the ball in the 
 neighbouring woods confirmed them in their way of thinking. One 
 of the moft fpirited of the horfes was then brought into the apartment, 
 and it being fo contrived that he fhould (how himfelf to the greateft ad- 
 vantage, his apparent fiercenefs, and his action, ftruck the natives with 
 awe. Shortly after this twenty Indians of burthen arrived bearing pro- 
 virions for our ufe. Cortes converfed a long time with the chiefs, who 
 at length took their leave, highly contented with the refult of their vifit. 
 
 On the enfuing day we were vifited by many chiefs of the neigh- 
 bouring diftricts, who brought with them prefents of gold wrought 
 into various forms, fome refembling the human face, others of animals, 
 birds, and beafts, fuch as lizards, dogs, and ducks, Alfo three dia- 
 dems, and two pieces in form like the fole of a fandal, with fome other 
 articles of little value, nor do I recollect the amount of the whole. They 
 alfo brought fome mantles of very large fize, but that part of the pre- 
 fent which we held in the higheft eftimation was twenty women,' 
 among whom was the excellent Donna Marina, for Co fhe was called • 
 after her baptifm. Cortes thanked the chiefs for their vifit, but caufed 
 it to be intimated to them, that the certain indication of peace was, the 
 return of the inhabitants to their town, which by their authority he 
 expected to fee done within two days, and this was accordingly com- 
 
 H plied 
 

 ( 50 ) 
 
 plied with in the time prefcribed. They alfo on being called on to re- 
 nounce their idolatrous worfhip, declared a ready affent upon that point. 
 Cortes explained to them the myfteries of our true faith, and thofe parts 
 of it which are reprefented in the crucifix, and the image of our Holy 
 Virgin. To this the caciques replied that they admired the " Tecle- 
 **. ciguata," which in their language fignifies a great princefs. 
 
 When thefe people were queftioned as to their hoftilities againft 
 us they excufed themfelves by faying, that they had been inftigated 
 thereto by the cacique of Champoton, and alfo by our Indian inter- 
 preter w r ho deferted from us. This man Cortes was very anxious to 
 lay hands on, but to his enquiries concerning him the anfwer was, that 
 he had fled: it came to our knowledge however afterwards, that he had 
 been facrificed. Being queftioned as to the place where they obtained 
 their gold they replied, that it was on the weft, and they frequently 
 repeated, " Culchua," and •• Mexico," words, the figniflcation of 
 which was at this time unknown to us. We had here an interpreter 
 named Francifco, who had alfo been w r ith Grijalva ; he did not under- 
 ftand the language of Tabafco in the leaft, but knew perfectly what 
 they meant by the word Culchua, which country, he endeavoured to 
 explain to Cortes, lay far within the land. 
 
 On the enfuing day, an altar being built and the crucifix erected, 
 the town of Tabafco changed its name for that of Santa Maria de la 
 Vitoria. The twenty Indian women who had been brought to us, 
 were upon this occafion baptized, the Rev. Father Bartholome de Ol- 
 medo preaching to them many good things touching our holy faith. 
 Donna Marina, the principal of them, was a woman of high rank, 
 which indeed fhe fhewed in her appearance; and thefe were the firft 
 chriftian women in New Spain ; Cortes gave one to each of his captains, 
 and we remained here five days longer, taking care of our fick and 
 wounded. This time Cortes employed in conciliating the natives, re- 
 commending to them to preferve their allegiance to his Majefty our 
 Emperor, whereby they fhould enfure our protection to them : this they 
 
 promifed 
 
( 5< ) 
 
 promifed faithfully to perform, and thefe were the flrft of the natives of 
 this country who became vaffals to the Spanifh monarchy. 
 
 On the next day, (Palm Sunday) with the alFiftance of the natives 
 a crofs was made in a large ceiba tree on the fpot where the battle was 
 fought, in order to afford a long memorial thereof, for this tree has the 
 quality of reproducing its bark. The natives attended at the adoration 
 of the holy image and crofs, which we went in proceflion to pay our 
 devotions to, on this feftival. They then at our requifition aflifted us 
 to make our preparations to re-embark, our pilots wifhing to get far off 
 that coaft, which the wind at this time blew ftrongly upon ; and all 
 things being prepared, and Cortes having taken leave of the natives, in 
 the evening of this day the troops went on board, and on the enfuing 
 morning failed for St. Juan de Ulua. 
 
 As we proceeded along the coait, thofe of us who had been there 
 before with Grijalva pointed out to Cortes the different places we faw on 
 the land, faying, here Sir is La Rambla, and there Tonala or St. An- 
 ton : more forward we (hewed him the great river of Guacacualco, the 
 lofty mountains covered with fnow, thofe of St. Martin, and Roca Par- 
 tida. We then (hewed him the rivers of Alvarado, and Vanderas, Ida 
 Blanca, and Ida Verde, and clofe to the land Ida de Los Sacrificios, 
 and early in the evening of holy Thurfday we thus arrived at the port 
 of St. Juan de Ulua. I recollect that while we were pointing out thefe 
 places to Cortes, a cavalier named Puertocarrero came up to him and 
 faid, " It feems to me Sir as if thefe gentlemen who have been here be- 
 " fore are making their exhibition, as it were, here you fee Montefinos 
 " of France, and here you fee the great city of Paris, and here the 
 " waters of the Duero where they run to the fea. But I fay fee the rich 
 " lands, and look to your meafures!" Cortes very well underftood the 
 purport to which this was fpoken, and replied, " God give us fortune 
 " in arms like the Paladin Roldan, and for the reft, having you gentle- 
 " men for foldiers, I (hall know very well how to act to good effect." 
 
 Hi 
 
 The 
 
■r 
 
 ( » ) 
 
 The young native who was baptized by the name of Donna Ma- 
 rina, and who rendered fuch effential fervices in the fequel, was the 
 daughter of the chief or Prince of Painala, a powerful lord who had 
 leveral diftricts fubjecl: to him, eight leagues from GuacacualcO. He 
 dying while this lady was an infant, his widow married another chief, 
 a young man, by whom (he had a fon whom they determined to place 
 in fucceffion after them. They therefore gave this girl to certain In- 
 dians of Xicalango to carry off fecretly, and caufed it to be rumoured 
 that fhe was dead ; which report they corroborated by taking the ad- 
 vantage of the death of a child about her age, the daughter of a flave. 
 The people of Xicalango gave her to thofe of Tabafco, and the latter to 
 Cortes, by whom (he was prefented to a cavalier named Alonzo Her- 
 nandez Puertocarrero: when he went to' Old Caftille, Cortes took her 
 to himfelf, and had by her a fon who was named Don Martin Cortes, 
 and who was a commander of the order of St. Jago. She afterwards on 
 our expedition to Higueras married a cavalier named Juan Xaramillo. 
 
 Donna Marina had by her birth an univerfal influence and confe- 
 rence through thefe countries ; (he was of a fine figure, frank manners, 
 prompt genius, and intrepid fpirit; an excellent lingnift. and of mofr 
 effential fervice to Cortes whom (lie always accompanied. I was ac- 
 quainted with her mother, and her half brother, who was at the time 
 I knew him grownup; they governed their territory conjointly, the 
 fecond hufband being alfo dead. They were afterwards baptized, the 
 mother by the name of Marta, the fon by the name of Lazarus; this 
 'I know, for in the expedition to Higueras, when Cortes paffed through 
 Guacacualco, he fummoned all the neighbouring chiefs to meet him in 
 that fettlement; and amongfr, many others came the mother, and half 
 brother of this lady. She had told me before that (lie was of that pro- 
 vince, and in truth fhe much refembled her mother who immediately 
 recognifed her. Both the old lady and her fon were terrified, thinking 
 that they were fent for to be put to death, and cried bitterly, but Donna 
 Marina dried their tears, faying, that fhe forgave them, that at the 
 time they fent her from them they were ignorant of what they did ; and 
 
 that 
 
( &3 ' ) 
 
 that me thanked God, who had taken her from the worfhip of idols to 
 the true church, and was happier in having a fon by her lord and matter 
 Cortes, and in being married to a cavalier like her hufband, than if flic 
 had been fovereign of all the provinces of New Spain. All this I heard 
 with my own ears, and fwear to the truth thereof. Amen. At parting 
 (he gave them a very handfome prefent of gold, and thus difmiiTed them. 
 This ftory brings to my mind that of Jofeph in Egypt, when his bro- 
 thers were in his power. Donna Marina underftood the language of 
 Guacacualco and Mexico which is one and the fame, and as Ihc alio- 
 could converfe with AguHar in that of Tabafco and Yucatan, wc thus 
 ^acquired a medium of communication with the Mexican language > 
 which was an object of great importance .to us. 
 
( 54 ) 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Arrival of the Armament commanded by H. Cortes, at St. Juan de 
 Ulua. Tranfatlions and Occurrences there. 
 
 O 
 
 N Holy Thurfday of the year 1519, we arrived at the port of St. 
 Juan dc Ulua, and Cortes hoifted the royal ftandard. In about half an 
 hour, two large canoes called piraguas full of Mexicans fet off from the 
 more to vifit the fhip which bore the flag. When thefe people came 
 on board, they enquired for the lord, or as they exprefs it Tlatoan, 
 who was pointed out to them by Donna Marina. They then advanced 
 to Cortes with great refpect, and informed him that a fervant of their 
 fovereign Montezuma had fent them to wait upon him, to know who 
 we were, what our bufinefs was, and if we were in want of any thing, 
 in which cafe they had orders to fupply us. Cortes thanked them, and 
 having- made them a prefent of fome cut gflafs, ordered an entertainment 
 to be ferved up, after which he declared that the object of his vifit was, 
 to fee and treat with the people of thofe countries ; that no one mould 
 fuftain any injury by him, and that he hoped they would have caufe to 
 be fatisfied with his arrival there. 
 
 On Good Friday we difembarked the cavalry, infantry, and artil- 
 lery, on the fand hills of which that coaft. is compofed ; and having 
 ported our artillery, and raifed anj altar, we conftructed temporary bar- 
 racks. On the enfuing day we were vifited by many of the natives, 
 who brought hatchets wherewith they proceeded to work in making 
 the huts, that of Cortes efpecially, more convenient; they alfo brought 
 mantles to guard us from the fun, and a prefent of gold, fowls, bread, 
 and plumbs. Thofe who brought them informed Cortes, that on the 
 next day the governor of the province intended to wait upon him. 
 
 At 
 
( 55 ) 
 
 At the appointed time, on the day of the feafl of the refurrection, 
 a nobleman named Tendile who was the governor fpoken of, accom- 
 panied by Pitalpitoque afterwards called Ovandillo, and attended by a 
 great train of followers bearing various articles of provifion, with much 
 refpect and ceremony, advanced, and made three reverences to Cortes 
 and the foldiers who were about him. Cortes went to meet and bid the 
 two chiefs welcome : he then caufed mafs to be faid, after which the 
 tables were placed, and he together with certain of his captains and the 
 two Mexican lords, fat down to dinner. Their repair, ended, and hav- 
 ing withdrawn together he informed them, that he was the vafTal of the 
 greatefl prince in the world, who had fent us thither, to wait upon the 
 king of thofe countries, whofe fame had reached him, in order to con- 
 tract a treaty of peace and amity, and to tell many things to him of the 
 greatefl import to be known. To this Tendile fomewhat haughtily 
 replied, faying, " How is this ? You are but jufl arrived, and you talk 
 •' of feeing our monarch: receive this prefent which he fends you, and 
 44 it is time enough to think of other things afterwards." He then 
 took out of a chefl many pieces of gold well wrought, which he pre- 
 fented to Cortes, together with ten loads of fine mantles of white cotton 
 adorned with plumage; and many other things, which, it being fo 
 long ago, I do not recollect. After thefe followed an abundant fupply 
 of provifions, fuch as fowls, fruit, and roafled fifh. Cortes in return 
 prefented them with artificial diamonds, and requefled that they would 
 encourage the natives to come and barter with us, which they promifed 
 to do. We afterwards learned that thefe noble Mexicans were the go- 
 vernors of the provinces named Cotafllan, Tuflcpeque, Guazpaltepeque, 
 Tlatalteclo, and other diflricts which had been lately reduced to fub- 
 jection under their monarch. Cortes then produced as a prefent for the 
 great Montezuma, an arm-chair elegantly carved and painted, fome arti- 
 ficial jewels called margajitas cnvelloped in perfumed cotton, a firing of 
 artificial diamonds, and a crimfon cap with a gold medal whereon was 
 reprefented St. George killing the dragon* Thefe he defired Tendile to 
 prefent to his mailer in the name of our fovereign, and to fignify to him 
 at the fame time, his requeil to know when he might he permitted to 
 
 wait 
 
( S6 ) 
 
 wait upon him. To this the Mexican nobleman replied, that nis 
 monarch would-be happy to hold an intercourfe with our emperor, and 
 that the application mould be immediately made, and an anfwcr tranf- 
 mitted. 
 
 With this embafly fomc of the abJeft painters of Mexico had been 
 fertfywho drew reprefentations to the life, of the countenance of Cortes, 
 the other captains and foldiers, Donna Marina, Aguilar, and even the 
 greyhounds, guns, and balls. Cortes perceiving this, in order to im- 
 prefs the people and their monarch with a formidable idea of our power, 
 caufed the guns to be loaded with a high charge of powder, and mount- 
 ing his horib, ordered the cavalry down to the wet fands, which were 
 hard, to exercife under the command of P. de Alvarado. He took care 
 to call the attention, as it were by accident, of the ambafiadors at the 
 moment that the guns were fired, and as the air was calm, the explo- 
 fion, and noife of the balls through the trees, {truck the natives with 
 aftonimment, and thefe circumftances were immediately reprefented in 
 the painted cloths. 
 
 Tendile who was the moft acute of the two in appearance, re- 
 marked at this time a partly gilt helmet with one of our foldiers, and 
 obferved that it refembled one which had belonged to their anceftors, 
 and which was placed on the head of their god Huitzilopochtli ; he there- 
 fore exprefled a wifh to carry it to Montezuma. Cortes immediately 
 prefented it to him, faying at the fame time, that in order to afcertain 
 what refemblance exifted between the gold of the two countries, it 
 would not be amifs to return it filled with grains of that metal, as a fit 
 prefent for our Emperor. Tendile now took his leave, afluring Cortes 
 that he would fpeedily return with the anfwer to his requeft. The in- 
 telligence of what had -pafTed, together with our prefents, was rapidly 
 conveyed to Montezuma by this officer, who was as eminent for his 
 fwiftnefs of foot, as for his rank. That Monarch was moft particularly 
 {truck with the fight of the helmet ; and it impreffed ftrongly on his 
 mind the idea, that we were the men deftined by heaven to rule thole 
 countries. 
 
 The 
 
( 57 ) 
 
 The other lord, Pitalpitoque, eftablifhed his residence in a temporary 
 building, at a little diftance from our camp, his people fupplying the 
 table of Cortes with provifions, and the foldiers fubfifting by barter. 
 Thus fix or feven days patted, at the expiration of which time, we one 
 morning perceived Tendile approaching, followed by upwards of a hun- 
 dred men bearing prefents. With him came alfo a great Mexican lord, 
 who in countenance, feature, and perfon, ftrongly refembled Cortes : 
 and the reafon of his being joined in the embaffy was, that when the 
 paintings were exhibited at the court, every one was immediately {truck 
 with the refemblanCe which the portrait of Cortes bore to this lord, 
 who was named Quintalbor. The likenefs was fo ftrong, that whilil 
 he remained among us in camp, we in fpeaking of them ufed to fay, 
 this, and the otner Cortes. 
 
 On the arrival of the ambalTadors in the prefence of Cortes, they 
 touched the ground with their hands and killed them, and with their 
 veftels of incenfe fumigated him and the reft. After fome conyer- 
 fation, mats and mantles being fpread out, the prefents were difplayed 
 upon them. The firft was a plate of gold of the fize of the wheel of a 
 carriage, reprefenting the fun, admirably wrought, and faid to be worth 
 upwards of twenty thoufand crowns ; a larger one, equally wrought, of 
 filver, reprefenting the moon ; the helmet already mentioned filled with 
 gold in its native ftate to the amount of three thoufand crowns, but the 
 information we hereby obtained of the value of the mines we eftimated 
 at more than thirty thoufand ; thirty pieces of wrought gold reprefent- 
 ing ducks, very well executed, others in the forms of deer, dogs, lions, 
 tygers, and apes ; twelve arrows ; a bow with the cord; two rods like 
 thofe borne by officers of juftice, five palms long; ten collars, and many 
 other ornaments, all of fine gold, and call:, of moulded work. After 
 thefe were produced plumes of feathers rep relented in gold, others of 
 lilver, together with fans of the fame materials, beautiful penaches of 
 green feathers, thirty loads of the finefl cotton cloth, with many other 
 things which I cannot now recollect. 
 
 1 
 
 All 
 
( 58 ) 
 
 All thefe being laid before Cortes, the ambaffadors made a fpeech, 
 wherein they told him that with the fame good will that their monarch 
 fent the prefent, it was hoped he would receive it, and divide it as he 
 thought beft. among theTeules with him. They alfo communicated to 
 him a mefTage from the great Montezuma to this effedl ; * ' That he re- 
 " joked in the arrival of fuch brave men in his country as the accounts 
 " he had received proved us to be ; that he much wifhed to fee our 
 * * great emperor, and to communicate by a reciprocation of prefents 
 " with him ,• and that he was ready to render us any fervices ; but that 
 " as to vifits to his court, they were attended with many difficulties, 
 " and he did not wifh for them." Cortes received this meflage with 
 apparent good humour, and prefented each of the ambaffadors with 
 holland fhrrts and other articles of fmall value, but replied by obferving, 
 that after having crofled fuch a vafl fpace of fea, he could not return 
 without executing the million which he had been fent upon, which 
 was, to fee and fpeak to the Emperor Montezuma in perfon, fuch be- 
 ing the orders of our great monarch, which he was compelled and de- 
 termined to obey. The ambaffadors replied that they would convey his 
 meflage, but gave no hopes of a favorable anfwer. Out of our poor 
 means Cortes contrived to fend by them a fecond prefent ; it confifted 
 of a glafs cup of Venetian manufacture, curioufly gilt and wrought 
 with figures, three holland fhirts, and fome other articles. With thefe 
 the two ambaffadors returned to Mexico, leaving Pitalpitoque to take 
 the charge of provisioning our camp. 
 
 Cortes feeing that thefe uninhabited fand banks infefled by mof- 
 quitos were difadvantageous for a fettlement, ordered Francifco de Mon-» 
 tejo, with two fmall fhips, to proceed along the coaft, for the fpace of 
 ten days fail, in fearch of a port in a better fituation. Montejo ad- 
 vanced as far as the great river of Panuco, which he could not pafs on 
 account of the violence of the currents. He accordingly returned with- 
 out being able to report any information, except that twelve leagues 
 from this place, he had feen a town or fortrefs named Quiabuiftlan, and 
 near it a harbour which appeared to the pilot to be fecure to the north. 
 
 It 
 
( 59 ) 
 
 It was afterwards'called Puerto del Nombre Feo from its refemblance to 
 one of that name in Old Spain. In this expedition Montejo employed 
 ten or twelve days, during which time the Mexican lord who was in- 
 trufted with the care of our provifions, relaxed fo much, that we began 
 to experience great diftrefs ; our bread grew rotten, and unlefs we were 
 fuccefsful in fifhing we might ftarve, for the few Indians who occa- 
 fionally brought fowls valued them much higher than they had done 
 at firft. 
 
 After waiting for fome time very impatiently, the Mexican am- 
 baiTador Tendile returned, with a prefent of ten loads of the finefl mantles 
 of cotton and feathers. Montezuma alfo fent four jewels called calchi- 
 huis, refembling emeralds, moft highly valued by the Mexicans, and 
 various articles of gold, to the amount of three thoufand crowns. The 
 two noblemen, Tendile and Pitalpitoque, for the third who refembled 
 Cortes had fallen ill on the road, informed our general that the great 
 Montezuma had received his prefent with much fatis fact ion, but that as 
 to the interview, he could not permit any more to be faid on the fubject. 
 That thefe rich jewels each of which exceeded in value a load of gold 
 were intended for our emperor, and that herewith all farther intercourfe 
 with Mexico was precluded. Cortes, though greatly mortified, thanked 
 them politely, and turning to fome of us who were prefent faid, '• Truly 
 " this is a great monarch, and rich: with the permiflion of God we 
 '* muft fee him. ,s To which all the foldiers replied, that they were 
 ready to march. At this moment the bell tolled for the Ave Maria, and 
 all of us fell on our knees, before the holy crofs. 
 
 The Mexican noblemen being very inquifitive to know the 
 meaning of this, Cortes hinted to the Rev. Father Bartholome the 
 the propriety of a fermon, fuch as mould convey to them the truths of 
 our holy faith. Fra. Bartholome accordingly preached, like an ex- 
 cellent theologian which he was, explaining the myfteries of the crofs, 
 at the fight of which the evil beings they worshipped as gods fled away. 
 Thefe fubjects and much more he dilated upon, and it was perfectly ex- 
 
 I 2 plained 
 
( 60 ) 
 
 plained to, and understood by the Mexicans, who promifed that they 
 would relate all they had feen and heard to their fovereign. He alfo de- 
 clared to them, that amongft the principal objects of our miflion thither, 
 were, thofe of putting a flop to human facrifices, injuftices, and idola- 
 trous worfhip ; and then, prefenting them with an image of our Holy 
 Virgin with her fon in her arms, he delired them to take it with them, 
 to venerate it, and to plant crofles fimilar to that before them in their 
 temples. 
 
 A number of articles of gold were now brought in order to barter 
 by the natives, and with this we paid for the provifions, principally 
 fifh, which we could procure; this was our only prefent refource 
 againfl abfolute want ; we were moftly provided with thofe toys which 
 were in requeft among the Indians, and with them we procured the 
 gold, which as foon as obtained was paid to our fifhermen, who were 
 chiefly the mariners of the fleet. Cortes well knew- of this private 
 trade, nor did it afford him diflatisfaction, as he confidered it a fur- 
 therance of his views, though he concealed his mind upon the 
 fubject. 
 
 The partizans of Velafquez however began now to grow jealous 
 at this practice, and demanded Cortes to make fuch regulations as 
 fhould bring all the gold which had been, or was in future to be pur- 
 chafed, into one common ftock, under the care of a treafurer. To this 
 Cortes confented, and named for the purpofe one Gonzalo Mexia. He 
 then tamed to thofe who had made the application and with an angry 
 countenance faid, " Look you gentlemen ! Our companions fuffer under 
 44 want; I therefore thought it prudent to connive at what was doing ; 
 •* all they obtained amounts to a mere trifle, with the bkfling of God 
 44 we have great and fplendid profpects before us ; it is now proclaimed, 
 " as you have delired ; fee if the foldiers will in future be able to pro- 
 44 cure food." It is upon this tranfaction that Gomara relates, that it 
 was done as a piece of art by Cortes, to induce Montezuma to think 
 that gold was no object with the Spaniards; but the application for the 
 
 cafque 
 
( 6. ) 
 
 cafque to be returned filled with gold, and other previous circumilances 
 muft have fully convinced him to the contrary. 
 
 One morning at this time, we were difagreeably furprifed by per- 
 ceiving that all our Mexican neighbours had quitted us without taking 
 leave. This we afterwards learned was done by the order of Monte- 
 zuma, who was determined to permit no more conferences. It feems 
 this monarch was greatly bigotted to the worfhip of his idols, to which 
 he every day facrificed boys, in order to obtain directions how to a<5l. 
 Their commands, were, that he mould hold no farther intercourfe with 
 us, and they forbid the reception of the crucifix in Mexico. This was 
 the caufe of the flight of our former neighbours, which gave us an 
 alarm and we prepared for hoftilities. 
 
 One day whilft I and another foldier were centinels upon the fands 
 at fome diftance from our poft, we remarked the approach of five na- 
 tives, whom, in order not to create an unneceffary alarm in the camp, 
 we fuftered to come up clofe to us. Thefe men faluted us in a friendly 
 manner, and by figns defired to be brought to our camp. I therefore 
 left my comrade at the out-poft, and attended them thither, for I then 
 had the full ufe of my limbs, far otherwife than at prefent that I am 
 worn down and old. When I had brought them to Cortes they faluted 
 Jiim with great revereace, addreffing him with the title of Lopelucio, 
 or lord, which is the fignification of the word in the Totonaquean lan- 
 guage. Thefe Indians were very different in their appearance from the 
 Mexicans, and they wore in their ears large rings of ftone painted blue, 
 and very fine leaves of gold in their lips. As their language was un- 
 intelligible to our interpreters, Donna Marina afked in the Mexican if 
 any of them could fpeak in that dialed; to which two of them anfwered 
 in the affirmative, and immediately proceeded to fay, that their lord 
 had fmt them to congratulate us on our arrival; that he would be proud 
 to ferve fuch brave men as he had heard we were, and would have 
 waited upon us before, but from dread of the people of Culehua, Who 
 were with us. In the courfe of convention Cortes was pleafed to find 
 
 that 
 
( 62 ) 
 
 that Montezuma had enemies in the countiy ; he difmifled thefe men 
 with prefents, and defired them to aflure their chief, that he would 
 fhortly pay him an amicable vifit. Thefe people were ever after named 
 the Lopelucios. . 
 
 The fands we had remained on during this time, were infefted by 
 the fmall mofquito, which is much the moft troublefome of all, and 
 under whofe attacks it is impoflibe to fleep; our bread was rotten, and 
 we had hardly any thing elfe to eat. The faction of Velafquez, and 
 thofe who had good plantations in Cuba therefore began to be very tired 
 of our prefent fituation, which indeed required fome change, and Cortes 
 prepared to proceed to the fortified town named Quiabuiftlan. Upon 
 this the perfons I have alluded to grew more querulous than before; they 
 complained that they fhould be worn down by the attacks of the natives 
 of this vail: country, having already loft above thirty-five of our num- 
 ber, and that it was preferable to return and report to Velafquez what 
 we had done. To thefe remonftrances Cortes replied, that hitherto we 
 had no caufe to complain of fortune ; that death w as the fate of war, 
 and it was our faults if we wanted while we lived in a plentiful land; 
 that it was impoiTible to quit this country without feeing more of it, 
 and he fruited in God's afiiftance. This in fome degree calmed, but by 
 no means extinguifhed the fpirit of the party which had formed itfelf. 
 
 Cortes had now obtained from Puertocarrero, Alvarado and his 
 four brothers, De Oli, De Avila, Efcalante, De Lugo, and myfelf, to- 
 gether with other officers and cavaliers, promifes of our fupport in ap- 
 pointing him to an independent command, and this was fufpected by 
 Montejo who clofely watched all our motions. One night very late, 
 Puertocarrero, Efcalante, and De Lugo who was a diftant relation of 
 mine came to my hut, and faid to me, *' Senior del Caftillo get your arms 
 and join us to attend Cortes who is going his rounds." I accordingly 
 did fo, and as foon as we had quitted the hut, they told that they 
 wanted fome corwerfation with me, which it was not proper for my 
 •comrades, who were of the faction of Velafquez, to hear. One of 
 
 them 
 
( «3) 
 
 them then addrefTed me as follows j ** Senior del CaftiHo it is now the 
 " third time that you have vifited this country to your cofl and lofs j 
 '* Cortes has deceived us ; he faid in Cuba that he had powers to 
 f * eflablifh a colony, whereas they went no farther as at prefent appears 
 " than to traffic, and now we are to return to Cuba and aflign all our 
 " wealth over to Velafquez. Here are many of us determined to take 
 " pofTeflion of this country under Cortes in his Majefty's name, and 
 " until his royal pleafure is known: Cortes fhall be elected our general,, 
 " and we expect you will give him your vote." To all this I mofl 
 heartily and immediately affented, and we went through the different 
 huts thus canvaffing for Cortes. The affair was foon known to the 
 party of Velafquez which was much more numerous than ours ; they 
 immediatelyl went to Cortes, and haughtily defircd him to defift from 
 thefe underhand proceedings ; they told him that it was his duty now 
 to return to Velafquez who had fent him, and that we were not by any 
 means provided for the eftablifhment of a colony. To this Cortes 
 mildly replied, that as in duty bound he would inftantly return; but 
 we who were of the other party now exclaimed againft him for having 
 deceived U6 in afferting that he had a commiflion to colonize, whereas 
 it appeared that it went no farther than barter; adding, that we de- 
 manded a fulfilment of his original engagement with us, as neeeffary 
 for the fervice of God and his Majefty. That once we were fettled 
 more foldiers would join us, and that Velafquez had drawn us to our 
 ruin, by inducing us to come here in hopes of a fettlement, and difap- 
 pointing us ; and we concluded by faying, that thofe who chofe to re- 
 turn to Cuba were welcome to do fo. 
 
 We then infinxd on Cortes accepting the command of us who were 
 determined to try our fortunes in this new country,, for the iervice of 
 God and his Majefty: he for fome time rcfufed, but at length acceded, 
 for as the proverb fays, " You aik me that, to which I have already got 
 my own confent," and thus he was appointed our captain general, and 
 fupreme magiflrate. The worft part of the bufinefs was, the power 
 which we gave him, to draw for himfelf, one fifth of all the gold after 
 
 that 
 
( 64 ) 
 
 that of his Majefty was deducted. However with all thefe authorities 
 and privileges he was formally inverted, before a royal notary, Diego de 
 Godoy. It was now determined to proceed immediately to the founda- 
 tion of a fettlement and town, which we named De la Vera Cruz, be- 
 caufe we arrived here on Holy Thurfday, and difembarked on Good 
 Friday, and we called it Villa Rica, from the words of a cavalier, who 
 faid, *« Behold the rich lands." We alfo appointed civil magiitrates, 
 the two firfr' alcaldes being A. H. Puertocarrero, the cavalier I have 
 juft alluded to, and Francifco de Montejo; the latter was no friend t* 
 Cortes, and it was for that reafon he was from policy appointed to this 
 fituation. A gallows was erected in the fquare of the town, and ano- 
 ther at fome diftence out of it. Pedro de Alvarado was appointed cap- 
 tain of the expeditions, Chriftoval de OIL maeftre de campo, Juan de 
 Efcalante Alguazil mayor, Gonzalo Mexia treafurer, Alonzo de Avila 
 contador, and one Corral ftandard bearer, for Villaroel who had held 
 that fituation was difplaced, on account of fome umbrage Cortes had 
 taken againft him about an Indian woman of Cuba. Ochoa Vifcaino, 
 and Alonzo Romero, were appointed military alguazils. If it is afked 
 now, why I do not name Gonzalo de Sandoval that valiant captain, 
 who* was noticed by our great monarch the emperor, I reply, that he 
 was at this time a (tripling, and had not acquired the fame in arms he 
 afterwards obtained. 
 
 The fteps which we had taken enraged the faction of Velafquez 
 beyond all meafure; they were almoft ready to break out into ads of 
 violence, and uttered the moft mutinous expremons. Juan de Efca- 
 lante now, having previoufly concerted the meafure with Cortes, de- 
 manded in the name of us all, a fight of the initruaions given by Ve- 
 lafquez. The tenor of them was as follows; «< As foon as you (hall 
 " have procured the utmoft quantity of gold that is to be had, return." 
 We requeued this inllrument, in order that the whole of the proceed- 
 ings mould be laid before his Majefty ; a neceflary precaution as after- 
 wards appeared, from the fteps which were taken againft us by the 
 Bilhop of Burgos and Archbifhop of Rofiano, Don Juan Rodriguez 
 
 ■ de 
 
( 65 ) 
 
 de Fonfeea, for fo he was named, who wifhed, throughout, to deftroy 
 us all. 
 
 The adherents of Velafquez now declared, that they would not re- 
 main under the command of Cortes, but would return to the Ifland of 
 Cuba ; to which Cortes replied, that it was not his wifti to detain any- 
 one contrary to his inclination, even though he mould remain alone. 
 This pacified many, but Juan Velafquez de Leon a relation of the Go- 
 vernor of Cuba, Diego de Ordas, Efcobar who had been his page, Ef- 
 cudero, and others were not to be reconciled; fo that Cortes was obliged 
 to arreft them, and keep them for a time in irons. 
 
 K 
 
( 66 ) 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 The Spanijh Army advances into the Country, 
 
 JL HE wants we experienced now required fome relief, and Alvarado 
 was accordingly fent with a hundred foldiers principally of the party 
 of Velafquez, to fearch the country, and procure maize, and other pro- 
 virions ; for it was thought moil politic, that the whole of thofe who 
 were friends to Cortes mould remain with him. It muft. be obferved 
 that this neighbourhood where the language of Culva was fpoken, was 
 dependent upon Mexico. Alvarado proceeding on his expedition, 
 marched to fome fmall villages, dependencies of the diflrict, named 
 Colli tlan, which the inhabitants had quitted a (hort time before his 
 arrival. In their temples he found the bodies of men and boys lately 
 lacrificed, the flones on which the horrid ceremony was performed, and 
 the knives ytt fmoking ; the limbs were fevered from the bodies, and 
 taken away, as our people were informed, to be eaten. Thefe mocking 
 fcenes aflonifhed our foldiers , but we every where as we proceeded 
 through the country found fimilar ones. In thefe villages they obtained 
 abundance of provifions, of which they {tripped them, without doing 
 further damage, by the Uriel: orders of Cortes, and returned with two 
 prifoners to our quarters, where we rejoiced in the novelty of good fare: 
 for, as the faying is, all hardfhips and misfortunes are fupported with 
 a hearty meal. 
 
 The addrefs and activity of Cortes made him daily acquire an 
 interefl amongfl the former adherents of Velafquez, fome with gold 
 which breaks the folid rocks, and more with promifes were fuccemvely 
 drawn over to him. He firil brought his prifoners from the fhips 
 where they had been in confinement, and in a few days releafed them 
 
 entirely, 
 
( 67 ) 
 
 entirely, attaching them fincerely to his intereft, and all by the foftenino- 
 effects of gold. 
 
 We now proceeded to the fortrefs of Quiabuifllan, and on our 
 march thither along the coaft, I recoiled: that we paffed a great fifh 
 which was left behind by the tide. We then arrived at a river where 
 the prefent town of Vera Cruz is built, and croffed it to a village on the 
 oppofite fide. The diftricr. was fubjecT: to the great town of Cempoal, 
 to which the five Indians belonged who vifited us with golden orna- 
 ments in their under lips. In fome temples we found the inftruments 
 and remains of human facrifices, much plumage of parrots, and books 
 of the paper of the country, folded in the manner of cloth of Caftille; 
 but the natives had all fled, and no provifions were to be found. 
 
 We now quitted the coaft, and ftruck into the country towards the 
 weft, where, in fome large plains without any beaten track, we faw 
 herds of deer feeding. Alvarado with his fwift chefnut mare gave 
 chace to one of them, which he wounded with his lance, but the ani- 
 mal efcaped from him into the woods. Juft at this time twelve Indians 
 came to us, bearing proviiions ; they had been fent by their chief with 
 an invitation to go to his town, which was diftant one day's journey. 
 Cortes thanked them, and we proceeded on, to a town where wc halted 
 for the night. We found here the remains of human facrifices, both of 
 men and women, with the repetition of the further details of which, I 
 will not tire the reader. 
 
 Early in the morning we proceeded under the conduct of our 
 friendly Indians, and fent forward to the chief of Cempoal to inform 
 him of our approach. When we came within a league of the place, we 
 were met by twenty principal perfons, who prefenting Cortes and the 
 cavalry with very odoriferous flowers tied in bunches, told him, that 
 they came with an excufe on the part of their chief, who was fo 
 fat and unwieldy that he was not able to come out, but had fent them 
 to invite us to his town. Cortes thanked them, and we proceeded. 
 
 K 2 When 
 
(• 68 ) 
 
 When we entered, we were furprifed with the beauty of the buildings 
 
 and fituation, and the various plantations of trees. All the fbeets as we 
 
 pafled were filled with men and women, attracted by curiofity. Our 
 
 advanced guard having gone to the great fquare, the buildings of which 
 
 had been lately whitewafhed and plaiftered, in which art theife people 
 
 are very expert, one of our horfemen was fo ftruck with the fplendor of 
 
 their appearance in the fun, that he came back in full fpeed to Cortes, 
 
 to tell him that the walls of the houfes were of filver. When we came 
 
 to know the reality we all laughed heartily at him, and ufed in future to 
 
 fay that every thing that was white, was filver in his eyes. Thefe 
 
 buildings were appointed for our lodgings, and large apartments affigned 
 
 to* us, which contained the whole; and here the fat cacique, far fo I 
 
 am in future to call him, came to pay his refpects to Cortes. They had 
 
 provided an entertainment for us, with bafkets of plums, and bread of 
 
 maize. We were well pleafed with our fituation, and named the town 
 
 Villa Viciofa; though fome called it Seville. Cortes ordered that the 
 
 foldiers mould give no umbrage to the inhabitants,, and that we mould 
 
 for that reafon remain in our quarters. 
 
 As foon as the fat cacique underftood that we had dined, he figni- 
 fiedto Cortes his intention of waiting on him, which he fhortly after 
 did, attended by many of the principal inhabitants, drefled in rich 
 mantles, and ornamented with gold. Cortes went out to meet them 
 with great ceremony, and having embraced the fat cacique , the latter 
 ordered a prefent to be brought, compofed of gold and mangles, but of 
 little value, which he offered to. Cortes, faying, " Great lord, receive 
 4 * this prefent -kindly, for if I had more it mould be yours. " Cortes 
 anfwered that he would repay it with good works, and defired to know 
 what fervices he could render him, having been fent by the emperor 
 whofe vailkl he was, to redrefs wrongs, punifh the wicked, and pre- 
 vent the facnike of human fouls. He then faid many things to him 
 concerning our holy faith. .As foon as the fat cacique had heard them 
 out, giving a deep iigh, he complained bitterly oii Montezuma and his 
 officers, faying, that having lately been compelled to fubmit to the 
 
 yoke 
 
( 69 ) 
 
 yoke of that monarch, lie had feized all his gold, and now held him 
 completely enthralled. 
 
 Cortes promifed that he would loon take fuch meafures as fhouL 
 free him from the tyranny he complained of. | The cacique then made 
 a very difcreet anfwer, and they parted for the prefent. On the enfuing. 
 day we quitted this place attended by above four hundred Indians to 
 carry our baggage.- Thefe perfons are called Tamenes :. they carry a 
 burthen of about fifty pounds for the fpace of. rive leagues, where they 
 are relieved; and we underftood that in peaceable and orderly times, in 
 thefe countries, each cacique was obliged, on demand, to provide them, 
 through his diitrict. At night we arrived at a village hard by the 
 town of Quiaviftlan, where we found a good fupper provided for .us 
 by the care of the fat cacique. 
 
 At ten o'clock in the forenoon of the enfiiing day, we entered the 
 fortified town of Quiaviitlan, lituated upon a rock of very difficult 
 afcent, with our artillery in the front. Though I may be charged with 
 breaking in upon my narrative to relate old ftories, I-muft mention, 
 that as we were marching up to this place, Captain A. de Avila, an ilL- 
 tempered man, being angry with a foldier named Villanueva for break- 
 ing his rank, gave him a thrufl of his lance in the arm which lamed, 
 him ever lifter; he was therefore in future called Villa nueva el Man- 
 quillo. We advanced to the middle of the city without any refinance, 
 or even meeting an individual ; but on approaching the temples, which 
 •were upon the principal fquare, we few fifteen perfons dreffed in rich 
 manttes, who approaching Cortes preferred him with incenfe, and 
 apologizing for the abfence of -the people, through .fear, invited us to 
 repofe ourfelves, and promifed that before night the inhabitants mould 
 return. Cortes informed them of that which related to our million, in 
 the fervice of our great emperor, and holy faith, and prefenting them 
 with feme trinkets, defired that they would fend us a fupply of pro- 
 viiions, which they inflantly did. jo 
 
 • ■ 
 
 Cortes 
 
( 70 ) 
 
 Cortes was now informed of the approach of the fat cacique, who 
 fhortly appeared, borne in a litter by his principal nobility; and on his 
 arrival, he immediately joined with the chiefs of this place, in bitter 
 complaints of the tyranny of Montezuma ; one of the heavieft articles 
 of which was, his demand of their children for the purpofes of Sacrifice, 
 or flavery ; and they aflerted that this was the practice, with many 
 other acts of outrage committed by his officers, through the whole of 
 the country where the language of Totonaque was fpoken; a tract 
 which contained above thirty towns. Cortes confoled them, promifing 
 redrefs, and whilft they were thus converting a perfon came to inform 
 the chiefs, that there were juft then arrived five Mexican officers, or 
 -collectors of tribute. This intelligence drove the colour from the cheeks 
 of all the natives, and they went trembling, to receive them, leaving 
 Cortes quite alone. 
 
 For thefe officers lodgings were prepared with the greatefl difpatch, 
 and chocolate got ready for their refrefliment. As they went to their 
 apartments they paffed us by with great ftate, not deigning to caft a 
 look upon Cortes. They were drefled in mantles elegantly wrought, 
 and drawers of the fame: their hair mining, and as it were tied at the 
 top of the head, and each of them had in his hand a bunch of rofes, 
 which he occafionally fmelt to. They were attended by fervants who 
 fanned them, and each of whom carried a cord and a hooked flick. 
 They were.alfo attended by a numerous company of the principal per- 
 sons, who did not quit them until they had taken their refrefliment, 
 After which they fent for the fat cacique, and thofe of this place, and 
 gave them a fevere reprimand for receiving and entertaining us, contrary 
 to the will of their fovereign, Montezuma; and having ufed many 
 threats of punifhment, they concluded with a demand of twenty men 
 and women to facrifice to their gods, in .order to expiate the offence. 
 
 This being made .known 'to our general he acquainted the caciques, 
 that in conformity to his duty, he deemed it proper to feize the perfons 
 <>f thefe officers., until their lord, Montezuma, mould be informed of the 
 
 tyrannies 
 
( V ) 
 
 tyrannies they committed on his fubjects. This propofal terrified and 
 aftonifhed the chiefs, and they at firfl refufed to lay hands on them, 
 but Cortes was determined, and caufed them, to be feized and fattened 
 by the neck in a kind of pillory made of large ftaves and collars. They 
 were fo fixed as not to be able to ftir, and one of them alfo being refrac- 
 tory was beaten foundly. Cortes then proclaimed that neither tribute 
 nor obedience mould be paid to Montezuma, and this he ordered to be 
 made univerfally known through thefe diftricts, and alfo r ,that wherever- 
 he fhould hear of any officers of Montezuma coming, he would fend 
 for and arreft them. The intelligence of thefe meafures foon fpread 
 through the country,, which the natives faid were to be attempted only 
 by fuperior beings, or Teules, the name which they give to their idols, 
 and by which they henceforward diftinguifhed the Spaniards. 
 
 The chiefs were now violent to facrifice the officers,, whom before 
 their arreft they hardly dared to look at ; and this they faid was in order 
 to prevent them from conveying intelligence to Mexico; but when it 
 came to the knowledge of Cortes, he prevented it by taking them into 
 his own cuftody, and putting them under a guard of foldiers. At mid- 
 night he caufed two of them to be untied, and brought fecretly into his 
 prefence> when they came before him, he afked them, as if ignorant 
 of what had happened, what country they belonged to, and why they 
 were kept prifoners. They anfwered, " That they had been feized by 
 ' * the caciques and people of that town, who were favored and encou- 
 " raged in it by him and us." To this Cortes replied, " That he 
 " knew nothing of it, and was very forry for what had happened." 
 He then caufed food to be brought to them, and treating them with 
 great kindnefs, defired that they would go and inform their fovereign- 
 how much he wifhed to be his friend and fervant. He alfo promifed- 
 that he would releafe their companions, and reprimand the caciques for 
 what they had done. He then defired fhem to go away as fait as they 
 could, but they informing him that it would be their defiruction to at- 
 tempt to pafs through the country, he fent them by a boat with fix . 
 
 failors, 
 
( 7* ) 
 
 failors, who had orders to put them on fhore beyond the territory of 
 Cempoal. 
 
 In the morning, when the caciques found that two of their pri-> 
 foners were flown, they were very determined on iacriricing the reft, 
 but Cortes alTuming the appearance of great difpleafure at the lofs, or- 
 dered a chain to be brought, in which he fent the remainder of the 
 Mexicans to the mips, and this he did to get them out of the power of 
 the others, for as foon as they were on board he releafed them, with a 
 promife that they fhould foon be permitted to return to Mexico. The 
 caciques now reverted to Cortes for advice how they mould act, as 
 Montezuma mufr. inevitably know the manner in which his officers had 
 been treated, and would in confequence overwhelm them with his great 
 armies; to which Cortes with a cheerful countenance replied, that 
 he and his brothers there would guard them againft all attacks. 
 Hie caciques on their part offered to fupport us with all their powers, 
 and they at this time entered under allegiance to his Majeity before 
 Diego de Godoy the royal notary, and caufcd proclamation thereof to be 
 made through the province, the people of which rejoiced in the exemp- 
 tion from the vexatious demands of Montezuma's officers. 
 
 The ftrong alliance which we had now made, induced us to lofe 
 no time in eftabliflung our fettlement in fo advantageous a fituation. 
 For the fcite of our town we chofe a plain, half a league from the fortrefs 
 where vvc now were; and tracing out the foundations of the church, 
 fquare, arfenal, and fort, we railed all the buildings to the frft flory, 
 and alio the walls and parapets of the fort, with loop holes and barba- 
 cans. Cortes was the firft to carry earth, or ftones, or dig in the foun- 
 dations; and his example was followed by all the officers and foldiers, 
 fome digging, and others making the walls of clay, bringing water, 
 and at the kilns making bricks and tiles ; others feeking prcvifions or 
 timber, and the fmiths preparing the iron work. In this manner we 
 continued, until, w{th the affiftance of the natives, we had nearly com- 
 pleted the.-chiirch, houfes, and fortreffes. 
 
 At 
 
( 73 j 
 
 At this time, it appears, the great Montezuma received intelli- 
 gence of the manner in which his officers had been treated, and of the 
 rebellion of the provinces. He was much enraged with Cortes, and 
 had ordered two armies to march, one to punilli his refractory fubjects, 
 the other againU: us, but when they were ready to fet out, the arrival of 
 the two officers whom Cortes had releafed, and the account of the man- 
 ner in which they had been treated while in our power, affuaged his 
 anger, and induced him to fend us a peaceable melTagc. For this pur- 
 pose he felected two of his nephews, whom he fent to us under the 
 care of four old noblemen of the firfl rank about his court, with a pre- 
 fent of gold, and mantles, worth two thoufaiuf crowns, and alfo to re- 
 turn his thanks to Cortes, for the civility (hewn to his officers; but 
 adding a complaint of his having inftigated thefe people to throw off 
 their allegiance, for which he would at a future opportunity punifli 
 them, though he refrained from doing fo at the prefent, on account of 
 our being amongft them ; becaufe he was convinced that we were thofe 
 of whom the ancient prophecies had fpoken, and that we were of the 
 fame anceftors with himfelf. Cortes informed the ambaffadors, that 
 he and all of us were the moft humble fervants of the great Montezuma, 
 for whom we had taken care of thofe officers, three of whom were now 
 on board of our mips, and thefe he ordered to be immediately brought 
 and delivered to their friends. 
 
 Cortes then complained of Montezuma, and the uncivil flight of 
 his officer the governor, faying, that was the reafon of his now coming 
 to this country, where he had received much kindnefs; hoping, what 
 had pafled would be pardoned, and that as to tribute, it was not pof- 
 fible to ferve two mailers, and the people of thefe provinces were now 
 the vaffals of our lord the emperor; but that he expected foon to wait 
 on the great Montezuma, and then every thing mould be done to his 
 fatisfaction by us. He prefented the young princes with glafs diamonds 
 and beads, and treated them with much honor, ordering the cavalry 
 out to exercife in their prefence, a fight which afforded them great fa- 
 
 1 tisfaction; 
 

 ( 74 ) 
 
 tisfa&ion ; after which they returned to Mexico, very well contented 
 with their vifit. 
 
 Cortes at this time loft his horfe, whofe place he fupplied by that 
 called El Harriero: he was a dark chefnut and one of the befl that were 
 brought to New Spain. The embaiTy fent by Montezuma had the 
 greateft. effecl: on the people of thofe countries, for faid they how formi- 
 dable mufl thofe Teules be, whom even the great Montezuma fears ! ! 
 
 The fat cacique now waited on Cortes, to complain of the out- 
 rages committed by a garrifon of Mexican troops which occupied a 
 town called Cingapacinga, nine leagues diftant from the place where 
 we were. After fome confi deration, Cortes laughing faid to thofe about 
 him, '* Gentlemen you fee that thefe people efteem us to be a fuperior 
 " race of beings, let us encourage the prejudice, and imprefs them 
 *' with the idea that one of us is enough to drive an army before him. 
 '■* For this purpofe I will fend old Heredia the Bifcayan muiketeer, 
 " whofe fierce and fcarred face, great beard, one eye, and lame leg, 
 " will terrify them." This man had been a foldier in Italy. Cortes 
 told him when he had got as far as the river to fire a mufket as a fignal, 
 for he did this only to try how far the credulity of the Indians in our 
 favor would carry them. Heredia being prefent, he called to the ca- 
 ciques faying, " Go with this Teule, whom I fend to kill or make pri- 
 •' foners all your enemies." The caciques fet out with their party ac- 
 cordingly, being headed by the old foldier, who went firing his mufket 
 before them out of the town. As foon as he arrived at the river he 
 gave the fignal, and Cortes fent to flop them, having fufficiently tried 
 their faith, and when they returned he informed them that it was his 
 intention to proceed againfl their enemies with his whole force. 
 
 When the foldiers were warned for this duty, thofe of the party of 
 Velafquez refufed to obey orders, faying, that they would go on no ex- 
 pedition, but infilled on returning to the Ifland of Cuba. The number 
 of mutineers who openly declared themfclves was feven; when thefe 
 
 were 
 
( 75 ) 
 
 were brought before Cortes and afked by him how they could behave (o 
 ill, they infolently replied, that they wondered at his idea of colonizing 
 amongft fuch numbers of the natives ; that for their parts they were 
 tired of bein.< r dragged about, and would go to their plantations in Cuba. 
 Cortes replied that he would not oppofe their going, though he disap- 
 proved of thdr conduct ; accordingly they embarked, and brought their 
 provifions of bread, oil, and vegetables, on board, and one of them 
 named Moron fold a good horfe to one Juan Ruano, who was to pay 
 for it by an alignment of certain articles of his property in Cuba. 
 
 Juft as" the veffel was ready to fail, the foldiers, heaeffc by the al- 
 caldes, and other civil officers of the fettlement, waited on Cortes with a 
 requeft that he would permit no perfons whatever to quit their colours » 
 a crime for which thofe who committed it deferved to fufTer death. 
 Cortes for fome time appeared to be unwilling to withdraw the per- 
 miffion, but at length fuffered himfelf to be perfuaded, and the feven 
 malcontents were obliged to come back to us and fuftain the ridicule 
 their condud brought on them ; Moron alfo loft his horfe, which the 
 other kept, referring him for the payment, to his alignment on his pro- 
 perty in the Ifland of Cuba. 
 
 Our internal troubles being appeafed for the prefent, Cortes kt out 
 upon his expedition with four hundred foldiers, being joined at Cem- 
 poal by a thoufand of our allies divided into four companies. The firft 
 days march was five leagues, and on the enfuing day we reached the 
 outfkirts of the town of Cingapacinga, which was built among ftecp 
 and difficult rocks. When the inhabitants heard of our approach, a 
 deputation of eight of their chieftains was fent to Cortes, and being 
 brought into his prefence, thefe perfons with tears in their eyes afked 
 him why he came to deftroy them, who had given no occafion for fuch 
 an aggreffion, adding that this furprifed them the more from the 
 celebrity of our juftice, which had reached them; and as to our allies 
 of Cempoal, their malevolence againft them was founded upon an old 
 difpute about boundaries, and now they took advantage of our Support 
 
 L 2 to 
 

 ( 76 ) 
 
 to rob and murder them. They admitted that a Mexican garrifon had 
 been in their town, but it had retired on the arreii of the officers of 
 Montezuma. They therefore prayed that we would grant them our 
 favor. 
 
 As foon as this was explained to Cortes, he gave orders to his 
 troops not to fuffer any of the allies to advance. This order was 
 fpeedily communicated, but they were already plundering the people in 
 the fuburbs, at which Cortes was greatly enraged, and ordering the 
 captains into his prefence, he commanded them to return what had been 
 taken, adding, that they deferved the punifhment of death for their 
 mifreprefentations, when their real and evident intention was, to rob 
 and facrifice their neighbours : an injuftice which we were bound to 
 prevent or redrefs. The chiefs of Cempoal, duly imprelTed by thefe 
 menaces, inftantly furrendered their prifoners and plunder. Cortes 
 then, with an enraged countenance commanded them to quit the place 
 for the night, which they accordingly did. This conduct won the 
 hearts of the people of the diftricl:, and both chiefs and priefts liftened 
 attentively to, and were convinced by, the truths which Corttes told 
 them relative to our holy faith, and his exhortation to quit th^if abo- 
 minable worfhip and cuftoms, infomuch that, calling in the people of 
 the neighbouring districts, the whole engaged under allegiance to his 
 Majefty; after having done which, they made heavy complaints of the 
 tyranny of Montezuma. 
 
 On the enfuing morning, Cortes called for the chiefs of Cempoal, 
 and effected a permanent reconciliation between them and his people. 
 We then departed by a different route, and being much fatigued, we 
 halted in a town which was in the diitricl: of the place we had left. It 
 happened here that a certain foldier named De Mora, took two fowls 
 from the houfe of one of the inhabitants, and Cortes on hearing of it 
 was fo incenfed at fuch an outrage being committed, in a peaceable 
 country, that he immediately hung him up, but Captain de Alvarado 
 drawing his fword, cut the rope juft in time to fave the poor man's 
 
 life; 
 
( 77 ) 
 
 life; this foldier was afterwards killed in an action at a rock in Guati- 
 mala. I mention the circumftance as a proof of the ftrictnefs with 
 which Cortes enforced difcipline. 
 
 Proceeding from the place where this happened, we arrived at 
 fome huts where we found the fat cacique waiting for us with refrefh- 
 ments and provifions. Our conduct on this expedition made the na- 
 tives hold us in higher eftimation than before; for although untaught, 
 they could fee that juftice is holy and good, and that the behaviour of 
 Gortes was conformable to what he profefTed, when he declared that he 
 came to redrefs and prevent tyranny. Here we refted for the night, and 
 on the enfuing day all the caciques attended us to our lodgings in 
 their town. 
 
 They were doubly interested now to retain us amongfl: them, for 
 they were in great dread of the vengeance of Montezuma j they there- 
 fore in-order to fix us propofed an intermarriage, and for that purpofe 
 offered to us eight ladies, all of the firft families, who were intro- 
 duced richly drcfled, and ornamented with gold collars and ear rings, 
 and attended by a number of female flaves. The fat cacique then faid 
 to Cortes, *' Tecle or lord, thefe feven young women are for the cap- 
 " tains of your army, and this my niece who is proprietor of towns 
 " and vaffals, I beg leave to prefent to you." Cortes received the offer 
 as it merited, but took the opportunity to obferve, that in order to 
 ftrengthen the friendfhip with us, it was necefTary that they mould firft 
 renounce their idolatrous worfhip, the abominable cuftom of male 
 youths appearing in women's drefs, and their human facrifices; for 
 every day our fight was offended by the repetition of four or five of thefe 
 horrid murders, the unfortunate victims being cut up and their limbs 
 fold in the public markets, as beef is in the towns of Old Caftille. He 
 alfo added, that before we could accept their propofal relative to thefe 
 ladies, it was necefTary that they mould undergo the ceremony of baptifm. 
 
 The chiefs and priefts replied, that they could not think of re- 
 nouncing 
 
( 78 ) 
 
 nouncing the worfhip of their gods in any refpect : but as to the other 
 evil practice a flop mould be put to it. This anfwer however did not 
 by any means fatisfy us, and Cortes ftrongly reprefented the neceffity of 
 fuppreiTmg by force their idolatrous worfhip, and his determination, 
 though it cofl the lives of all, on that very day to proftrate their falfe 
 gods. For this purpofe we therefore immediately got under arms, and 
 then Cortes declared his intention to the chiefs. As foon as the fat ca- 
 cique heard it, he ordered the people to arm and alTemble in defence of 
 their temple, and they all appeared greatly agitated ; but when they 
 law that we were preparing to afcend the great flight of fteps, the chief 
 abovementioned came up to Cortes and expoftulated with him, afking 
 him why he proceeded upon a meafure whereby he would bring de- 
 frruction upon them and us alfo. Cortes anfwered that he was deter r 
 mined fincethey paid no regard to what he faid, to hurl their pretended 
 gods down the fleps. The chiefs replied, that they were unworthy to 
 approach them, but if we were refolved on doing what we faid, they 
 could not help themfelves. Accordingly, they had hardly faid this, 
 when fifty of us going up for the purpofe, threw down and broke to 
 pieces the enormous idols which we found within the temple, fome in 
 the form of dragons, others of half human fhape, and others like dogs. 
 At this fight the chiefs and priefts wept and prayed for pardon, but the 
 warriors prepared to attack us with their arrows. Perceiving their in^. 
 tention, we immediately feized the fat cacique and fix more chiefs and 
 priefts, Cortes exclaiming, that if any outrage was attempted, they 
 (hould every man die that moment. The fat cacique tben called to his 
 warriors to defift, and matters being foon brought to a ftate of quiet, 
 Cortes took an opportunity of haranguing the people upon the fubject 
 of religion. 
 
 He next ordered that the fragments of the idols mould be burned, 
 and immediately eight priefts who ufed to have the care of them came, 
 and collecting them together, brought them into the temple, where 
 they were confumed. 
 
 Thefe 
 
( 79 ) 
 
 Thefe priefls were drefTed in long black mantles like meets with 
 hoods refembling thofe of our canons hanging to the fhouldcrs, their 
 robes reached to the feet, and they had a fmaller hood like the domi- 
 nicans. Their long hair was matted together with clotted blood; with 
 fome it reached to the waifl, and with others to the feet, their ears 
 were torn and cut, and they fmelt horribly, as it were of fulphur, and 
 putrid flefh. They were faid to be all of noble families, and they were 
 addicted to the evil practice of the country. On certain days they failed : 
 I have feen them make food of the feeds or kernels of the cotton plant, 
 what elfe they might have ufed at other times I cannot fay. 
 
 Cortes then harangued the people, faying that now we were really 
 brothers, Montezuma mould no longer opprefs them, and he would 
 place them under the protection of the great Lady whom we adore, the 
 mother of Chrifl, with many other good and holy reafons and argu- 
 ments, which could not be better exprefTed by any one, and all which 
 the people liflened to with great attention. He then caufed a number 
 of Indian mafons to be collected, with lime, which abounded in that 
 place, and had the walls cleared of blood, and new plaiflered. He alfo 
 constructed an altar which he hung round with rich mantles, and 
 adorned with wreaths of rofes. The temple being thus purified and 
 cleaned, he commanded four priefls to cut off their hair, and change their 
 black garments for white ones, and entrufled them with the care of the 
 altar, and he placed an old foldier named Juan de Torres de Cordova, 
 who was lame, as a hermit to refide in the temple. He alfo planted a 
 crofs againfl a column of timber, and on the next day mafs was faid 
 there by F. Bart, de Olmedo. We likewife taught the natives to make 
 candles of wax, and they were enjoined to keep them always burning 
 before the holy altar. 
 
 The principal perfons of this and the neighbouring diflricts at- 
 tended at divine fervice, and the eight ladies were at this time baptized 
 and inflructed in our holy faith. The niece of the fat cacique was 
 named Donna Catalina ; fhe was as ugly as pofhble, but the general re- 
 ceived 
 
( So ) 
 
 ccived her by the hand affectionately. Puertocarrcro was more fortu- 
 nate; his lady was for an Indian very handfome; flie was the daughter 
 of a great cacique named Cuefco, and was called Donna Francifca. 
 The alliance confolidated the friendfhip between us and this people, of 
 whom we now took our leave, and returned to Villa Rica. 
 
 On our arrival we found a vefTel from Cuba in the harbour, com- 
 manded by one Francifco Saucedo, called el Pulido on account of his 
 affectation of finery and manners. Luis Marin a very able officer, and 
 ten foldiers with two horfes were on board. We learned by thefe 
 people that Velafquez had received from Old Spain his authority to 
 barter and colonize. This, with his appointment to the commiffion of 
 adelantado of Cuba, put his friends in our army in very great ipirits. 
 
 The works of our town were nearly finifhed, and many of us now 
 grew anxious to pay a vifit to the great Montezuma, and expreffed to 
 Cortes our wim to try our fortune. Confultations being held hereon, 
 it was determined in the firft place to fend a deputation to his Majefty, 
 with an account of what we had done, and alfo with the gold and other 
 articles of value which had been obtained. This determination was 
 agreed to by Cortes, and was immediately carried into effect, and Diego 
 de Ordas, and Francifco de Montejo, two men of bufinefs, going 
 through the whole of the officers and foldiers, and reprefenting to 
 them, that, although to fuch as claimed their mare it mould not be 
 denied, yet it was for the general intereft that the whole of the treafure 
 mould be fent to his Majefty, all our companions gave their con- 
 fer*, and renounced their claim to a partition. Alonzo Hernandez 
 Puertocarrero, and Francifco de Montejo were named as our agents, 
 the laft mentioned of whom Cortes had already fecured in his own in- 
 tereft by a gift of two thoufand crowns. By thefe gentlemen Cortes 
 wrote his private letters, the contents of which we never knew. The 
 council alfo wrote conjointly with thofe of the foldiers who were moll: 
 folicitous for the eftablifhment of the colony, and the election of Cortes 
 as captain general. In this letter nothing was omitted that could fcrve 
 
 OUj 
 
( 8i ) 
 
 our caufe; my hand was to it with the reft: and befides thefe, a letter 
 to the following purport was written in the name of the whole army. 
 
 Beginning with the expreflions of refpedt due to fo great a monarch, 
 it proceeded to inform him of the events which had occurred during our 
 expedition, to the period of our election of Cortes, until his Majefty *s 
 pleafure on the fubject mould be known ; with our engagement to yield 
 him a fifth of all treafure, after the deduction for his Majefty. It alfo 
 contained an account of our difcoveiy of the two Spaniards in this 
 country, and our war in Tabafco, until we brought thofe people to 
 fubmiiiion to his Majefty, and to embrace our holy faith, cf our ob- 
 taining two excellent linguifts, of our arrival at St. Juan de Ulua, and 
 our interviews with the ambafTadors of Montezuma; our fubfequent 
 march into the country, and our alliance with the people here, who 
 had in confequence renounced obedience to the Mexican monarch, of 
 the expedition to Cingapacinga, the conftruction of our fortrefs, and 
 our prefent determination to advance into the country, to the court of 
 the great Montezuma. The letter alfo gave an account of the military 
 and religious cuftoms of the inhabitants, of the former expeditions of 
 our countrymen, and an enumeration of the various articles of treafure 
 which we lent by our agents, and how we alfo fent by the fame oppor- 
 tunity, four natives, whom we refcued out of the cages of Cempoal, 
 where they were fattening for victims. After thefe accounts we fur- 
 ther ftated, how we were at prefent four hundred and fifty foldiers, fur- 
 rounded by holts of enemies, and ready to lay down our lives for the 
 fervice of God, and his Majefty, and we fupplicated, that his Majefty 
 would be pleafed not to beltow the government of fo great and rich a 
 country, which deferved to be ruled by a great prince or lord, on any 
 unworthy perfon. We alfo ftated to his Majefty our apprehenfion, 
 that the Governor of Cuba might be attempted to be put in upon us t 
 through the intereft of his patron the Bifhop of Burgos, whom he had 
 attached to him by the alignment of valuable eftatcs in that Ifland, in 
 which he failed in his duty to his Majefty, who was by right entitled 
 to them. That thefe things we were bound Jo rcprefent, and await the 
 
 M return 
 
( 8a ) 
 
 return of his gracious anfwer proftrate on the ground ; and that if the 
 Bifhop of Burgos fent any perfon over us, we mould fufpend our obe- 
 dience, until his Majefly's pleafure was known, and that in the mean 
 time, we remained under the command of his Majefly's faithful fervant 
 tes, whofe merits we exalted to the fkies. 
 
 This being all drawn Up in due form, our general defired to be 
 permitted to read it, and on the perufal he exprefled his higher!: fatis- 
 faction thereat. The only two articles he excepted to were, the men- 
 tion of his (hare of the treafure, and of the names of the preceding dif- 
 coverers ; for it feems that he had in his private letter afcribed all the 
 honor and merit to himfelf. Thefe parts he defired to fupprefs, but 
 there were not wanting thofe who told him, that his Majefly was to 
 know, not only the truth, but the whole truth. This bufmefs com- 
 pleted, the letters were intruded to our agents, with ftrict injunctions 
 by no means to touch at the Havannah, nor at the port of El Marien,. 
 as we wifhed to keep the affair from the knowledge of Velafquez. 
 
 After mafs on the twenty-fixth of July 1519 our agents failed, 
 and arrived fafely at the Havannah, in direct oppofition to our instruc- 
 tions, for, Puertocarrero being fick, Montejo compelled the pilot Ala- 
 minos into his views, on the pretence of getting provifions from his 
 eftate at El Marien. As foon as the fhip caft anchor, Montejo fent a 
 failor on fhore with letters and advices to the Governor Velafquez, and 
 this man as he went through the Ifland proclaimed the news of all that 
 had happened in the army under Cortes. 
 
 Velafquez on receiving the intelligence communicated by Montejo, 
 as is faid, heartily curfed Cortes, his fecretary, and the contador, by 
 whofe advice he had chofen him. He immediately fent two veflels 
 armed in fearch of our fhip, of which the unwelcome intelligence was 
 ibon received, that fhe was by that time confiderably advanced towards 
 Europe; and with this news his veffels returned to St. Jago, making 
 Velafquez more difconfolate than ever. He lodged a complaint before 
 
 the 
 
( 83 ) 
 
 the Bifhop of Burgos, and the court of royal audience in St. Domingo, 
 but the reverend fathers fent him back an anfwer highly favorable to 
 us, whofe fervices they were by this time made acquainted with. This 
 anfwer, which was brought by a licentiate named Zuazo, or arrived about 
 the fame time with him, vexed the governor (o much, that from being 
 very fat, he grew quite lean. He now made the utmofl exertions to 
 collect a powerful armament in order to overwhelm us, on which bufi- 
 nefs he went in perfon, and by the fury and determination he exhibited, 
 he induced moll: of the fettlers of Cuba to take part in the expedition, and 
 prepared a fleet of eighteen fail great and fmall, under the command of 
 Pamphilo de Narvaez. 
 
 
 Our agents palling the canal of Bahama, under the guidance ,of 
 Alaminos, the firfl pilot who ever navigated through it, proceeded to 
 the Iflands of Terceras, and from thence to Seville; and in a few days ar- 
 rived at the court, which was then at Valladolid; the Bifhop of Burgos 
 being prefident of the royal council of the Indies. Our agents went to 
 wait on him in great fpirits, expecting a gracious reception, but haying 
 prefented their letters and requeited a fpeedy tranfmiflion of them and 
 their prefent, to his Majefly, who was then in Flanders, the bifhop 
 returned a very repulfive and haughty anfwer, faying, that he would 
 make his own reprefentations of our conduct, in having thrown off our 
 obedience to the governor of Cuba. The arrival of Benito Martinez 
 the chaplain of Velafquez at this time, contributed much to fet our 
 affairs in an unfavorable fituation, and the bifhop in confequence of a 
 remonflrance which was made to him by A. H. Puertocarrero, one of 
 thofe employed by us, and a cavalier of rank, caufed him to be thrown 
 into prjfon, on a pretended mifdemeanor, in carrying away with him 
 to the Indies a woman of Medellin, named Maria Rodriquez. ^Jl 
 this it was necefTary, according to the dictates of prudence, to keep 
 filence upon, until the proper time and place. 
 
 ■ 
 
 • 
 
 The bifhop now wrote to his Majefty, reprefenting the transac- 
 tions, in the mbft favorable light for Velafquez, and the mofl opposite 
 
 M 2 
 
 one 
 

 ( 8 4 ) 
 
 one for us, and entirely iupprefied all mention of our letters, or prefents, 
 of which he appropriated a great part to his own ufc. Our agents then, 
 in concert with Martin Cortes father to the general, and the licentiate 
 Nunez, relator of his Majefty's royal council and a near relation to 
 Cortes, with the countenance of fome noblemen their friends, and 
 others who were jealous of the haughty manners of the bifhop, rcfolved 
 to fend the duplicates of our letters to his Majefty, and alfo others, 
 complaining of the partiality of this prelate. It was the will of God 
 that the faid accounts mould reach his Majefty 's hands, a»d that he 
 mould be well pleafed with them, infomuch that, for many days, no- 
 thing was talked of but the fervices of Cortes, and us his foldiers. 
 The Emperor was ever after diffatisfied with the Bifhop of Burgos for 
 the part he had acted. When he heard the turn our affairs had taken 
 at court he was more furious againft Cortes and the reft of us than ever, 
 but it was the will of God that by the time two years more had elapfed, 
 his courage mould be cooled, for he was cenfured, while we continued 
 to be held in eftimation as loyal fubjeefs to his Majefty, and the Em- 
 peror was pleafed to fay, that he woidd fhortly come to Caftille, and 
 there attend to our memorials, and reward our fervices. 
 
 
 In four days after the departure of our agents, a plot was formed 
 by certain perfons who were enemies to Cortes on various accounts, fuch. 
 as the return to Cuba being precluded to them, and their being deprive^ 
 of a (hare of the gold. Amongft thefe confpirators were one Efcudero,; 
 and one Cermeno, Gonzalo de Umbria a pilot, Bernaldino de Coria, a 
 clergyman named Juan Diaz, and certain failors who had been whipped 
 in Cozumel. It was determined amongft them to feize a veflel and fail 
 for Cuba, there to give information to Velafquez of the departure of 
 our agents, and this plan was fuggefted by fome perfons of confequence. 
 Their fcheme was fruftrated a few hours before they were to have failed, 
 by the repentance and difcovery of De Coria, who revealed it to Cortes. 
 They were in confequence feized, and being examined confefted the 
 whole, and ace-ufed feveral others; but of thefe no farther notice was 
 ta%n. The prifoners were all condemned except the prieft, whofe 
 
 orders 
 
( *S ) 
 
 orders prote&ed him, but he got a great fright. Efcudero and Cer- 
 meno were hanged, the pilot Umbria had his feet cut off, and each of 
 the mariners received two hundred lames. I remember when Cortes 
 was ratifying this fentence, he gave a deep figh and exclaimed, " How 
 44 happy is he who is not able to write, and is thereby prevented from 
 44 %ning the death warrants of men." It feems to me that this ex- 
 prefTion is very frequently affected amongft judges, and that it was bor- 
 rowed from the cruel Nero at the time he counterfeited the appearance 
 of being a good emperor. As foon as the fentences were executed, 
 Cortes ported off at full fpeed to Cempoal, commanding two hundred 
 foldiers, and all the cavalry, as al'fo a detachment which was out under 
 Alvarado, to follow him. 
 
 In the confultations which we held at Cempoal upon our intended 
 expedition to Mexico, the friends of Cortes advifed him to deftroy the- 
 fleet, in order to prevent attempts ilmilar to that related in the laft 
 chapter, and alfo to obtain fo confiderable a reinforcement as the whole 
 body of mariners, who amounted to above a hundred. It appeared to 
 me that Cortes had already determined this in his own mind, but ho 
 preferred that it mould come as an application from us, in order that if 
 damages were fued for on account of the lofs incurred, we mould be all 
 refponfible as himfelf. Cortes therefore ordered his friend Juan de Ef- 
 calante who bore a bitter enmity to Velafquez on account of not being 
 given a good diflricl: in Cuba, to difmantle the fhips, and then link 
 them, retaining only the boats for the purpoie of fifhing. Efcalante 
 executed this fervice, and returned to Cempoal with a company formed 
 of the mariners, many of whom turned out very good foldiers. Cortes 
 now fummoned the chiefs of thefe people who had renounced their 
 allegiance to Montezuma, and enjoined them to render all fervices in 
 their power to the party he left in Villa Rica, and to affift them in 
 completing the town. Then taking Efcalante by the hand he faid; 
 *' This is my brother: obey him in whatever he defires you to do, a*8 
 11 if you require affifhmce or protection againft your enemies^ -recur to 
 " him, and he will give it to you." This the caciques aflpromifed 
 
 to 
 

 ( 86 ) 
 
 to perform, and I recoiled: they immediately hereupon began, much 
 againft his will and endeavours, to fumigate Efcalante with their in- 
 cenfe. This officer was placed here in order to repel any attempts 
 which might be made by Velafquez, as he was thoroughly attached to 
 the intereit of Cortes. Gomara here afferts that Cortes dared not pub- 
 lifh to the foldiers his intention of marching to Mexico. I beg to be 
 informed what is the difpofition of a Spaniard ? Or when it ever hap- 
 pened that he was not ready to march forward ? He alfo errs where he 
 fays Pedro de Ircio remained commandant in Vera Cruz. I fay again 
 that Juan de Efcalante was captain, and alfo alguazil major. Pedro de 
 Jrcio was not fit to be a corporal, nor is it juft to take from one what 
 belongs to him, and give it to another. 
 
 After having rendered the veflels unferviceable, but hot privately 
 as Gomara afferts, being one morning affembled after >mafs, and con- 
 verting on military affairs with Cortes, he defired our attention, and 
 addreffed us, faying, " We now knew the bufinefs which was before 
 " us ; that with the aid of our Lord we mould conquer, and it was 
 *' neceffary to do fo, for in cafe of a defeat there was no efcape ; nor 
 " had we any fupport but in our valour, and the mercy of God." To 
 this he added many comparifons of our fituation with thofe drawn from 
 the hiftory of the ancient Romans. We one and all replied, " That we 
 " were prepared to obey him; that the lot was now caff, let fortune 
 H take what .turn fhe would, as Caefar faid in paffing the Rubicon, for 
 I*, that all our fervices were .devoted to God and his Majefty." Cortes 
 then addreffed us again in a very eloquent and impreffive fpeech, which 
 having concluded, he called for the fat cacique, and having informed 
 him of our determination, he injoined him to take care of our church, 
 and holy crofs. 
 
 When we were juft. ready to depart, a foldier arrived with a letter 
 to Cortes from Juan de Efcalante, whereby he was informed that a 
 ftrange fhjp was ?then at anchor in a river three leagues diftant from 
 *Villa Rica, and that he could not, obtain any anfwer to his fignals 
 
 from 
 
( «7 ) 
 
 from thofe on board. Upon this, Cortes appointed Alvarado, and San- 
 doval who already began to (hew himfelf the officer he afterwards was, 
 fc% take the command of the army in his abfence ; ( Avila being pafled 
 by, and Sandoval preferred on this occafion, firfl caufed a certain jea- 
 loufy on the part of the former;) he then fet out with four of the ca- 
 valry to Villa Rica, ordering thirty of the lighteft infantry to follow him 
 thither, which number accordingly arrived there that night. 
 
 When we arrived at Villa Rica, Efcalante offered to Cortes to go 
 with twenty men to the veflel, left me fhould make her efcape, and that 
 Cortes might take fome repofe; but Cortes replied, that he could not 
 think of that, for " A lame goat took no afternoon's nap." Accord- 
 ingly, without eating a morfel, we proceeded along the coaft, and on 
 our road fell in with four Spaniards, who were fent to take pofleftion of 
 the country, by Captain Alonzo Alvarez de Pineda. One of thcfe, 
 who was named Guillen de la Loa, was a notary, and the reft attended 
 him as witnefles. Cortes having queftioned thefe men as to what 
 brought them there they replied, that Francifco de Garay, governor of 
 Jamaica, had obtained from the court, a commiiTion of adelantado and 
 governor of fuch diftricts as he fhould difcover on that coaft, northward, 
 from the river of St. Peter and St. Paul, by virtue of which, he had 
 fent three (hips, with two hundred and feventy foldiers, under the 
 captain already named, who was then in the river Panuco. Cortes 
 treated them with much kindnefs, and afked them if they thought that 
 we could get poffeffion of their fhip ; to which Guillen de la Loa re- 
 plied that they would do their utmoft to aftift us, but no ilgns nor in- 
 vitations that they, made could induce thofe on board to approach, and 
 we were told by them that their captain was aware of our being on the 
 coaft, and they fuppofed, when the boat did not come off, that we had 
 been difcovered. Cortes now bethought himfelf of a ftratagem, and it 
 was this; he drafted four of his foldiers in the clothes of thefe men, 
 and left them there upon the fpot, tracing back the way that he had 
 come along the fliore, fo that we might be obferved from the fhip. 
 Thus we proceeded, until we were out of fight of it, when we ftruck 
 
 into 
 
( 88 ) 
 
 into the woods and made a flolen march back, reaching about midnight 
 the rivulet where we had left our four companions. Here we concealed 
 ourfelves, and early in the morning our foldiers who were in difguife 
 went down upon the more, and made figns to thofe on board the verTe!, 
 in confequence of which a boat put off with fix failors, two of whom 
 landed with cafks for water. Our four men pretended that they were 
 warning their hands, and holding down their faces endeavoured to 
 avoid being obferved, but thofe in the boat calling to them, one of ours 
 replied, deiiring them to come on more. The ftrange voice gave an 
 alarm, and fufpecting a trick they made off: we were going to fire 
 upon them, but Cortes would not let us. Thus we obtained fix men, 
 and returned to Villa Rica, without having eaten a morfel during two 
 entire nights and a day. 
 
 
 • 
 
 , 
 
 
 
( *9 ) 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 
 March of the Spanifh Army for the City of Mexico. Wars in 
 Tlafcala. Submijfion of that Nation. 
 
 J3EING row ready to proceed to Mexico, our allies of Cempoal 
 propofed to us to march by the province of Tlafcala, the people of 
 which were their friends, and bitter enemies to the Mexicans. In 
 compliance with our requisition, fifty of their principal warriors at- 
 tended us, and alfo two hundred men to draw our guns, and thus we 
 fet out from Cempoal, in the month of Auguft 1 5 1 9, our army in 
 good order, and patroles of cavalry, and light infantry in front^ 
 
 Our firft day's march was to a town named Xalapa, and the fecond 
 was to Socochima, a place of difficult approach, abounding with vines. 
 The people here were harangued through our interpreters, who informed 
 them that we were vaflals of the Emperor Don Carlos, who had fent 
 us to put a flop to human facrifices, and other abufes. They alfo ex- 
 plained to them many things concerning our religion, and as thefe 
 people were allies of Cempoal and independent of Montezuma, we 
 found them very well difpofed to us. We here erected a crofs, ex- 
 plaining what it Signified, and that it fhould be held in veneration. 
 Proceeding from this place, by a pafs among lofty mountains, we ar- 
 rived at another named Texutla, the people of which we found equally 
 well difpofed to us, and they alfo paid no tribute to the Mexican 
 monarch. Continuing our march through defert mountains, we that 
 night experienced great cold and ftorrns of hail. On the next day we 
 reached another pafs, where were fome houfes and large temples, with 
 great piles of wood for the fervice of the idols. Provisions were fcarce 
 with us for thefe two days, and we now approached the territory of 
 
 N Mexico, 
 

 ( 90 ] 
 
 Mexico, at a place called Cocotlan, fending forwards to inform the 
 cacique. 
 
 Appearances demonftrated that we had entered into a new country, 
 for the temples were very lofty, and together with the terraced dwel- 
 lings, and the houfe of the cacique, being plaiftered and whitewafhed, 
 appeared very well, and refembled fome of our towns in Spain. We 
 named this place Caftel Blanco. In confequence of our meiTage, the 
 chief, and other principal perfons of the town came out to meet us, and 
 took us to our quarters, where they gave us paltry and cold entertain- 
 ment. After flipper Cortes made enquiry relative to the military power 
 of Montezuma. He was informed, how that monarch had under him 
 great armies, and that the city of Mexico was of uncommon ftrength, 
 being founded in the water, and no palTage from one houfe to another 
 except by bridges or boats; that each houfe was terraced, and only re- 
 quired a parapet to be converted into a fortrefs ; that the entrance to the 
 city was by three caufeways, in each of which were four or five aper- 
 tures for the pafTage of the waters, and that on each of thefe apertures 
 was a bridge of wood, which being raifed, precluded the entrance into 
 Mexico. We were alfo informed of the p-reat wealth of Montezuma. 
 
 o 
 
 in gold, filver, and jewels, the hearing of which filled us with aftonifh- 
 ment, and fuch is the nature of Spanifh foldiers, that we were anxious 
 to try our fortunes, although the accounts we had been given, made 
 our hopes appear almoft vifionary ; and truly we found Mexico ftronger 
 than what it was now defcribed to us. The cacique launched out alfo 
 in the praifes of his great lord, Montezuma, faying, that he ruled 
 where ever it was his will to do fo, and that he was apprehenfive of 
 his dirTatisfaclion at our being entertained in that place, without his 
 licence. To all this Cortes replied faying, " That we came from a 
 44 diftant country, by the orders of our fovereign, to warn the great 
 ** Montezuma to defift, from human facrifices, and all outrages either 
 ** upon his own valTals, or his neighbours, and to require from him 
 t* fubmiiTion to our monarch. And, " added Cortes, " I now require 
 y you all who hear me, to renounce your human facrifices, cannibal 
 
 44 feafls, 
 
( 9' ) 
 
 " feafts, and other abominable practices, for fuch is the command of 
 " our Lord God, whom we adore and believe, who gives us life and 
 " death, and who is to raife us up to heaven." All this the natives 
 heard with a profound filence, and Cortes then turning to the foldiers, 
 propofed to them immediately to plant the holy crofs ; but the Rev^ 
 Father Olmedo objected, upon the grounds of the ill will and igno- 
 rance of the people, which might induce them to commit fome outrage 
 or indignity againit that holy fymbol ; he therefore recommended that 
 it mould be deferred until a better opportunity. 
 
 We had with us a very large dog, the property of Francifco de 
 Lugo, which during the night ufed to bark, a thing that greatly fur- 
 prifed the natives, who afked our allies if that fierce animal was a lion 
 or tyger which we brought to kill them ; they anfwered that he fell on, 
 and tore to pieces any who offended us ; they alfo told them that our 
 guns fent forth ftones, which killed our enemies as we pleafed to direct 
 them, and that our horfes caught whoever we purfued : to which the 
 others replied, that with fuch powers we were really Teules. Our 
 allies alfo warned them to take fpecial care, for that we knew their moil 
 fecret thoughts, and advifed them to conciliate us by a prefent. Shortly 
 after we received from them fome gold in different articles but very 
 much debafed, four Indian women to make bread, and a load of mantles. 
 
 I remember a particular circumitance of this place. Near fome 
 temples were laid numbers of human fkeletons, fo arranged that they 
 could be counted with eafe and certainty ; I am convinced from my own 
 obfervation that there were above a hundred thoufand; I repeat it, I am 
 fure there were more than a hundred thoufand. In another part of the 
 fquare, human bones were heaped up in fuch quantities that they could 
 not be counted. Numbers of fkulls were alfo fufpended from beams, 
 and all thefe were watched by three priefls. The fame thing was; feen 
 every where in fome degree, as we pafTed through this country and that 
 ofTlafcala. ojftimdul " 
 
 N a ■ : . > The 
 
( $* ) 
 
 The cacique of the place where we were, being aiked by us relative 
 to the road to Mexico, recommended that by Cholula; but our allies 
 ftroilgly advifed us againft going that way, on account of the treacherous 
 difpofition of the people, and that the town had always a Mexican gar- 
 rrfon in it. Cortes demanding twenty of the principal perfons to attend 
 him from this place, we now quitted it in order to go to Tlafcala, by 
 advice of our allies, who promifed us every advantage from that nation, 
 and we proceeded thither, fending meflengers before us with a letter 
 and alfo a prefent of a crimfon velvet cap. I muft obferve that although 
 our letters were not legible to thefe people, they knew that fuch a thing 
 was as it Were an authority, or fanction of the mefTage that was to be 
 delivered, and of the office of thofe who brought it, and as fuch it was 
 lent upon all occafions. 
 
 Proceeding with our accuftomed order, we arrived at a village in 
 the country of Xalacingo, and from thence fent two of our allies, with 
 the letter, to Tlafcala. At this place we received intelligence, that the 
 whole nation was already in arms againft us, on the fuppofition, from 
 the number of perfons who attended us, of thofe nations which were 
 Subject to Montezuma, that we were in alliance with the Mexican 
 power, whofe inveterate enemies they were. Having fufpicion of 
 treachery from the Mexicans by thefe appearances, they infkntly on 
 their arrival feized our meffengers, whofe return we impatiently waited 
 for during two days, which Cortes employed in exertions for the con- 
 verfion of the Indians to our holy church, by his advice and exhorta- 
 tions. He alfo demanded the attendance of twenty principal inhabi- 
 tants, -who read ify joined him, and we at the expiration of that time 
 continued our march, during -which we met the meffengers whom we 
 had fent to Tlafcala, and "who had made their efcape, owing to the 
 negligence or connivance of their guards. 
 
 Thefe Indians had not yet recovered from the'termr into which 
 they were put by what they had feen and heard, for the people of 
 Tlafcala vowed deftru&ion to us, and all our adherents. The ftandard 
 
 was 
 
( 93 
 
 was now advanced to the front, and we all faid, " If it muft be fb, 
 " forward in God's name." Our general then inftru&ed the cavalry 
 how to charge by threes in front, not halting to give thrufts with their 
 lances, but pointing them at the height of the face ; and he taught 
 them how, if the enemy feized the lance, to wreft it out of their hands 
 by the action of the horfe, and holding the butt-end of the lance Under 
 the arm. 
 
 Having advanced about two leagues, we arrived at a kind of forti- 
 fication built of lime and ftone, and fome cement of fo ftrong a nature 
 that nothing but tools of iron could have any effect on it. It was aha 
 extremely well conftructed for defence. We halted to examine this 
 work, which the people informed us was built by the Tlafcalans, on 
 whofe territory it flood, as a defence againft the incurfions of the Mexi- 
 cans. After paufing fome time in ferious contemplation of this object, 
 Cortes ordered us to march on, faying, " Gentlemen follow your ftan- 
 " dard the holy crofs, wherewith we mail conquer ;" to which wc 
 one and all replied " That we were ready, for God was our true. 
 44 fupport." 
 
 After we had proceeded fome diftance, our advanced guard faw 
 about thirty of the enemy, fent out to obferve us. Cortes ordered fome 
 of the cavalry to endeavour to take them prifoners, while we advanced 
 at a quick ftep to fupport the advanced party. Our cavalry attacked 
 them, but the enemy defended themfelves fo well with their fwords, 
 wounding the horfes feverely, that our people were obliged to, kill five, 
 it being impoflible to make them. prifoners. A body of three thoufand 
 warriors which had been placed in ambufcade now fallied out with 
 great fury, and began to fhoot at the cavalry, who were afTembled in -a 
 body j but as we at this time brought our artillery and mufketry to beat 
 upon them, they were after a time compelled to fall back, though re- 
 gularly, and fighting during their retreat. They left feventeen dead on. 
 the field, and one of our foldiers died a few days after of his wounds, 
 .Evening was now drawing on, and we did norfollow them, but pur- 
 
 fuing 
 
( n ) 
 
 fuing our march, quitted the hills for a flat country thickly fct with 
 farm houfes, in fields of maize and the maguey plant. We halted for 
 the night near a brook, and drefled our wounds with the greafe we 
 took out of a fat Indian who was left on the field j and although the 
 people had removed ail their effects and provifions, their dogs, which 
 wc caught when they returned to their habitations at night, afforded 
 us a very good fupper. 
 
 On the enfuing day, after having recommended ourfelves to our 
 God, we marched out to meet the enemy. Both cavalry and infantry 
 had been duly prepared with inftructions how to act in the attack, the 
 former to charge, and then clear themfelves of the enemy, the latter not 
 to fuffer their ranks to be broken. Proceeding on our march, we 
 fhortly met two bodies ofTlafcalan warriors amounting to about fix 
 thoufand in number, who attacked us valiantly with their miilile 
 weapons, fhouting, and founding their inftruments. Cortes ordered a 
 Jhalt, and fent to them three Indians whom we had made prifoners on 
 the preceding day, directing them to require of their countrymen a 
 peaceable and amicable intercourfe with us, who wifhed to confider 
 them as brothers, and this notice and invitation he defired Diego de 
 Godoy a royal notary to witnefs officially. As foon as our meffage was 
 delivered, they attacked us more violently than before, infomuch that it 
 was impoffible to endure it any longer, and Cortes therefore cried out, 
 '* St. Jago, and at them." We accordingly attacked, and made a con- 
 fiderable (laughter of them by the firft difcharges of our artillery, killing, 
 amongft others, three of their chiefs. 
 ; 
 
 They now retreated towards fome broken ground-, where the whole 
 arjny of Xicotenga the general in chief, amounting to upwards of forty 
 thoufand men, was potted under cover. In this ground the cavalry 
 could not act, and we were forced to pafs it as well as we could in a 
 compact column, much annoyed by the enemy, who ftarted up, and 
 taking the due diftance, availed . themfelves of the expertnefs of thejr 
 archers. Thefe troops were all clad, and bore devices of white and red, 
 
 which 
 
( 95 ) 
 
 which was the uniform of their general. Thofe who were armed with 
 lances clofed upon us while we were embarraffed in the broken ground, 
 but as foon as we arrived on the plain with our cavalry and artillery, we 
 made them fmart for it. Notwithstanding this they clofed upon us on 
 every fide, infomuch that we could not venture to move, and we were, 
 in the greateft danger but that the hand of God affiled us. Whilft 
 we were engaged as I have already related, a number of the ftouteft of 
 thofe warriors who carried the tremendous two-handed fwords, affo- 
 ciated themfelves in order to feize one of our horfes ; accordingly, as 
 Pedro de Moron, an exceeding good horfeman, was charging amongft 
 them in company with three more, thefe warriors firft feized his lance, 
 and then wounding him dangeroufly, one of them with a blow of a 
 two-handed fword, cut through the neck of the mare he rode, fo that 
 me fell inftantly dead, and Moron was brought off with the greatefl 
 difficulty ; for it was utterly out of the power of us who formed the 
 battalion to quit it, from fear that the enemy mould break into us com- 
 pletely. However on this occafion we fucceeded in refcuing him out of 
 the hands of the enemy, and we alfo cut the girths and brought off the 
 faddle, but in fo doing we had ten of our number wounded, and I be- 
 lieve that we then killed ten chiefs of the enemy, for we were fairly 
 engaged with them foot to foot, and we ufed our fwords to fuch effect 
 that they began to retire, taking with them the body of the mare, 
 which they cut in pieces, and lent all through the diftricts of Tlafcala. 
 This mare was the property of Juan Sedeno, who was at that time ill of 
 three wounds which he had received on the preceding day Moron died 
 of his wounds, at leaft I do not recollect having ever feen him after- 
 wards. After being engaged with the enemy for above an hour, 
 during which the artillery made great havoc in their thick and nu- 
 merous bodies, all of us alfo fighting as we were compelled to do for 
 our lives and his Majefty's fervice, they drew off regularly, and left the 
 field to us, who were too much fatigued to follow them. We there- 
 fore remained in the next village, for that country was thickly inha- 
 bited, and they }iad fubterraneous dwellings, in which numbers of 
 
 people 
 
( 96 ) 
 
 people lived. The name of this place is Tehuacingo, or Tehuacacingo, 
 and the battle was fought on the fecond day of September 15 19. 
 
 The lofs of the enemy on this occanon was very confiderable, eight 
 of their principal chiefs being amongft the number. As foon as we 
 found ourfelves clear of them we returned thanks to God for his mercy, 
 and entering a ftrong and fpacious temple, we dreiTed our wounds with 
 the fat of Indians. Of fifteen wounded men, only one died. We ob- 
 tained a plentiful fupper of the fowls and dogs which we found in the 
 villap 5, and retted for the night under the protection of ftrong guards. 
 In this and all other battles, as foon as we wounded an enemy he was 
 immediately carried off by his companions, {o that we never could af- 
 certain the number of the dead. Fifteen of them were made prifoners 
 by us, of whom two were chiefs. 
 
 After the fatigues fuffered in the late battle we repofed for one day, 
 which was employed in repairing our crofs-bo ws, and making arrows. 
 On the next, Cortes, not to give the enemy time to arrange new attacks, 
 fent out as many of the foldiers as were fit for fervice, to fcour the 
 country, which is there very flat and well adapted for cavalry. Ac- 
 cordingly, feven of the cavalry, and two hundred infantry, attended 
 by our allies, went out, and made prifoners twenty men and women, 
 but without any harm whatever being done by the Spaniards. The 
 fame cannot be faid of our allies, who being cruel, made great deflruc- 
 tion, and returned loaded with fowls and dogs. As foon as we returned 
 Cortes releafcd the prifoners, and having given them food, and treated 
 them kindly, he expoftulated with them upon their madnefs in at- 
 tempting to refift us. He alfo at this time releafed two of the chiefs 
 whom we had taken in the late battle, and fent them with a letter, and 
 to inform their countrymen, that we only required an unmolefted paf- 
 fage to Mexico. Thefe chiefs waited upon their General Xicotenga, 
 who was pofted with his army at the drftance of two leagues, at a place 
 named to the beft of my recollection Tehuacinpacingo, and delivering 
 the menage with which they were intrufted, the reply of Xicotenga 
 
 was, 
 
( 97 ) 
 
 Was, " That we mould go to the head town of TIafcala, where peace 
 " fhould be made with us by devouring our bodies, and offering our 
 " hearts and blood to their gods ; and that on the next morning he 
 " would give us his anfwerin perfon." This language, after what we 
 had experienced, it mufl be confelled founded moil terribly in our ears. 
 Cortes however did not fuflfer his apprehenfions to appear, and treated 
 the meiTengers even more kindly than before, in order to induce them 
 to go again. He then enquired relative to the power of Xicotenga and 
 the nature of his command. They informed him, that the army now 
 aflcmbled confilted of the quotas brought by five chiefs, each of which 
 was ten thoufand men. Thefe chiefs were, Xicotenga the elder, father 
 of the general, Maxicatzin, Chichimecatecle, Tecapaneca cacique of 
 Topeyanco, and a cacique named Guaxobcin. Thus fifty thoufand 
 warriors were now ranged under the banner of Xicotenga, which was, 
 a white bird with the wings fpread refembling an oftrich. Each divi- 
 fion of the troops had ajfo its own marks of diftinction : this we found 
 to be the cafe, and that each cacique bore them in the manner of our 
 nobility in Cailille, although when we were firfl informed of it by our 
 prifoners we difbelieved it. When all this was communicated to us, 
 being but mortals, and like all others fearing death, we prepared for 
 battle by confefling to our reverend fathers, who were occupied during 
 the whole night in that holy office. 
 
 On the fifth of September 1^19, having brought out our whole 
 force not excepting the wounded, the crofs-bowmen and mufketeers 
 being directed to fire alternately, fo that there mould always be fome of 
 each loaded, the foldiers with fword and buckler being ordered to ufe 
 the points, paiTmg them clear through the bodies of their opponents, 
 and the cavalry being inftruded to keep their ranks, and charge at half 
 fpeed, pointing their lances at the eyes of the enemy, and riding through 
 them without halting to give thrufts, with our colours flying, and four 
 of our companions as a guard upon them, we fet out upon our march. 
 We had not proceeded half a quarter of a league, when we faw the 
 troops of the enemy covering the plains. Each body difplayed its re- 
 
 & fpective 
 
( 98 ) 
 
 fpe&ive device, and they advanced, founding all their warlike inflru- 
 ments. 
 
 Much might be written on the fubjcct of this great, and long 
 doubtful battle, where four hundred men flood oppofed to hofls, which 
 furrounding them from all parts, filled thefe plains, extending in every 
 direction for the fpace of two leagues. Many of our fmall number 
 were fick and wounded, and we knew that the enemy came upon us in 
 a determination to fwccp us from the earth, and facrifice us to their 
 idols. Their fir-fl difcharges of arrows, flones, and two-headed darts 
 which pierce any armour, and through the body where unprotected, 
 covered the ground ; and they continued advancing until they clofed 
 upon, and attacked us with their lances, and two-handed fwords, 
 fighting foot to foot, and encouraging each other by their cries and 
 fhouts. Our artillery, mufketry, and crofs-bows played on them, and 
 the home thrufls our infantry made with their fwords, prevented their 
 clofing upon us as much as they had done on the former occafion. Our 
 cavalry alfo charged with fuch effect, that, next to God, it was to 
 them we owed the victory. At one period I faw our battalion com- 
 pletely broken, nor could all the exertions of Cortes for a time rally it, 
 fuch was the preffure of the enemy upon us. By the fole effect of our 
 fwords, however, we at length forced them off from us, and were then 
 enabled to clofe and form. One circumflance that preferved us was the 
 thicknefs of the enemy, whereby full play was given to our artillery. 
 Another was, that they did not know how to bring up their forces 
 upon us without confufion, and fome of the divifions could not come 
 to the attack at all. The one compofed of the warriors of Guaxocingo, 
 was prevented from engaging by Chichimecatecle, whom Xicotenga, 
 the commander in chief, had provoked by fome infulting obfervation 
 relative to the preceding battle. This circumflance we were informed 
 of afterwards. They were alfo apprehenfive by experience of our ca- 
 valry, our cannon, and other arms ; but above all was the great mercy 
 of God, who gave us force to fuflain their attacks. Two divifions as I 
 ihave obferved flood aloof, from difgufl at what Xicotenga had faid 
 
 relative 
 
( 99 ) 
 
 relative to the conduct of the fon of Chichimecatecle on the former oc- 
 casion : this being obferved by the others, flackened their ardour, and 
 the lofs of one of their greatefl chiefs killed, at length caufed them to 
 draw off' their forces and retire, purfued by our cavalry, though but for 
 a very little diflance, owing to their excefiive fatigue. Thus being 
 again mafters of the field, we returned our thanks to God for his mercy. 
 One of our foldiers was killed, above feventy and all the horfes were 
 wounded. I received two wounds, one by a (lone, the other by an 
 arrow; but they were not fuch as to prevent my doing duty; indeed if 
 wounds had exempted us, few would have been fit for it. 
 
 We now returned to our former poft, having buried our dead in 
 one of the fubterraneous dwellings already mentioned, filling and level- 
 ling it, that our lofs mould not be perceived by the enemy. How 
 wretched and comfortlefs was our fituation after our hardlhips and 
 dangers ! We could not procure even oil and fait; and the cutting winds 
 of the Sierra Nevada, made us fhiver again. 
 
 Cortes now fent three of his prifoners, together with thofe who 
 had carried the former meflage, to repeat his demand of a free paiTage 
 to Mexico, with threats of deftrucliion in cafe it was refufed. When 
 our meffengers arrived at Tlafcala, they found the chiefs of that nation 
 much difgufted with their misfortunes and lofles ; ftill they heard our 
 propofals with a very unwilling ear, and fent for their priefts, and cer- 
 tain wizards who divine and foretell by carting lots, in order to learn 
 from them, if we were vincible, and which were the moft likely means 
 of fucceeding againft us; alfo, if we were fupernatural beings, and what 
 our food confifted of. It feems their wizards informed them, that we 
 were human beings, and fubfifted as fuch, not eating the hearts of thofe 
 we killed, as they had been told, and that though invincible by day, 
 we were to be conquered by night, for that all our force was derived 
 from the prefence of the fun. This being believed, orders were imme- 
 diately fent to their General Xicotenga to make an attack upon us during 
 the night. Accordingly, he marched againil us with a force of ten 
 
 O % thoufand 
 
( J oo ) 
 
 thouiand warriors, who attacked our pofl in three different bodies, but 
 our out parties had kept too good a look out to be furprifed, and a mo- 
 ment was fuilicient to put us under arms. They therefore met with 
 fuch a reception as fcon caufed them to turn their backs ; being, as it 
 was moonlight, purfued by our cavalry with a confiderabk lofs ; and 
 they returned to their poll: heartily fick of a nocturnal attack. I have 
 heard it faid, that finding themfelves deceived by their priefts and 
 wizards, they in revenge facrificed two of them. We had but one of 
 our allies killed, and two Spaniards wounded in this action, and we 
 made four prifoners ; but on the enfuing day when we came to look 
 into the fituation of our army, it was far from condolatory ; we were 
 dreadfully harrafled, had loft above fifty-five foldiers by battle, ficknefs, 
 and feverity of Weather, and had feveral fick ; our general was ill of a 
 fever, as was our Rev. Father Olmedo, and the expectation of reaching 
 Mexico was now confidered as a vifionary idea, after what we had ex- 
 perienced of the refiftance of the Tlafcalans. 
 
 We had however in our army many cavaliers equally wife in 
 council as they were brave in the field, with whom Cortes never omitted 
 confulting on important occasions, notwithstanding Gomara lays that 
 Cortes did this and that, as if he was the fole a&or, infomuch that 
 even if he had been made of iron, he could not have executed all which 
 that hiftorian afcribes to him. Let it fuffice that he did in every refpedt 
 like a good captain which he was, and this I fay, that in addition to 
 his other mercies God was pleafed to give us wifdom to counfel and 
 advife Cortes, upon all important occasions, for the beft, as the refult 
 proved. But to have done with praifes, we waited on Cortes, and re- 
 prefented to him the favors which heaven had fhewn to us, and how 
 evidently they pointed out that we were referved for fome great end, 
 and now we advifed him to releafe his prifoners, and by them to make 
 a fecond offer of amity to thefe people. Donna Marina, whofe fpirit 
 fupportcd her in all dangers, and when (he knew that we were upon 
 the brink of deftruction, and were in momentary appTehenfion of being 
 devoured, was at this time of mod effential fervice, for fhe explained to 
 
 thofe 
 
( io. ) 
 
 thofe we fent, that it was our determination, if their countrymen did 
 not immediately treat, to march againft and dellroy them and their 
 town. With this refolute meffage they went once more to Tlafcala. 
 
 Our meflengers having arrived at Tlafcala, waited on the chiefs,, 
 the principal of them bearing in one hand our letter, and in the other a 
 dart. It was the will of heaven that the Tlafcalans mould be now in- 
 clined to enter into terms of accommodation. The two chiefs named 
 Maxicatzin, and Xicotenga the elder, immediately fent to invite the 
 reft, and alfo the cacique of Guaxocingo their ally, and being all af- 
 fembled, they reprefented to them, that their attacks had been ineffectual 
 on us, and destructive to them, and that we were in hoftility to their 
 inveterate enemies the Mexicans, who had made war on them for up- 
 wards of a hundred years, by which they were now deprived of fait and 
 cotton. They therefore propofed, that their nation mould accept our 
 alliance, and that, in order to perpetuate it, the daughters of their firfl 
 families mould be offered to us as wives. To thefe propofals they all 
 agreed, and fent notice thereof to their general. This chief was highly 
 offended at it, and infifted on making another night attack upon us. 
 The council of Tlafcala being informed of this, fent orders to fuperfede 
 him, but the captains and warriors refufed to obey, and in confequence 
 of his violent conduct, four of their principal and moft venerable chiefs, 
 who were appointed to wait on, and invite us to their town, were in- 
 timidated, and prevented from executing their million. 
 
 Having remained two days without doing any thing, we now pro- 
 pofed to Cortes to march to a place called Zumpacingo, the chief town 
 of the district, the people of which had been fummoned, but had treated 
 our meffage with neglect. Accordingly, early in the morning we (ct 
 out, under the command of Cortes who was not yet quite recovered. 
 The morning was extremely cold, the wind affecting two of our horfes 
 fo much that we were afraid they would have died. Proceeding on our 
 march, we arrived at the town before daybreak. The inftant the na- 
 tives heard of our approach, they fled from their houfes, crying, that 
 
 the 
 
( 102 ) 
 
 the Teules were coming to kill them. We halted in a walled inclofure, 
 until it was light, when certain priefts and old men came from the 
 temples, and apologized for not having attended to our fummons, 
 afcribing their conduct, to the threats of Xicotenga. Cortes, ordered 
 thefe people to go to their head town and defire the chiefs to attend him, 
 in order to bring about a peace; for we were as yet ignorant of what 
 had paffed. We obtained here a good fupply of provisions, and the 
 farther advantage, that the Indians formed a favorable opinion of us, 
 which daily gained ground. The chiefs and old men went to Tlafcala, 
 and their reprefentations had fuch an effect, that orders were given to 
 all the neighbouring people, to fend in provisions to us. 
 
 Some of our foldiers began now to hold very querulous language ; 
 more efpecially thofe who had left good houfes and plantations in the 
 Ifland of Cuba. Seven of them waited at this time upon Cortes, and 
 their fpokefman addrefTed him in a prepared oration in the manner of 
 advice, wherein he reprefented to him, that above fifty-five of our com- 
 panions were dead, and that we were ignorant of the fituation of thofe 
 in Villa Rica. That notwithstanding the mercies which had been 
 (hewn us, it was imprudent to tempt God too often, and it was ne- 
 ceflary to avoid being brought into a worfe fituation than that of Pedro 
 Carbonero, for at prefent there was hardly a hope of efcaping being 
 facrificed to the idols of the natives. But that though it mould pleafe 
 God to preferve us, ftill it was expedient to return to Villa Rica, and 
 conftruct a vesTel to fend to Cuba for afliftance; and they lamented the 
 imprudence of having totally deftroyed our (hipping, a deed the rafh- 
 nefs of which could not be parallelled in hiftory. They added, that 
 though our fituation was worfe than that of beafts of burthen, who if 
 forced to labour have at lead food and reft, yet they had hitherto de- 
 fifted from remonstrating, as not thinking the time admitted of it, but 
 that now the enemy were withdrawn and the country feemed peaceable, 
 the prefent opportunity (hould not be omitted to be taken. 
 
 Cortes replied mildly, that he believed there never exifted Spanifli 
 
 foldiers 
 
( I0 3 ) 
 
 foldiers who had exhibited more valour and pcrfeverance than ourfelves, 
 and that it was neceflary to continue to do fo in order to fave our lives. 
 That with our courage he was well acquainted, as he alfo was with 
 many other circumftances which they had then mentioned. But, that 
 as God had delivered us from thofe great perils, he hoped the fame 
 mercy would be continued to us in future. He then appealed to them 
 if he had ever fhewn himfelf unwilling to fhare dangers with us, 
 which indeed he well might, for he was ever forward on thofe occa- 
 fions, and continued his reply, adding, that as we had wherever we 
 went preached to the ignorant natives the doctrines of our holy faith, 
 he trufted we mould ftill receive the divine afliftance, and that of his 
 patron St. Peter. That as to deftroying our fhips, it was done by good 
 advice; " And," continued he, " Gentlemen, our fame will exceed 
 *£ far that of the moft illuflrious of our predeceflbrs, who never, as you 
 " obferve, dared to take fuch a meafure; and therefore it is better, in- 
 ** flead of repining, to look forward, and leave all to be guided by the 
 " hand of God. As to our return, it is true the natives we had left 
 " behind are now friendly, but if we feemed to retreat, the very ftones 
 " would rife againft us. Therefore gentlemen, thus it is; bad there, 
 4i worfe ejfewhere, better Hay as you are, here in a plentiful country, 
 " and as to what you fay of lofles, deaths, and fatigues, fuch is the 
 «' fortune of war, and we did not come here in fearch of paftimes and 
 " amufements. Therefore I beg of you, who are all cavaliers by your 
 «• ftation authorized to fet an example, that you no longer will think 
 «• of returning, but do your duty like the valiant foldiers I have always 
 " found you to be.*' 
 
 The others replied deprecating ftill the march to Mexico; he then 
 cut them fhort by faying, that according to the fong, it was better to 
 die at once than live diihonored ; and Cortes being fupported in thefe 
 fentimcnts by all his friends, the complaints of thefe people were flifled 
 for the prefent, for we all cried out that no jnore fhould be faid upon 
 the fubject. 
 
 After 
 
( 104 ) 
 
 After four meffages from the chiefs of Tlafcala to their general, to 
 fend a peaceable embafly to us, that chief was obliged to comply. Ac- 
 cordingly forty Indians arrived at our quarters, fent by him with fowls, 
 bread, and fruit > they alfo brought with them four old women irv 
 wretched clothing, fome incenfe, and a quantity of parrots feathers. 
 
 Having offered their incenfe to Cortes, one of the men addrefled 
 him as follows. " This prefent our General Xicotenga fends you. If 
 •« you are, as it is faid, Teules, and defire human facrifkes, here are 
 " thefe four women; take their hearts and blood for food; as we 
 " knew not your pleafure, we have not hitherto facrificed them to you, 
 " now do as you chufe with them. If you are men, here aire fowls* 
 " bread, and fruit; if you are benignant Teules, we offer to you this 
 " incenfe and thefe parrots feathers." Cortes replied that he had already 
 fent to them requiring peace, as our objecf in coming was to make 
 manifeft the truths of our holy religion, and in the names of our 
 God and Emperor, to prohibit human facrifkes; that we were men 
 like themfelves, but not accuftomed to put any to death except in our 
 own defence, and that they mould no longer continue their mad re- 
 fiftance, but embrace peace when it was offered to them. 
 
 Thefe men it feems were fpies; we were warned of this by our 
 friends of Cempoal, who informed us likewife that the people of Cim- 
 pacingo had faid that Xicotenga meant to attack us. Cortes now made 
 immediate inveftigation, and caufing four of thefe Indians to be feized, 
 they confeiled the whole, and that their general was waiting only for 
 their report, to attack us on that very night. Cortes then caufing 
 feventeen of the Tlafcalans to be arretted, made their hands be ftruck 
 off, and alfo the thumbs of others, and in that condition fent them to 
 their chief, with an invitation to him to come and attack us; faying, 
 that we would wait, for the fpace of two days, and at the expiration of 
 that time, if he heard no farther, would come and feek for him in his 
 pott. Xicotenga was prepared to march againfl us, when his fpies re- 
 ioined him in that lamentable ffate; but from the moment he faw them, 
 J he 
 
( «oj ) 
 
 he loft his courage and haughtinefs. Alfo one of thofe divisions with 
 the chiefs of which he had quarrelled, at this time quitted his army, as 
 we were informed. 
 
 A vedette now, unexpectedly, announced the approach of a nu- 
 merous train of Indians by the road of Tlafcala, and his companion 
 who had flayed to obferve them, fhortly after galloped in and informed 
 us that they were hard by ; we therefore conceived hopes of that which 
 it turned out to be, an embafly of peace. Cortes ordered us all to our 
 quarters, and on the arrival of the embafly, the four old men deputed 
 for the purpofe, advancing from the reft, went to the place where our 
 general was, and bowing their heads, touched the ground with their 
 hands, and kilTed them; making three more bows they then advanced, 
 and having prefented their incenfe they faid, that they were fent on the 
 part of the people of Tlafcala, to put themfelves under our protection ; 
 declaring that they never would have made war upon us, but for their 
 belief that we were the allies of Montezuma, their mortal and ancient 
 enemy. They added, that the firft attack made upon us was by the 
 Chontales Eftomies, or mountaineers, (without their approbation,) who 
 thought that they could eafily bring our fmall number to their lords the 
 Tlafcalans ; they then faid, that they were come to folicit pardon for 
 the offence, and that the general of their army and other chiefs fhould 
 fhortly wait upon us. Having finifhed, they bowed, touching the 
 ground, and killing their hands. Cortes, afluming a fevere look, re- 
 proached them for the violence they had committed, but in confidera- 
 tion of their wifh to expiate their offences he told them, that he was 
 now willing to accept their prefents and receive them into favor. He 
 bid them immediately fend their chiefs to him, as in cafe they failed 
 to come he was determined to proceed in hoftility againft them, but 
 that his wifh was for peace ; in token of which he made them a prefent 
 of fome artificial diamonds. The four ambafladors returned with this 
 meflage, leaving thofe who had attended them with pro virions, in our 
 quarters. We now were convinced of the fincerity of their profeflions, 
 
 P which 
 
( io6 ) 
 
 which came in very good time, for we were heartily tired of this fevere 
 and hopelefs war. 
 
 The hifiorian Gomara fays, that Cortes afcended a rock, in order 
 to get a view of Zumpacingo. I fay it was clofe to our ftation, and 
 the man mult have been blind indeed who could nel have feen it from 
 thence. He alfo talks of mutinies, and other things, of which he fays 
 that he was informed. I fay that never was a captain in the world 
 better obeyed than Cortes, and that no fuch thought ever entered the 
 mind of any of us, nor any thing that could be fo confirmed, except 
 the affair of the fands, and what I have lately related, which xvas only 
 by way of advice, for the whole of our foldiers followed him moil 
 zealoufly, and it is no ftrange thing that good foldiers mould occa- 
 fionally counfel their chief. 
 
 The news of the great victory which it had been the will of God 
 to give to us flew through all parts, and foon reached the ears of the 
 great Montezuma; infomuch that this monarch, awed by the fame of 
 our valour, font five of the principal noblemen of his court, to con- 
 gratulate us upon our fucceffes. By them he lent a prefent of various 
 articles of wrought gold, to the amount of a thotifand crowns, and 
 twenty loads of the richeff mantles, with a declaration of his with to 
 become a vaiTal ofour great monarch, to whom he offered to pay an 
 annual tribute; adding, that from the eiteem in which he held our 
 general, he much wifhed to fee him at his court in Mexico, but that 
 he was obliged to deprive himfelf of that fatisfaction, in confequence 
 of the poverty of the country and badnefs of the roads by which he 
 was to pafs. Cortes exprcfTed his obligation to this great monarch for 
 the prefent, and his offer to pay tribute to our fovereign; he requeued 
 the ambalTadors to ftay and accompany him to Tlafcala, w r ith which 
 government he had not yet made his conclufive arrangements, and de- 
 fired that they would allow him to defer giving any farther anfiver on 
 that day. He was now r convalcfcent, and had taken as a medicine cer- 
 tain apples of great virtue, the produce of the Illand of Cuba. 
 
 While 
 
( I0 7 ) . 
 
 While Cortes was converfing with the ambafTadors of Montezuma, 
 Xieotenga and fifty of his principal warriors, all clothed in uniform 
 habits of white and red, arrived and waited on him with great refpeel:. 
 Cortes received him with no lefs, and made him fit down at his fide. 
 The chief then told him, that he came in the name of his father, and 
 the reft of the principal perfons of his nation, to folicit our friendship, 
 to fubmit to our monarch, and to apologize for having taken up arms 
 againft us, the reafon of which was, the apprehenfion of the wiles of 
 Montezuma. He added, that their country was very poor, producing 
 neither gold, filver, jewels, cotton, nor even fait, which laft article 
 Montezuma prevented them from obtaining. He faid alfo, that what 
 gold their anceftors had collected, he had deprived them of, and that 
 if they did not now bring fatisfactory prefents, their poverty mull 
 plead their excufe. He made many other complaints of Montezuma, 
 and concluded by earneftly foliciting our alliance. This chief was of 
 tall ftature, ftrong, and well proportioned ; his face Inroad, and fome- 
 what wrinkled; of a grave afpect, and aged about thirty-five years. 
 Cortes treated him with every mark of friendfhip, and exprcfled his 
 fatisfaction at having been the means of inducing fo refpeclable a na- 
 tion to become vaflals to our fovereign, and allies to us. The Tlafcalan 
 chief then invited him to his city, which Cortes promifed to vifit as 
 foon as he had difpatched his bufinefs with the ambafladors of Mon- 
 tezuma. At the conclufion of the converfation however, Cortes ad- 
 drelTed a few words to them of a more ferious nature, in refpect to the 
 offences which they had committed againft us, warning them to take 
 care of their conduct in future. They all promifed the utmoft fidelity, 
 and this converfation having palled in the prefence of the ambafTadors 
 of Montezuma, they attempted to ridicule the credit which we gave to 
 the affurances of the Tlafcalans, which they afterted were fb many de- 
 ceptions, their intention being to fall on and murder us in their city. 
 Cortes replied, that any fuch attempt would bring with it its own 
 punifhment, and that he was determined to march to Tlafcala, if it 
 were only in order to afcertain the fincerity of the people. The ambaf- 
 fadors of Montezuma then requefted a delay of fix days, to obtain far- 
 
 P 2 ther 
 

 ( »o8 ) 
 
 farther inftructions. This Cortes acceded to; for which he had two mo- 
 tives, firft, his ftatc of health, fecondly, becaufe the obfervations of 
 the Mexican ambaffadors afforded grounds for ferious reflections. He 
 now alfo fent to Juan de Efcalante, informing him of what had hap- 
 pened, and requiring fome veiTels of facramental wine, which had 
 been buried in a certain place, and alfo fome confecrated bread, that 
 which we had brought with us being ufed. We at this time erected 
 a fumptuous and lofty crofs in our quarters, and Cortes ordered the 
 people of Zumpacingo to purify and whitewafh a temple, which they 
 accordingly did. 
 
 Our friends of Tlafeala brought us continually ample fupplies of 
 provifions, fuch as fowls, and tunas or Indian figs, and they repeated 
 their invitations, which we could not as yet accede to, confidently with 
 the engagement which we had made to the Mexican ambafTadors. At 
 the expiration of the time which Cortes had given, fix noblemen fent 
 by the great Montezuma arrived, with a prefent of various articles in 
 gold to the value of three thoufand crowns, and two hundred rich 
 mantles. They alfo brought a meffage of a congratulatory nature, and 
 containing the moll earnefl requeft and advice, by no means to go to, 
 or truft the people of Tlafeala. Cortes received the prefent with every 
 expreflion of gratitude, affuring them that he would repay it in good 
 works to their monarch, adding, that, as to the Tlafcalans, he was 
 thankful for the warning, and if they attempted any treachery, would 
 make them pay for it with their lives. At this moment he received in- 
 telligence of the arrival of the Tlafcalan chiefs ; he therefore requefted 
 of the ambaffadors a delay of three days, before he gave his anfwer to 
 them. 
 
 The ancient chiefs of Tlafeala, named Maxicatzin, and Xicotenga 
 the elder, a blind man, together with Guaxolacima, Chichimecatecle, 
 and Tecapaneca of Topeyanco, now arrived at our flation, borne on 
 hammocks, in litters, and on men's backs, attended by a great train. 
 Saluting Cortes with great refpect, Xicotenga the blind chief addreffed 
 
 him 
 
( *°9 ) 
 
 him faying, that they had often fent to him, to requcft pardon for their 
 hoftilities, which they afcribed to the fufpicion they entertained of our 
 being allied to Montezuma. But now we know, faid he, who, and 
 what you are, we would go down to the coaft to invite you from your 
 fhips, and fweep the roads before you; at prefent the utmoft we can 
 do is, to requeft your company in our city, where you fhall be ferved in 
 every manner that is in our power. We at the fame time warn you* not 
 to give credit to the mifreprefentations of thefe Mexicans r . who are in- 
 fluenced by the malice which they bear to us. Cortes returning many 
 thanks to them* faid> he would have vifited them before that time, but 
 that he wanted men to draw his cannon; upon which, in lefs than 
 half an hour, above five hundred of the natives were affembled for the 
 purpofe, and early in the morning we fet out upon our march, attended 
 by the Mexican ambafladors, by the requeft of Cortes, who kept them 
 near him, left they fhould meet with any infult. Before I proceed, I 
 muft mention, that from this time the natives always addrefled Cortes 
 by the name of Malintzin; the reafon of which was, that Donna Ma- 
 rina being our linguift, and interpreting to Cortes, they gave him the 
 name of Marina's captain, which in their pronunciation was perverted 
 to Malintzin. We entered the territory of Tlafcala twenty-four days 
 before our arrival at the chief city, which was on the twenty-third of 
 September 15 19. 
 
 As foon as the chiefs perceived that we were on our march, they 
 went before us to provide our lodgings, and when we approached their 
 city they came out to meet us, bringing their daughters and female re- 
 lations; but each tribe, or divifion of inhabitants, diftincT: and feparate; 
 for it feems that of thefe there were four, exclufive of that under the 
 government of Tecapaneca, lord of Topeyanco. Each of thefe tribes 
 was diftinguifhed by a different uniform, of cloth made of nequen, for 
 cotton was a luxury not within their reach. The priefts came with 
 their incenfe pots, in loofe white garments, with their long hair matted 
 and clotted with blodd which flowed from recent cuts in their ears, 
 and the nails upon their fingers were remarkably long. They faluted 
 
 Cortes 
 

 ( w ) 
 
 Cortes with revere ace, and the people, wheiv we entered the town, 
 crowded upon us in fuch numbers as to make the ftreets hardly paffable, 
 prefenting to Cortes and the cavalry, garlands of beautiful and odori- 
 ferous flowers. When we arrived at fome large courts, in the apart- 
 ments about which we were to be lodged, the two chiefs taking Cortes 
 by the hand, brought him to that which was intended for him, and 
 every Spanifh foldier was accommodated with a bed, compofed of a 
 mat, and clothes made of nequen. Our allies were lodged near us, 
 and the ambaftadors of Montezuma, by the defire of Cortes, in the 
 apartment next to his own. Although we had every confidence in the 
 fincerity of the Tlafcalans, yet Cortes never permitted the leafr. relaxation 
 in military duty ; when the chiefs obferved this, it gave them a jealoufy, 
 as they thought it to indicate that we harboured fufpicions of them, 
 and they fpoke to Cortes on the fubject in fuch terms as convinced us 
 all of their lincerity. Cortes replied by afTurances of his perfect reliance 
 upon their truth, and alfo informed them, that it was merely a com- 
 pliance with the cuflom of our country. 
 
 As foon as an altar could be erected, Cortes ordered mafs to be 
 faid by Fra. Juan Diaz, the Rev. Father Olmedo being ill of a fever. 
 At this many of the native chiefs were prefent, and after it was ended 
 Cortes took them with him to his apartment, attended by thofe foldiers 
 who ufually accompanied him. Xicotenga the elder then told him, 
 that they had prepared a prefent of which they requefled his acceptance. 
 Accordingly, fome pieces of gold, and of cloth were produced, not 
 altogether worth twenty crowns. The chief then addreiled him, ex- 
 prening his fear that he would defpife fuch a paltry offer, but that their 
 poverty, and the extortions of Montezuma, of whom they were obliged 
 to purchafe peace at the expence of all they poiTeffed, w r ere the caufes 
 of it. Cortes received their prefent with thanks, faying, that little as 
 it was, he valued it more from them, as a teftimony of friendihip, 
 than if others had given him a houfe full of gold. Xicotenga then 
 propoied to him an alliance between our two nations, and that we 
 ihould accept their daughters in marriage, making the offer of his own 
 
 to 
 
( xii ) 
 
 to Cortes. Our general thanked him for thefe marks of good will, 
 and the chiefs remained with him a whole day. Xicotenga who 
 fhewed particular attachment to Cortex, was blind ; he was curious to 
 examine with his hands, his head, features, and beard, which the 
 general permitted him to do. 
 
 On the next day the chiefs brought five daughters of caciques,, 
 handfome in comparifon to the other women of the country, well 
 drelTed, and each attended by a female flave. Xicotenga then prcfented' 
 his own daughter to Cortes, dcfiring him to aiTign the reft to his of- 
 ficers. Cortes thanked him, but obferved, that for the prefent the 
 ladies muft remain with their parents.- The chief afking the reafon 
 why he would not receive them he replied, that it was neceiTary firft. to 
 obey the mandates of our Lord God, and the will of our monarch who 
 had fent us thither, to put a flop to human facrifices, and other evil 
 practices, and bring them to the true faith in the adoration of one God. 
 He then fhewed them a beauteous image of our Lady, with her precious 
 fon in her arms, and explained to them that it was the reprefentation ot 
 the holy Mary, who is in the heavens, and mother to our Lord, by the 
 grace of the Holy Ghoft, " Sine peccato concepta," and that Die is our 
 mediatrix with her precious fon, who is our Lord God; then,, faid he, 
 if you wifh to be our brethren, and that we fhould intermarry with you, 
 renounce your idolatrous worfliip, and adore our God, the good effects 
 of which you will foon perceive in your temporal concerns, and thereby, 
 after this life, your fouls (hall be taken into heaven, there to enjoy 
 eternal happinefs. Whereas, by perfifhng in the worfhip of your idols, 
 which are devils, you will be drawn by them to their infernal pit, there 
 to burn eternally in flames of fire. Cortes after an excellent harangue 
 containing much more matter to the fame effect:, which was perfectly 
 well explained by our interpreters, here ceafed and waited their anfwer, 
 which was given by the chiefs as follows. That they readily believed 
 all that they had heard now, and before, of the excellence of our God, 
 and his faints, and that they hoped in time to underfland more upon 
 the fubject ; that in regard to the renunciation of their ancient religion, 
 
 if 
 
I # ) 
 
 if they were to do it in their old age, in order to pleafe us, what would 
 their priefts and the rifing generation think of them? They would raife 
 an insurrection ; the more fo, as the priefts had already confulted their 
 gods, who had commanded, them by no means to omit their human 
 Sacrifices, and other ancient cuftoms; as in cafe of failure in the ob- 
 fervance of them, they would punifh the country with famine, pefti- 
 lence, and war. They therefore requefted to be no more fpoken to on 
 the fubject, as they could not renounce their gods but with their lives. 
 
 When the Rev. Father Olmedo, who was a wife man and good 
 theologian, heard this, he advifed Cortes to urge it no farther at pre- 
 fent, being adverfe to forced conversions, notwithftanding it had been 
 done in Cempoal. He alfo obferved, that the deftruction of their idols 
 was a fruitlefs violence, if the principle was not eradicated from their" 
 minds by arguments, as they would find other idols to continue their 
 worfhip to, elfewhere. Three other cavaliers, Aivarado, De Leon, and 
 De Lugo, alfo fpoke to Cortes to the fame effect. We however got 
 one of the temples cleared out, and erecting an altar, converted it into a 
 chriftian church, and here the ladies deftined to be the brides of our 
 officers were baptized. The daughter of Xicotenga received the nsine 
 of Donna Louifa, and was taken by the hand by Cortes, who prefented 
 her to Alvarado, telling her father, that officer was his brother: at 
 which the old chief exprefTed his entire fatis fact ion. The niece of 
 daughter of Maxicatzin was given to Velafquez de Leon, to the belt of 
 my recollection: (he. was very handfome, and took the name of Donna 
 Elvina ; jand the reft whofe names I do not now remember, but they 
 were all Donnas, were affigned to De Oli, Sandoval, and Avila. After 
 the ceremony, the reafon of the erection of crorTes was explained to the 
 natives, ,as heing done in order to terrify and expel the evil fpirits they 
 worshipped, to all which they liftened with proper attention. Before I 
 proceed farther I mull mention, that almoft the whole province of 
 Tlafcala paid homage and made prefents to Donna Louifa : Alvarado 
 had by her a fan named Don Pedro, and a daughter named Donna 
 Leonora, wife at prefent to D. Fra. de la Cueva, a good cavalier, coufin 
 
 to 
 
( "3 ) 
 
 to the Duke of Albuquerque, by whom (he has four or five fons all 
 worthy cavaliers; Donna Leonora herfelf being an excellent lady,, the 
 true defcendant of fuch a father, who was in right of Donna Louifa, 
 great lord, or as it were fovereign, in Tlafcala. 
 
 Cortes now obtained in a converfation with Xicotenga the elder 
 and Maxicatzin, confiderable information relative to Mexico. They 
 told him, that Montezuma had an army of a hundred thoufand war- 
 riors ; that the enmity between the Mexicans and Tlafcalans had fub- 
 fifted above a hundred years, the latter having formed an alliance for 
 mutual protection with the people of Guaxocingo, and that all the dis- 
 tricts which Montezuma had brought under his fubjedlion were difla- 
 tisfied with his tyranny, and inclined to favor his enemies. They faid 
 that the people from whom the Tlafcalans had fufFered moft, were thofe 
 of Cholula, from which city, the troops of Montezuma could come 
 by furprife upon the Tlafcalan territory; that the Mexican garrifons 
 occupied all the cities of the neighbouring ftates, who were obliged to 
 pay tribute to their monarch, in gold, manufactures, and victims for 
 Sacrifice; and in fhort, that his wealth and power were immenfe. They 
 informed him alfo of the great ftrength of the city of Mexico, of the 
 lake, and the caufeways with their wooden drawbridges. They farther 
 defcribed thatt city as built principally in the water, fo that there was no 
 palling from one houfe to another except by drawbridges or in canoes, 
 and that all the houfes were terraced at top, and defended by parapets. 
 The arms of the Mexicans they defcribed as confuting of double-headed 
 darts thrown by a kind of fling, lances with double-edged blades of 
 an ell in length, made of flone, and (harper than a razor, two-handed 
 fwords of the fame material and conduction, and Shields. The Tlaf- 
 calan chiefs then produced for our infpection large cloths of nequen, 
 whereon were painted reprefentations of their various battles. The dif- 
 courfe afterwards turned upon themfelves and their nation. They faid 
 that their anceftors had told them, that in former times the country was 
 inhabited by men and women of great ftature, and wicked manners, 
 whom their anceflors had at length extirpated; and in order that we 
 
 Q might 
 
( i'4 ) 
 
 might judge of the bulk of theft people, they brought us a bone which 
 had belonged to one of them, fo large, that when placed upright it was 
 as high as a middling fized man ; it was the bone between the knee and 
 the hip ; I ftood by it, and it was of my height, though I am as tall 
 as the generality of men. They brought alfo pieces of other bones of 
 great fize, but much confumed by time; but the one I have mentioned 
 was 'entire; we were aftonifhed at thefe remains, and thought that they 
 certainly demonftrated the former exigence of giants. This bone we 
 fent to Caftille for his Majefty's infpection, by the firfl perfons who 
 went on our affairs from hence. The chiefs alfo told us how their idols 
 had predicted, that men mould come from diftant parts where the fun 
 rifes, to fubjugate the country, and that they believed us to be thofe of 
 whom their gods had fpoken. Cortes replied that it certainly was the 
 cafe, that we were fent by our monarch to cultivate friendship with 
 them, and that he hoped we mould be the inftruments of their falva- 
 tion, to which we one and all faid, Amen. 
 
 By this time the cavaliers my readers, are I fear tired of the con- 
 verfation with the Tlafcalans; I mull: however mention fome other 
 things which occurred here. There was a volcano near Guaxoringo, 
 which at this time threw up great quantities of flames. Captain Diego 
 de Ordas went to examine it, attended by two foldiers and fome prin- 
 cipal Indians. The natives were afraid to approach nearer to it than 
 the temples of Popocatepeque, but De Ordas with his two companions 
 proceeding, reached the fummit, and looked down into the crater, 
 which forms a circle of about a quarter of a league in diameter ; from 
 hence they alfo had the firft. view of the city of Mexico, at the diftance 
 of twelve or thirteen leagues. This was thought at the time a great 
 achievement. When De Ordas went to Caftille, he obtained permiiTion 
 from his Majelty, to bear the volcano of Guaxocingo in his coat of 
 arms, and it is fo borne by his nephew who lives in La Puebla. This 
 mountain for feveFal years, until 1530, did not throw out flames; but 
 at that period it raged again violently. 
 
 In 
 
( Ir 5 1 
 
 In this town of Tlafcala we found wooden cages, where they con- 
 fined and fattened their victims. Thefe we deftroyed, releafing the un- 
 fortunate prifoners, who remained with us, not daring to venture to their 
 homes. Cortes fpoke in very angry terms to the chiefs of Tlafcala 
 upon their perfeverance in this horrid cuftom ; they promifed amend- 
 ment, but what availed that, when, on our backs being turned, they 
 immediately reverted to their old abominations ! 
 
 e* 
 
8s V s» 
 
 ( "6 ) 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 The Spanijh Army proceeds on its march to Mexico. 
 
 A 
 
 .FTER a repofe of feventeen days in Tlafcala, it was determined to 
 profecute our march to Mexico. Upon this fubjedt much difference of 
 opinion exifted, the rich fettlers of Cuba being very adverfe to it. The 
 refolution which we had taken grieved our friends of Tlafcala, who 
 earneftly advifed us by no means to truft Montezuma or his people, 
 nor their fmooth and courteous words and manners ; for that they were 
 treacherous in the extreme, and would either retain us to breed men for 
 Montezuma's fervice, or in a favorable hour, would fall upon, and 
 deftroy us. But, in cafe of our having hoflilities with them, they ad- 
 vifed us to kill all, neither fparing the riling youth, nor the aged coun- 
 fellor. Cortes thanked, and propofed to them, an amicable treaty with 
 their neighbours the Mexicans ; but they would not hear of this, 
 faying, they couM not trull: thofe, who would only under the veil of 
 peace, better execute their treacherous defigns. In regard to our road, 
 the Mexican ambalfadors earneftly recommended that by Cholula; but 
 our friends of Tlafcala as ftrongly advifed us by no means to go that 
 way, but by Guaxocingo. Neverthelcfs we determined to go by Cho- 
 lula, intending to remain there, until we could by negociation obtain a 
 peaceable entry into Mexico. Cortes therefore fent melTengers to that 
 place, to inform the chiefs of his intention, and exprelTing his dilfatis- 
 fa&ion that they had not come to wait upon him. 
 
 At this time arrived four of the principal nobility of Mexico, with 
 a rich prefent. It conlifted of gold to the value of ten thoufand crowns, 
 and ten bales of the fineft mantles of feathers. . Having faluted Cortes 
 with the profoundeft refpecl:, the ambalfadors delivered the meffage of 
 
 their 
 
( m ) 
 
 their monarch, which was to this effect. That he wondered at our 
 ftay amongft a people fo poor and bafe as the Tlafcalans, who were 
 robbers, and unfit even for flaves; and he earneftly requefted that we 
 would immediately vifit his capital. Cortes replied alluring them that 
 he would fhortly pay his refpects to the great Montezuma, requeuing 
 their flay with him during the interval. He alfo determined to fend 
 two cavaliers as ambalTadors, to wait on Montezuma, and view the city 
 of Mexico. The pcrfons he pitched on were Pedro de Alvarado, and 
 B. Vafquez de Tapia. They fet out on their journey, accompanying 
 the former Mexican ambaffadors who had hitherto continued with us. 
 I was at this time ill of my wounds, and of a fever; and therefore in- 
 capable of obferving exactly all that patted, but I know, that their 
 going thither appeared to us a very unwife meafure, and in confequence 
 of our remonftrances, they were recalled. 
 
 i 
 
 The chiefs of Cholula now fent us four men of low condition, 
 with a very dry and uncourteous anfwer to our meffage, and without 
 any prefent whatever. This evidently appeared to be done in contempt, 
 and Cortes fent notice to them, that if their chiefs did not wait upon 
 him in three days, they mould be confidered as rebels; but that in cafe 
 of their compliance, he would be happy to efteem them as brothers, 
 and had much to tell them of great importance. They then fent word 
 that they dared not, to come amongft their enemies the Tlafcalans, who 
 they knew had mifreprefented them and the great Montezuma to us ; 
 but they requefted that we would vifit their city, where they would 
 give us an honorable reception. When the Tlafcalans faw our deter- 
 mination to accept this propofal they told us, that fince we were re-, 
 folved to neglect their advice, they expected that we would take with 
 us ten thoufand of their beft warriors. This was thought two great a 
 number for a peaceable vifit; we however agreed to take two thoufand, 
 who were immediately ready to attend us. 
 
 Being well prepared againfl whatever might happen, we now fet 
 <o.ut on our march, and arrived in the evening at a river, diflant a fhort 
 
 league 
 
( "8 ) 
 
 league from Cholula, where a ftone bridge is now built acrofs it. Here 
 fome of the chiefs of the city came to congratulate us on our arrival. 
 Continuing our march on the next day, when we came near the city, 
 we were met by the chiefs and priefts in a body, all drefTed in caflbeks 
 of cotton, refembling thofe of the Zapotecans. The chiefs prefented 
 their incenfe to Cortes, and after apologizing for not having gone to 
 Tlafcala, requefted that he would not permit fo large a body of their 
 •enemies to enter th6 city. This appearing reafonable, Cortes fent Al- 
 varado and De Oli, to defire our allies to hut themfelves in the field, 
 and we then marched on, attended only by the Indians of Cempoal, and 
 thofe who drew the artillery. Before he entered the city he made 
 known to thefe people the objects of his million, as has been already 
 frequently related. They replied without hefitation, that to our monarch 
 they were perfectly ready to yield immediate obedience, which they 
 did ; but that as to abandoning their ancient religion, they could not 
 comply with any fuch demand. When we entered their city, we were 
 conducted through an immenfe crowd w r hich filled the ftreets and ter- 
 races, to our quarters in fome large apartments, which contained us, 
 our allies of Cempoal, and thofe who conveyed the artillery and 
 baggage. 
 
 During the time w r e flayed here, a plot was concerted by the am- 
 baffadors of Montezuma, for the entry of twenty thoufand of his troops 
 into this city, to fall upon us ; and feveral houfes were filled with the 
 poles and leathern collars, in which they were to have brought us pri- 
 foners to Mexico, but that God was pleafed to foil their defigns. 
 
 For the fir-ft two days, we were entertained as well as we could 
 wifli, but on the third we received no provifions, nor did either chief or 
 priefl make his appearance. The few inhabirants that we faw, alfo, 
 withdrew from us with a myfterious kind of fneer in their faces, and 
 Cortes at this time applying to the ambafladors ro procure for us our 
 provifions as ufual, all that we obtained was a little wood and water, 
 conveyed by fome old men, who told us that no maize was to be had. 
 
 On 
 
( "9 ) 
 
 On this day ambafTadors arrived from Montezuma, who, in very dif- 
 refpectful terms, forbid our approach to Mexico, and required an im- 
 mediate anfvver. Cortes mildly expreffed his furprife at this alteration; 
 he made them -a prefent, and requeued a fhort delay, which they ac- 
 ceded to. He then fummoning his foldiers, warned us to be alert, for 
 that he fufpected fome great treachery. The chiefs having refufed to- 
 attend him, he immediately fent fome foldiers to a great temple hard by 
 our quarters, with orders to bring, as quietly as they couldv two of the 
 priefts. In this they fucceeded without any difficulty, and the priefls 
 being brought before the general, he made a prefent to each, and then 
 enquired the reafon of thefe extraordinary appearances. One of them 
 was a perfon of rank, and authority over all the temples of the city, in 
 the. manner of a bifhop ; this perfon allured him, that if he had an op- 
 portunity of fpeaking to the chiefs, he could perfuade them to come; 
 and being difmifTed for this purpofe, he was as good as his word, for 
 he foon returned accompanied by feveral of them. Cortes firft afked 
 the eaufe of the change in their behaviour; he then demanded an im- 
 mediate fupply of provifions, and alfo a number of their people for the 
 enfuing day, to convey the baggage and artillery. The chiefs appeared 
 confounded, but at length promifed to fend in pro virions ; though they 
 faid they had been forbidden by Montezuma, and that he was not Satis- 
 fied that we mould go any farther. Juft at this time three of our friends 
 of Cempoal called out the general, and informed him, that they had 
 difcovered hard by our quarters, pitfalls covered with wood and earth, 
 and that clearing away the earth, and looking into one of them, they 
 had found it fet with fharp flakes ; that the terraces of all the houfes 
 were filled with ilones and parapeted with fods, and that they had feen 
 a barricade of flrong timber in one of the ftreets. At this inftant ar- 
 rived alfo eight Tlafcalans, from their army which was lying in the 
 field; they warned Cortes againft the intended attack, for it had come 
 to their knowledge, that the people of the place had, on the preceding 
 night, facrificed to their war god feven victims, five of whom were 
 children, and they had alfo obferved, that they were withdrawing their- 
 women, children, and effects, from the place. 
 
 Hereupon^ 
 
( !*<> ) 
 
 Hereupon Cortes fent orders to the Tlafcalans to hold'themfelves in 
 readinefs, and rejoining the chiefs and priefts of the town, -he defired 
 them to be under no apprehenfion, but warned them not to deviate 
 from their obedience, on pain of inftant punifhment. He then de- 
 manded of them two thoufand of their warriors to accompany him on 
 his march, on the enfuing day ; this they readily promifed, thinking 
 that it would tend to facilitate their projects; they therefore took their 
 leave very well contented, and fent notice of our intentions to all thofe 
 concerned with them. Cortes then fent Donna Marina to bring back 
 the two priefts whom he had before fpoken to. In this me fucceeded, 
 and Cortes obtained from them the following intelligence. 
 
 
 They told him, that Montezuma, on our approach to Mexico, 
 had become very unfettled in his mind, fometimes ordering that we 
 mould be received with honor, and at other times that we mould not 
 be permitted to pafs ; but that having lately confulted his gods, they 
 had declared, that here in Cholula we were all to be put to death, or 
 made prifoners, for which purpofe he had fent twenty thoufand of his 
 troops, one half of which number was in the city, and the other con- 
 cealed half a league from it. That the plan of their attack was fettled, 
 and that twenty of us were allotted to be facrificed to the gods of Cholula. 
 Cortes rewarded them handfomely, and enjoining itrict fecrefy, defired 
 them to bring to him all the chiefs, at the time he appointed. He then 
 fummoned a council of the ableft and wifeft foldiers of his army, fome 
 of whom were for returning immediately, and others propofed various 
 meafures, but at length all agreed in the neceftity of feverely punifhing 
 this treachery, as an example to other places. It was therefore deter- 
 mined, that we mould carry on the appearance of our intended march, 
 preparing our baggage, and concealing* our other meafures, and that 
 within the high walls of the courts where we were quartered, punifh- 
 ment mould be inflicted on the Cholulans. With the ambafladors of 
 Montezuma it was thought mofl prudent to dilTemble; we therefore 
 told them of our having difcovered the treafon of the people, who had 
 afperfed Montezuma, as being the author of it; and we propofed 
 
 to 
 
( id ) 
 
 to them, to have no more intercourfe with the inhabitants, but to retire 
 to the apartment of Cortes. They folemnly declared their ignorance 
 of the tranfaction, and contrary to their inclination we now put them 
 under a good guard, for the night, during which our whole force re- 
 mained under arms. 
 
 On this night, the wife of a cacique, an old woman, who was 
 acquainted with the plot, came fecretly to Donna Marina whofe ap- 
 pearance had attracted her regard, and invited her to her own houfe, as 
 a place of fecurity from the danger which was ready to overwhelm us, 
 making at the fame time a propofal to her, to accept as a hufband, her 
 fon, the brother of a boy who accompanied her. Donna Marina, with 
 a profu(ion of thanks, and with her ufual acutenefs and prefence of 
 mind, agreed to all that die propofed, but faid that (he wanted fome one 
 with whom to entruft her effects. She then obtained information of 
 every particular of the bufinefs, all which the old woman informed her 
 (he had learned from her hufband, who was chief of one of the divilions 
 of the city, and was then with his warriors, giving directions for their 
 junction with the Mexican forces. She added, that (he had known it 
 three days before, in confequence of prefents which had been fent from 
 Mexico to the different chiefs, her hufband having received at that time 
 a golden drum.* Donna Marina, defiring this woman and her fon to re- 
 main where they were and take care of her effects, haftened to Cortes, 
 and informed him of all that had paffed, and that the perfon from 
 whom (he had the information was in her apartment ; in confequence of 
 which, Cortes immediately fent for her, and the woman on being 
 brought into his prefence confirmed all that (he had faid to Donna Ma- 
 rina, and which exactly agreed with the other information he had 
 received. 
 
 When day broke, the hurry of the chiefs, prieits, and people, and 
 the fatisfaction which appeared in their countenances, were as great as 
 
 R if 
 
 A golden drum was borne by a general in chief. 
 

 ( *** ) 
 
 if they already had us in their cages. They brought many more ot 
 their warriors to attend us than we had required, infomuch that the 
 courts, which remain at this day as a memorial of the event, large as 
 they were, could not contain them. We were all prepared for what 
 was to be done, the foldiers armed with fword and buckler were placed 
 at the gate of the great court, in order to prevent any one from efcaping, 
 and our general was on horfeback, attended by a ftrong guard. When 
 he faw how the people crowded in he exclaimed, " How anxious are 
 " thefe traitors to feait upon our flefh ! But God will difappoint them.'* 
 He fent directions to the two priefts who had given the information, to 
 go immediately to their houfes, and this he did in order to favc their 
 lives; then, caufing the reft of the priefts, and all the chiefs to be 
 brought to him, he calmly afked them what was their jreafon for 
 plotting to deftroy us, and what we had done, more than require them 
 to abandon their abominable cuftoms, and endeavour to initruct them 
 in the articles of our holy faith; and that for thefe rcafons only, they 
 had made preparations to cut us all off. That their evil intentions ap- 
 peared by their having withdrawn the women from the town, and that 
 when we required the provifions which they withheld from us, they 
 had infulted us by fending in wood and water. He faid that he knew 
 of the ambufcade that was placed upon the road which they expected 
 us to go, and that the recompenfe which they intended for our holy 
 and friendly fervices was, to kill and eat us, for which purpofe the 
 pots were already boiling, and prepared with fait, pepper, and tomatas. 
 That if they were determined to attack us, it was better to do it in a 
 manly way, as the Tlafcalans did; he added, that he alfo knew that 
 twenty of us were to be facrificed to their idols, to whom they had made 
 a propitiatory offering of feven of their brethren ; but the victory the 
 idols had promifed them, it was not in their pow r er to give, and the 
 effects of their treafon were now ready to fall on their own heads. 
 
 This being fucceflively explained to the natives by Donna Marina, 
 they confeffed the whole of the charge, but faid that it was planned 
 entirely by the orders of Montezuma. Cortes replied, that fuch crimes 
 
 were 
 
( '23 ) 
 
 were never fuffered to pafs without punifhment, and he then commanded 
 a mufket to be fired, as the flgnal for daughter, which was waited for 
 by us, who were as I have related well prepared, and falling upon thd 
 multitude then inclofed within the courts, we executed their punifh- 
 ment on them in a manner that they will ever remember ; for a number 
 of them were killed by us inflantly, and many afterwards burned alive, 
 very contrary to the expectations they had formed from the promifes of 
 their gods.-}- Within two hours our allies the Tlafcalans arrived, and 
 made a defperate flaughtcr of them in the ftreets, and as foon as the 
 Cholulans had ceafed to make refrftance, the former ravaged the city* 
 plundering and making them flaves without our having it in our power 
 to prevent them; and on the day after, when the intelligence had 
 reached Tlafcala, frefh hordes crowded hither for the fame purpofe. 
 It was now abfolutely neceifary to reftrain them at all rifks : Cortes 
 therefore ordered the chiefs to withdraw their troops, which they im- 
 mediately did, and foon after, fome prieffo and chieftains who prefided 
 over other parts of the town, which they alledged not to have been 
 engaged in the confpiracy, waited on us, and requefted a remhTion of 
 punifhment. The two priefts formerly mentioned, and the old woman 
 who was fo anxious to be the mother-in-law of Donna Marina, came 
 alfo, and petitioned to the fame effect. Cortes appeared greatly enraged, 
 and calling for the Mexican ambaffadors, declared in their pretence, that 
 if he did not deftroy the whole city as it deferved, it was out of refpedfc 
 to the great Montezuma, whofe vafTals the inhabitants were ; but that 
 for his fake he pardoned them. He then commanded the Tlafcalans to 
 deliver up thote whom they had made prifoners : this, however un- 
 willingly, they in a great meafure complied with, many perfons being 
 fet at liberty, but after all they retained a good booty of gold, mantles, 
 cotton, fait, and flaves. An amnefty for the part being proclaimed, 
 and Cortes having reconciled the Tlafcalans and Cholulans, the latter 
 fuggefted that they were apprehenfive our general Would appoint their 
 new chief, the former one having been put to death. Cortes upon 
 
 R 2 this 
 
 t Above fix thoufand Cholulans were put to death on this occafion. 
 

 ( l M ) 
 
 this enquired who was the regular fuccelTor, and being informed that 
 it was the brother of the late head cacique, he appointed him to the 
 chieftainry. As foon as the inhabitants had returned, and order was 
 reftored, he fummoned together all the priefts and chiefs, in order to 
 exhort them upon the fubject of religion, advifing them to renounce 
 their odious practices, and as an inltance of the inefficacy of their idols, 
 he reminded them of the manner in which they had been lately deceived 
 by their falfe promifes. He therefore propofed (hat they fhould be 
 pulled down and broken to pieces, and an altar and crofs erecteu 1 in 
 their place. The latter was immediately done, but as to the proftration 
 of the idols, by the advice of the reverend father it was poftponed for a 
 time, from motives of prudence, and a juft confederation of the uncer- 
 tainty of our fituation. 
 
 The city of Cholula much refembled Valladolid, being in a fertile 
 plain, very thickly inhabited ; it is furrounded by fields of maize, pep- 
 per, and maguey. They had an excellent manufacture of earthenware, 
 of three colours, red, black, and white, painted in different patterns, 
 with which Mexico and all the neighbouring countries were .fupplied, 
 as Caflille is by thofc of Talavera and Plafencia. The city had at that 
 time above a hundred lofty white towers, which were the temples of 
 their idols, one of which was held in peculiar veneration. The prin- 
 cipal temple was higher than that of Mexico, and each of thefe buildings 
 was placed in a fpacious court. 
 
 
 The Mexican troops which had been ported in ambufcade, with 
 ramparts and trenches to oppofe to the cavalry, hearing what had hap- 
 pened to their anociates, made a rapid retreat to their city, and carried 
 the news to. their monarch ; but he had already heard his misfortune 
 from two of his ambalTadors who had been with us. It is faid that he 
 immediately ordered a facrifice to his gods, and fhut himfelf up at his 
 devotions for two entire days, with ten of his chief priefts, in order to 
 obtain an anfwer from them, relative to his future deftiny. The reply 
 which they gave was to this effect ; that he mould fend an embalTy to 
 
 exculpate 
 
( *** J 
 
 exculpate himfelf in regard to what had pafTcd, and to invite us into 
 Mexico, where, by cutting off the water, or railing the bridges, he 
 could eafily deftroy us, or retain us for breed. The news of our late 
 fuccelTes fpread rapidly, and the natives were more than ever convinced 
 that we were beings pofFefTed of a preternatural power and intelligence. 
 My readers will be perhaps by this time as tired of the detail of the 
 tranfaction of Cholula, as I am of writing it. I mud however men- 
 tion the cages full of men and boys fattening for facrifice, which were 
 in this city. All thfcfe Cortes deftroyed, and Tent the poor prifoners to 
 their homes, giving pofitive orders to the priefts to defift from the 
 practice in future, which they promifed that they would, but what 
 rlgnified their promifes ! 
 
 This which I have related is the reality of the endlefs ftory of the 
 Lord Bi(hop of Chiapa, F. Bart, de las Cafas, who fays we put thefe 
 people to death merely for pafhme; but I muft obferve, that certain 
 reverend Francifcans, after the conqueit, of Mexico, being fome of the 
 flrft his Majefty fent to New Spain, went to Cholula on purpofe to 
 make the ftricteft enquiry; the refult of which was, that they found 
 the affair to have happened exactly as I have related it. If this punifn- 
 ment had not taken place our lives would have been in the greatefr. danger,- 
 and had w<e been deftroyed this country of New Spain would not have * 
 been fo earUy gained, or a fecond expedition attempted; or if it had, it 
 might have failed of fuccefs, as the natives would have defended their 
 coafts, and have thus remained for ever in their idolatry. I have heard 
 a reverend Francifcan named Fray Torribio de Motilinea fay, that if the 
 punifhment could have been avoided, and that there had been no caufe 
 given for it, it would have been better; but that fince it was done, : 
 good effects had refulted, as the natives were thereby convinced of the 
 falfehood and deception of their idols, which they in confequence dc- 
 fpifed, as a proof of which they afterwards took down the principal 
 one, putting another in its place. 
 
 Having now paffed fourteen days in the city of Cholula, Cortes 
 
 fummoned 
 
( u6 ) 
 
 fummoned a council compofcd of certain officers and foldiers, men of 
 equal valour and wifdom, and his particular friends, for without our 
 advice he entered upon no meafure of confequence, and it was thereby 
 determined, to fend a refpedtful meflage to the great Montezuma, and 
 to inform him that in compliance with the orders of our king we were 
 on our way to pay our refpecls to him in perfon. We then related the 
 tranfaction of Cholula, where the treafon which was meditated againft 
 us had come in fufficient time to our knowledge, from which nothing 
 that concerned us could be concealed, adding, that if we had not 
 punifhed it to the full extent, it was only out of refpect to him, whofe 
 vaffals the people of that city were ; that the chiefs and priefts had in- 
 formed us, that what they did was at his mitigation, which we could 
 not believe of fo great a prince, after the proffers of friendfhip which 
 he had made to us, for that had he been inclined to hofulity, he would 
 have met us in the field, but that in the cafe of a battle, field or town, 
 day or night, was alike to us. 
 
 The Mexican monarch was very doubtful and penfive, when he 
 confidered the events which had paffed. After a variety of determina- 
 tions he at length fent to us fix of his Srft nobility, with a prefent of 
 <rold to the value of two thoufand crowns, and feveral bales of* fine 
 mantles. When the ambaffadors came into the prefence of Cortes, 
 fainting him with profound refpect, they delivered a meflage from their 
 monarch, wherein he laboured to exculpate himfelf in regard to what 
 had happened in Cholula, and Concluded by inviting us to his court. 
 Cortes entertained thefe perfons with his iifual politenefs, and retaining 
 three of them to go with us as guides, fent the others back to inform 
 their monarch that he was fetting out upon his march. When the 
 Tlafcalan chiefs heard our determination, they renewed to Cortes their 
 warnings to beware of Mexican treachery, but added, that if he was 
 determined to proceed, they would fend with him ten thoufand of their 
 warriors. Cortes thanking them obferved, that fuch a body would 
 not accord well with an amicable vifit, but requefted one thoufand men 
 for the baggage and artillery, which number was infrantly provided. 
 
 Our 
 
( i*7 ) 
 
 Oaf faithful allies of Cempoal being apprehenfive of the vengeance of 
 the Mexicans, now petitioned for leave to return to their homes. 
 Cortes difmifled them with handfome prefents, and having written to 
 Juan de Efcalante, informing him of his determination, we fet forward 
 on our march. 
 
 We quitted Cholula in great regularity, fending out our cavalry 
 patroles to reconnoitre, fupported by light infantry, our arms in order, 
 and the cavalry by threes in front. Marching on thus, " With the 
 " beard always upon the moulder,'* we arrived at a little place called 
 the hamlet of Ifcalpan, in a mountainous ridge in the diftTict of Guaxo- 
 cingo, four leagues diftant from Cholula, where we were met by the 
 chiefs, accompanied by others who inhabit the fkirts of the volcano. 
 They brought prefents of provisions and gold, of trifling value, telling 
 Cortes he fhould receive it, not considering how much it was worth, 
 but the inclination of thofe who gave it. They advifed us againfr. 
 going to Mexico, as being a very ftrong city and the inhabitants war- 
 like, and they alfo told us, that on afcending the next mountain, we 
 mould find two roads, very broad, one whereof went to a place called 
 Chalco, the other to Talmanalco, both, places fubjecT: to the Mexicans. 
 That the one r3ad was very open and convenient, the other difficult, 
 being obftruded by large pine trees felled acrofs it, and that the firft 
 mentioned road, had an ambufcade of Mexicans laid hard by it, among 
 fome rocks, in order to fall upon us as we pafTed; they therefore recom- 
 mended us to go by that where the trees had been felled, offering to 
 fend a number of their people to clear k. Cortes exprefled his gratitude 
 for their advice, faying that by God's permiflion he would purfue his 
 *oute, accordingly. 
 
 Early on the morning of the next day we fet forward on our march, 
 and reached the fummit of the ridge about twelve o'clock, where we 
 found the roads as they had been defcribed to us, fome of the felled 
 trees being to be fecn at this day. Here we halted a little in order to 
 confider how we fhould proceed, and Cortes calling upon the ambafTa- 
 
 don 
 

 ( m ) 
 
 dors or the great Montezuma, enquired or them the meaning of thefe 
 appearances. They replied, that we mould take that road which led to 
 Chalco, where we mould be well received, and that the other road was 
 longer and more difficult. Hereupon Cortes faid, that he would not- 
 withftanding prefer it, and our Indian allies clearing the way before us, 
 we proceeded up the mountain, where the weather was exceedingly 
 cold, and prefently came a very heavy fall of fnow, fo that the whole 
 country was covered with it. After fome time we arrived at certain 
 houfes which are for the purpofe of lodging travellers, where we halted, 
 and found provifions in plenty. Having placed our guards, we refted 
 for that night, and continued our march in the morning, and at the 
 hour of high mafs arrived at the town of Talmanalco, where we had 
 an hofpitable reception. The people of the neighbouring diftricts, that 
 is to fay of Chalco, Mecameca, and Acingo where the canoes are kept, 
 waited on Cortes here with a prefent of gold worth about a hundred 
 and fifty crowns, fome mantles, and eight women. Cortes received 
 them kindly, promifing them his friendfhip, and a number of the na- 
 tives being now collected, he defired the reverend father of the order of 
 mercy to explain to them the doctrines of our holy faith, and require 
 them to renounce their idolatrous worfliip ; he alfo informed them of 
 the great power of our monarch, and that we came in his name to 
 redrefs wrongs. When the people heard this, they began to make fe- 
 cret complaints of the tyranny of Montezuma, who deprived them of 
 their wives and daughters if handfome, and took the men to work like 
 flaves, compelling them to convey for him, itanes, timber, and com, 
 and feizing their lands for the fervice of his idols. Cortes condoled 
 with them in kind words, defiring them to have patience for the pre- 
 fent, and that they fhould foon be redreffed. He then defired that fome 
 might go, and report to him the ftate of the road, but they told him 
 there was no occafion, as it was perfectly clear. 
 
 Juft as we were fetting out attended by twenty Indians from this 
 place, four of the principal nobility of Mexico arrived, and having 
 paid their compliments, and delivered their prefents, thus addreffed 
 
 Cortes. 
 
(( 
 
 ( -«*9 ) 
 
 Cortes. " Malintzin, this prefent our monarch fends you, faying, 
 I* how grieved he is that you mould take fo much trouble in coming 
 " from a diftant country to fee him, and that he has already told you 
 " he will give you gold, filver, and chalchihuis for your Teules, 
 on condition that you will not approach Mexico. He now repeats 
 his requeft, and promifes that he will fend after you, a great treafure 
 '* of gold, filver, and jewels, for your king, four loads of gold for 
 " yourfelf, and a load for each of your brethren, on condition you 
 " return immediately; for as to advancing to Mexico, that, you 
 " cannot do, as the whole force of the Mexican warriors is in arms 
 " againft you: and moreover, there is no good road thither, nor are 
 " provifions to be had." Cortes embraced the ambafTadors with much 
 urbanity, and returned his thanks for the prefent, faying, that he was 
 furprifed to find the great Montezuma fo variable in his mind. Tn re- 
 gard to his offers of treafure for the emperor, he thanked him, and for 
 what had been received, faid he hoped to pay in future fervices; but 
 fubmitted to him, how he could poflibly turn back, when fo near his 
 royal refidence, without taking that opportunity of paying his refpects, 
 and obeying his matters orders ; and begged him alfo to confider, what 
 opinion he would entertain of perfons he had fent on fimilar bufinefs, 
 mould they act in the manner he required us to do. To his capital, 
 our morxarch expected we mould go, and therefore it was ufelefs to 
 fend any more fuch meffages, for he muft wait upon his Majefty, and 
 deliver his meffage to him in perfon : and afterwards, if our remaining 
 there was not agreeable, . he would obey his orders, and return to the 
 place from whence he came. 
 
 Having thus difpatched Montezuma's ambaffadors we continued 
 our march. Our allies had informed us that Montezuma was to permit 
 us to enter the city, and there put us all to death ; this we well knew, 
 and being like other mortals fond of our lives, it filled us with melan- 
 choly thoughts. Recommending our fouls therefore to our Lord Jefus 
 Chrift, who had brought us through our paft dangers, we proceeded, 
 and halted at a place called Iztapalatengo, one half of the houfes of 
 
 S which 
 
( *30 ) 
 
 which is in the water, and the other half on firm ground, hard by a 
 little ridge of hills, where there is now an mn. 
 
 Early in the morning, when we were on the point of marching, 
 a centincl came to inform us, that a great number of Mexicans, richly 
 drefTed, were upon the road. Cortes therefore ordered us to return into 
 our quarters, and at that inflant four of the principal courtiers of Mexico 
 arrived, and waiting on Cortes with great refpett informed him, that 
 Cacamatzin lord of Tezcuco, the nephew of the great Montezuma, was 
 approaching, and requefted that he would wait to receive him. Caca- 
 matzin followed in the greateft pomp, carried in a magiuficent litter 
 adorned with green plumes, and enriched with jewels, {et in the 
 branched pillars of folid gold. He was borne by eight lords, who 
 aiTifted him out of the litter, and fwept the way by which he was to 
 pafs. When he came into the prefence of Cortes he faid to him, 
 *' Malintzin, here am I and thofe lords to attend you to your residence 
 " in our city, by order of the great Montezuma." Cortes embraced 
 the prince, and prefented him with three jewels of that kind called 
 margajitas, which are figured in different colours. We then fet forward 
 on the road to Mexico, which was crowded with multitudes of the na- 
 tives, and arrived at the caufeway of Iztapalapa, which leads to that 
 capital. When we beheld the number of populous towns on the water 
 and firm ground, and that broad caufeway, running ftraight and level 
 to the city, we could compare it to nothing but the enchanted fcenes we 
 had read of in Amadis of Gaul, from the great towers and temples, and 
 other edifices of lime and ftone which feemed to rife out of the water. 
 To many of us it appeared doubtful whether we were aileep or awake ; 
 nor is the manner in which I exprefe myfelf to be wondered at, for it 
 mull: be considered, that never yet did man fee, hear, or dream of any 
 thing equal to the fpectacle which appeared to our eyes on this day. 
 
 When we approached Iztapalapa, we were received by feveral 
 great lords of that country, relations of Montezuma, who conducted 
 us to our lodgings there, in palaces giagniflcently built of ftone, and 
 
 the 
 
( m ) 
 
 the timber of which was cedar, with fpacious courts, and apartments 
 furnifhed with canopies of the fineft cotton. After having contem- 
 plated thefe noble edifices we walked through the gardens, which were 
 admirable to behold from the variety of beautiful and aromatic plants, 
 and the numerous alleys nTied with fruit trees, rofes, and various 
 flowers. Here was alfo a lake of the cleareft water, which communi- 
 cated with the grand lake of Mexico by a channel cut for the purpofe, 
 and capable of admitting the largefr. canoes. The whole was orna- 
 mented with works of art, painted, and admirably plaiftered and 
 whitened, and it was rendered more delightful by numbers of beautiful 
 birds. When I beheld the fcenes that were around me, I thought 
 within myfelf that this was the garden of the world ! This place, was 
 at the time of which I am fpeaking, with one half of the houfes in the 
 water, and the other half on dry land ; but all is deftroyed, and that 
 which was a lake is now a tract of fields of Indian corn, and fo entirely 
 altered that the natives themfelves could hardly know it. 
 
 . 
 
 ■:: bfi£ 
 .h oj 
 ■fiixxA nilo 
 
 io zxtftibo t^dio 
 jqq£ n zu 
 
 S 1 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 . . . 
 
I 
 
 ( '3* ) 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Mexico, Nov. 8th, 1519. Defcription of that Court and City. 
 Tranfatlions and Occurrences there. 
 
 O 
 
 
 N the next day we fet out, accompanied as on the former one, and 
 proceeded by the grand caufeway, which is eight yards wide, and runs 
 in a itraight line to the city of Mexico. It was crowded with people, 
 as were all the towers, temples, and caufeways, in every part of the 
 lake, attracted by curiofity to behold men, and animals, fuch as never 
 had been before feen in thefe countries. We were occupied by very 
 different thoughts ; our number did not amount to four hundred and 
 iifty, we had perfectly in our recollection the accounts we had received 
 on our march, that we were to be put to death on our arrival in the 
 city which we now faw before us, approachable only by caufeways, 
 whereon were feveral bridges, the breaking of one of which effectually 
 cut off our retreat. And now let who can, tell me, where are men in 
 this world to be found except ourfelves, who would have hazarded 
 fuch an attempt } 
 
 When we arrived at a place where a fmall caufeway turns off, 
 which goes to the city of Cuyoacan, we were met by a great number 
 of the lords of the court in their richeit dreffes, fent as they faid before 
 the great Montezuma, to bid us welcome. After waiting there fome 
 time, the nephew of Montezuma and other noblemen went back to 
 meet their monarch, who approached, carried in a moll: magnificent 
 litter, which was fupported by his principal nobility. When we came 
 near certain towers which are almofl clofe to the city, Montezuma who 
 
 was 
 
( 133 ) 
 
 was then there quitted his litter, and was borne in the arms of. the 
 princes of Tezcuco, Iztapalapa,Tacuba, and Cuyoacan, under a canopy of 
 the richefl materials, ornamented with green feathers, gold, and precious 
 flones that hung in the manner of fringe; he was moil richly dreffed 
 and adorned, and wore bufkins of pure gold ornamented with jewels. 
 The princes who fupported him were dreffed in rich habits, different 
 from thofe in which they came to meet us, and others who preceded 
 the monarch fpread mantles on the ground, left his feet mould touch it. 
 All who attended him, except the four princes, kept their eyes fixed 
 upon the earth, not daring to look him in the face. 
 
 When Cortes was told that the great Montezuma approached, he 
 difmounted from his horfe, and advanced towards him with much re- 
 fpect; Montezuma bid him welcome, and Cortes replied with a com- 
 pliment, and it appeared to me, that he offered to yield the right hand 
 to Montezuma, who declined it, and put Cortes on his right. Our 
 general then produced a collar of thofe artificial jewels called margajitas, 
 which are of various colours, fet in gold, and threw it upon the neck 
 of Montezuma; after which, he advanced to embrace him, but the 
 lords who furrounded the monarch, taking him by the arm, prevented 
 him, it appearing to them not fufficiently refpectful. Cortes then 
 faid, that he rejoiced in having feen fo great a monarch, and- that he 
 was highly honored by his coming out to meet him, as well as by the 
 many other marks of his favor. To this Montezuma made a gracious 
 reply, and gave orders to the princes of Tezcuco and Cuyoacan to attend 
 us to our quarters. Attended by his nobility, he then returned to the 
 city, all the people {landing clofe to the walls, without daring to lift up 
 their eyes, and thus we paffed, without obftruction from the crowd. 
 Who could count the multitude of men, women, and children, which 
 thronged the flreets, the canals, and terraces on the tops of the houfes, 
 on that day [ The whole of what I faw on this occafion is fo ftrongly 
 imprinted in my memory, that it appears to me as if it had happened 
 only yefterday : glory to our Lord Jefus Chrift, who gave us courage 
 to venture upon fuch dangers, and brought us fafely through them ! 
 
 And 
 

 ( *34 > 
 
 And praifed be he, that he has fuffered me to live, to write this my 
 true hiftory, although not fo fully and fatisfadtorily as the fubject 
 deferves. 
 
 k 
 Our lodgings were provided in the buildings which had been in- 
 habited by the father of Montezuma; here the monarch had the temples 
 of his gods, and a fecret treafure of gold and valuables, which he had 
 derived from his father Axayaca. We were lodged here, becaufe being 
 confidered as Teules, they thought we were in our proper place amongft 
 their idols. Be it how it may however, here they brought us to lodge* 
 in large apartments, a raifed platform being afligned for our general, 
 and mats for each of us, with little canopies over them, fuch as are ufed 
 in that country. The whole of this palace was very light, airy, clean, 
 and pleafant, the entry being through a great court. Montezuma here 
 led Cortes by the hand to the apartment deftined for him, and taking a 
 large collar of gold, placed it round the general's neck. Cortes de- 
 clared his gratitude for thefe favors, and Montezuma faid, " Malintzin, 
 " here you and your friends are at home; now repofe yourfelves." 
 With thefe words he departed. We were allotted to our quarters by 
 companies, our artillery was pofted in a convenient place, and all was 
 arranged in fuch a manner as to be prepared for any contingency; a 
 very fumptuous entertainment was provided for us, which we fat down 
 to with great fatis faction, and here ends the true and full account of our 
 adventurous and magnanimous entry into Mexico, on the eighth day of 
 November, in the year of our Lord 15 19. Glory be to Jefus Chrift 
 for all! 
 
 . 
 When the great Montezuma had made his repaft, and underftood 
 that we had done the fame, attended by a great body of his nobility he 
 came to our apartments. Cortes went out to the middle of the hall to 
 receive him, where Montezuma took him by the hand, and feats richly 
 ornamented being brought, they both fat down, by the defire of the 
 king, who then began a very pertinent fpeech, wherein he obierved, 
 that he rejoiced to have in his dominions captains fo brave as Cortes and 
 
 his 
 
( *3S ) 
 
 his aflbciates; that he had before heard of one who had arrived at 
 Champoton, and alfo of another who had come with four fhips in the 
 preceding year ; that he had been anxious to fee them, but had been 
 disappointed : now however that we were arrived, he was happy to 
 offer us all the favor he had in his power to beflow, for we were 
 undoubtedly thofe who had been mentioned by his anceftors, who had 
 predicted, that there would come certain men, from that part where 
 the fun rifes, to govern thefe countries j and it could mean no other 
 but us, who had fought fo valiantly fince our arrival in their country ; 
 a representation of each of our battles having been fent to him. Cortes 
 replied, that he and all of us never could repay the great favors we 
 every day received from his hands : that we certainly were thofe of 
 whom it had been prophecied, and that we were vaffals of a potent 
 monarch named Don Carlos, who had many and great princes fubjeel: 
 to him, and had fent us, hearing of the fame and grandeur of king 
 Montezuma, to requeft in his name, that the great Montezuma and his 
 fubjects would embrace the holy chriftian faith, which is the faith pro- 
 fefled by our monarch, by doing which he would preferve the fouls of 
 him, his family, and fubjects ; and that he mould in good time be in- 
 formed of more particulars, fuch as that we worfhipped the only true 
 God, with many other things highly edifying to the hearers. This 
 converfation being concluded, Montezuma prefented our general with a 
 quantity of valuable ornaments of wrought gold ; to each of the captains 
 he made a prefent of fbme gold and three loads of mantles, and to each 
 foldier of two loads of richly wrought mantles; and all this he did in the 
 moll free and gracious manner, or to {peak more properly, like a great 
 monarch as he was. Montezuma then aiked Cortes if his foldiers were 
 all brothers, and vaflals of our emperor. To which Cortes replied, 
 that we were all brothers in love and friendfhip, perfons of confequence 
 in our own country, and fervants of our fovereign lord the king. 
 With mutual compliments Montezuma then departed, having given 
 orders to his officers to provide us amply according to our demands,: 
 with corn, ftone mills, and women to make bread, together with fowls, 
 and fruit, and plenty of grafs for the horfes. 
 
 The 
 
( '3* ) 
 
 The next day was fixed on by Cortes, for "his vifit to Montezuma. 
 Accordingly, attended by Captains Pedro de Alvarado, Juan Velafquez 
 de Leon, Diego de Ordas, Gonzalo de Sandoval, and five foldiers, he 
 went to his palace, which as foon as Montezuma was informed of, he 
 came as far as the middle of the hall to meet us, attended by his rela- 
 tions, no other perfons being allowed to enter where he was, except on 
 moil; important bufmefs. With great ceremony on each fide, the king 
 took Cortes by the hand, and leading him to the elevated part of the 
 faloon, placed him upon his right, and with much affability, defired 
 the reft of us to be feated. Cortes then proceeded to fay, that he came 
 to him for the fervice of the Lord God whom the christians adored, 
 who was named Jefus Chrifr, and who fufTered death for our fakes. 
 He alfo explained to him, that we adored the crofs as the emblem of 
 the crucifixion for our falvation, whereby the human race w T as redeemed, 
 and that our Lord on the third day rofe, and is in heaven, and that it 
 is he who created heaven, and earth, and fca, and is adored by us as 
 our Creator; but that thofe things which he held to be gods, were 
 not fuch, but devils, which are very bad things, of evil countenances, 
 and worfe deeds; and that he might judge how wicked they were, 
 and how little power they had, in as much as where ever we placed 
 crofTes, they dare not fhew their faces. He therefore requefted, that he 
 w r ould attend to what he had told him, which was, that we were all 
 brothers, the children of Adam and Eve, and that as fuch, our emperor 
 lamenting the lofs of fouls in fuch numbers as thofe which were 
 brought by his idols into everlafting flames, had fent us to apply a 
 remedy thereto, by putting an end to the wormip of thefe falfe gods, 
 to human facrifices, and all other crimes; and that he now came to 
 notify his Majefty's intentions, but our emperor would at a future 
 period fend holy men, fully capable of explaining them. 
 
 Here Cortes flopped, and Montezuma feemed to fhew an inclina- 
 tion to reply, but Cortes obfervirjg that this was enough for the firfl 
 time, propofed to us to retire, and we were preparing to do fo, when 
 we were prevented by Montezuma who fpoke to him as fellows. 
 
 " Malintzin, 
 
( '37 ) 
 
 " Malintzin, I have already heard through my ambafTadors of thofe 
 " things which you now mention, and to which hitherto we have 
 " made no reply, becaufe we have from the firfl worlhipped the gods 
 *' we now do, and conlider them as jufr. and good. So no doubt are 
 " yours. In regard to the creation of the world, our beliefs are the 
 Q fame, and we alfo believe you to be the people who were to come to 
 " us from where the fun rifes. To your great king I am indebted. 
 " There have been already perfons on our coafts, from your country; 
 " I wifh to know if you are all the fame people." To which Cortes 
 having replied that they were all fubjects of the fame prince, Mon- 
 tezuma faid, that from the firft time he heard of them, it had been his 
 wifh to fee them, which his gods had now granted him ; that we 
 mould therefore conlider ourfelves as at home, and if ever we were re- 
 fufed entrance into any of his cities, it was not his fault, but that of 
 his fubjects, who were terrified by the reports they heard of us, fuch 
 as that we carried with us thunder and lightning, that our horfes killed 
 men, and that we were furious Teules, with other follies of that kind; 
 adding, that he faw we were men, that we were valiant and wife f 
 for which he efteemed us, and would give us proofs thereof. For this 
 condefcenfion we all exprefled our gratitude. He then addreflcd himfelf 
 to Cortes in a laughing manner, for he was very gay in converfation 
 when he was in his ltate, faying, " Malintzin, the Tlafcalans your 
 ■" new friends have I know told you that I am like a god, and that 
 4< all about me is gold, and filver, and precious Hones ; but you now 
 " fee that I am mere flefh and blood, and that my houfes are built like 
 " other houfes, of lime and ftone, and timber. It is true that I am a 
 M great king, and inherit riches from my anceflors; but for thefe 
 " ridiculous falfehoods, you treat them with the fame contempt, that 
 " I do the ftories I was told of your commanding the elements." 
 To which Cortes good-humouredly replied, that the accounts of enemies 
 were not to be relied on, paying him at the fame time a handfome com- 
 pliment, upon his power and grandeur. During this converfation 
 Montezuma had made a fign to one of his principal attendants, to order 
 his officers to bring him certain pieces of gold, which he had laid apart 
 
 T to 
 

 ( '38 ) 
 
 to give to Cortes, together with ten loads of fine fluffs, which he 
 divided between Cortes and his captains, and to every foldier he gave 
 two collars of gold, each worth ten crowns, and two loads of mantles. 
 The gold amounted in value to upwards of a thoufand crowns ; and he 
 gave it with an affability, and indifference, which made him appear a 
 truly magnificent prince. It being now pail midday, Cortes took his 
 leave, obferving that it was his Majefty's hour of dinner, and that he 
 heaped obligations upon us ; to which Montezuma replied, that on the 
 contrary we had obliged him. We then retired, impreffed with re- 
 ipecl: for the great Montezuma, from his princely manners and 
 liberality. 
 
 The great Montezuma was at this time aged about forty years, of 
 good ftature, well proportioned, and thin: his complexion was much 
 fairer than that of the Indians; he wore his hair fhort, juft covering 
 his ears, with very little beard, well arranged, thin, and black. His 
 face was rather long, with a pleafant countenance, and good eyes; 
 gravity and good humour were blended together when he fpoke. He 
 was veiy delicate and clean in his perfon, bathing himfelf every evening. 
 He had a number of miftrefTes, of the firft families, and two princeffes 
 his lawful wives : when he vifited them, it was with fuch fecrecy, that 
 none could know it except his own fervants. He was clear of all fuf- 
 picion of unnatural vices. The clothes which he wore one day, he did 
 not put on for four days after. He had two hundred of his nobility as 
 a guard, in apartments adjoining his own. Ofthefe, certain perfons 
 only, could fpeak to him, and when they went to wait upon him they 
 took off their rich mantles, and put on others of lefs ornament, but 
 clean. They entered his apartment barefooted, their eyes fixed on the 
 ground, and making three inclinations of the body as they approached 
 him. In addreffing the king they faid, " Lord, my lord, great lord." 
 When they had finifhed he difmiffed them with a few words, and they 
 retired, with their faces towards him, and their eyes fixed upon the 
 ground. I alfo obferved, that when great men came from a diftance 
 about bufmefs, they entered his palace barefooted, and in a plain habit; 
 
 and 
 
( l 39 ) 
 
 and alfo, that they did not enter the gate directly, but took a circuit in 
 going towards it. 
 
 His cooks had upwards of thirty different ways of dreffing meats, 
 and they had earthen veffels fo contrived as to keep them always hot. 
 For the table of Montezuma himfelf, above three hundred dimes were 
 dreffed, and for his guards, above a thoufand. Before dinner, Mon- 
 tezuma would fometimes go out and infpect the preparations, and his' 
 officers would point out to him which were the beft, and explained of 
 what birds and flefh they were compofed; and of thofe he would eat. 
 But this was more for amufement than any thing elfe. It is faid that 
 at times the flefh of young children was dreffed for him ; but the ordi- 
 nary meats were, domeftic fowls, pheafants, gcc(c y partridges, quails, 
 venifon, Indian hogs, pigeons, hares, and rabbits, with many other 
 animals and birds peculiar to the country. This is certain; that after 
 Cortes had fpoken to him relative to the dreffing human flefh, it was 
 not praclifed in his palace. At his meals, in the cold weather, a 
 number of torches of the bark of a wood which makes no fmoke and 
 has an aromatic fmell, were lighted, and that they fhould not throw 
 too much heat, fcreens, ornamented with gold, and painted with 
 figures of idols, were placed before them. Montezuma was feated on 
 a low throne, or chair, at a table proportioned to the height of his feat. 
 The table was covered with white cloths and napkins, and four beau- 
 tiful women prefented him with water for his hands, in veffels which 
 they call Xicales, with other veffels under them like plates, to catch the 
 water; they alfo prefented him with towels. Then, two other women 
 brought fmall cakes of bread, and when the king began to eat, a large 
 fcreen of wood, gilt, was placed before him, fo that people fhould not 
 during that time fee him. The women having retired to a little diftance, 
 four ancient lords flood by the throne, to whom Montezuma from time 
 to time fpoke or addreffed queftions, and as a mark -of particular favor, 
 gave to each of them a plate of that which he was eating. I was told 
 that thefe old lords, who were his near relations, were alfo counfellors 
 and judges. The plates which Montezuma prefented to them, they 
 
 T 2 received 
 
( HO ) 
 
 received with high refpecT:, eating what was in them without taking 
 their eyes off the ground. He was ferved on earthenware of Cholula, 
 red and black. While the king was at table, no one of his guards, or 
 in the vicinity of his apartment, dared for their lives make any noife. 
 Fruit of all the kinds that the country produced was laid before him; 
 he eat very little, but from time to time, a liquor prepared from cocoa, 
 and of a ftimulative, or corroborative quality, as we were told, was 
 prefented to him in golden cups. We could not at that time fee if he 
 drank it or not, but I obferved a number of jars, above fifty, brought 
 in, filled with foaming chocolate, of which he took Tome, which the 
 women prefented to him. At different intervals during the time of 
 dinner, there entered certain Indians, hump-backed, very deformed, 
 and ugly, who played tricks of buffoonery, and others who they faid 
 were jefters. There was alfo a company of fingers and dancers, who 
 afforded Montezuma much entertaiment. To thefe he ordered the vafes 
 of chocolate to be diftributed. The four female attendants then took 
 away the cloths, and again with much refpecT: prefented him with 
 water to wafh his hands, during which time Montezuma converfed 
 with the four old noblemen formerly mentioned, after which they took 
 their lenve with many ceremonies. One thing I forgot, and no wonder, 
 to mention in its place, and that is, that during the time Montezuma 
 was at dinner, two very beautiful women were bufily employed making 
 fmall cakes with eggs and other things mixed therein. Thefe were 
 delicately white, and when made they prefented them to him on plates 
 covered with napkins. Alfo another kind of bread was brought to him 
 in long loaves, and plates of cakes refembling wafers. After he had 
 dined, they prefented to him three little canes highly ornamented, con- 
 taining liquid amber, mixed with an herb they call tobacco; and 
 when he had fufficiently viewed and heard the fingers, dancers, and 
 buffoons, he took a little of the fmoke of one of thefe canes, and then 
 laid himfelf down to fleep ; and thus his principal meal concluded. 
 After this was over, all his guards and domeftics fat down to dinner, 
 and as near as I could judge, above a thoufand plates of thofe eatables 
 that I have mentioned were laid before them, with veffels of foaming 
 
 chocolate 
 
( '4' ) 
 
 chocolate, and fruit in an immenfe quantity. For his women and va- 
 rious inferior fervants, his eftablifhment was of a prodigious expence ; 
 and we were aftonifhed, amidft fuch a profufion, at the vaft regularity 
 that prevailed. His major domo was at this time a prince named Ta- 
 piea; he kept the accounts of Montezuma's rents, in books which 
 occupied an entire houfe. Montezuma had two buildings filled with 
 every kind of arms, richly ornamented with gold and jewels, fuch as 
 (hields large and fmall, clubs like two-handed fwords, and lances much 
 larger than ours, with blades fix feet in length, fo ftrong that if they 
 fix in a fhield they do not break, and (harp enough to ufe as razors. 
 There was alfo an immenfe quantity of bows and arrows, and darts, 
 together with flings, and fhields which roll up into a fmall compafs, 
 and in action are let fall and thereby cover the whole body. He had 
 alfo much defenfive armour of quilted cotton ornamented with feathers 
 in different devices, and cafques for the head, made of wood and bone, 
 with plumes of feathers, and many other articles too tedious to 
 mention. 
 
 In this palace was a mofr. magnificent aviary, which contained 
 every defcription of birds that continent afforded, namely, royal eagles, 
 and a fmaller fpecies, with many other birds, down to the fmalleft 
 parroquets, of beautiful colours. It was here that the ornaments of 
 green feathers were fabricated. The feathers were taken from birds 
 which are of the fize of our pyes in Spain, and which they call here 
 Quetzales, and other birds, whofe plumage is of five different colours, 
 green, red, white, yellow, and blue. The name of this fpecies of 
 bird I do not know. Here was alfo an immenfity of parrots, and cer- 
 tain geefe of fine plumage, and a fpecies which refembled geefe. Ml 
 thefe bred here, and were ftripped of their feathers every year at the 
 proper feafon. Here was a large pond of clear running water, where 
 were a number of great birds, entirely red, with very long legs; there 
 are fome like them in the Ifland of Cuba, which they call Ipiris. 
 There was alfo a fpecies which lives entirely in the water. 
 
 Wc 
 

 ( H* ) 
 
 We likew ife law another great building, which was a temple, 
 and which contained thofe which were called the valiant or fighting- 
 gods, and here were many kinds of furious bcafts, tygers, and lions of 
 two fpecies, one of which refembles a wolf, called here Adive. Alfa 
 foxes, and other fmaller animals, but all carnivorous. IVIofl of thefe 
 were bred in the place, being kd with game, fowls, dogs, and as I 
 have heard the bodies of Indians who were facrificed, the manner of 
 which as; I have been informed is this. They open the body of the 
 victim while living, with large knives of flone ; they take out his. 
 heart, and blood, which they offer to their gods, and then they cut off 
 the limbs, and the head, upon which they feafl, giving the body to 
 be devoured by the wild beafrs, and the (kulls they hang up in their 
 temples. In this accurfed place were many vipers, and poifonous fer- 
 pents which have in their tails fomewhat that founds like caftanets ; 
 thefe are the moll: dangerous of all, and were kept in vefTels filled with 
 feathers, where they reared their young, and were fed with the fiefh. ot 
 human beings, and dogs ; and I have been affured, that after our ex- 
 pulfion from Mexico, all thefe animals lived for many days upon the 
 bodies of our comrades who were killed on that occafion. Thefe hearts 
 and horrid reptiles were retained to keep company with their infernal 
 gods, and when thefe animals yelled and hifTed, the palace feemed like 
 hell itfelf. 
 
 The place where the artifts principally refided was named Efcapu- 
 zalco, and was at the diftance of about a league from the city. Here were 
 the (hops and manufactories of all their gold and filver fmiths, whofc 
 works in thefe metals, and in jewellery, when they were brought to 
 Spain, furprifed our ableft artiffs. Their painters we may alfo judge 
 ofbywhatwe now fee, for there are three Indians in Mexico, who: 
 are named, Marcos de Aquino, Juan de la Cruz, and Crefpillo, who, 
 if they had lived with Apelles in ancient times, or were compared with 
 Michael Angelo or Berruguete in modern times, would not be held in- 
 ferior to them. Their fine manufactures of cotton and feathers, were 
 principally brought from the province of Coftitlan. The women of 
 
 the 
 
the family of the great Montezuma alfo, of all ranks, were extremely 
 ingenious in thefe works, and conftantly employed; as was a certain 
 defcription of females who lived together in the manner of nuns. 
 
 One part of the city was entirely occupied by Montezuma's dancers, 
 of different kinds, fome of whom bore a flick on their fact, others 
 flew in the air, and fome danced like thofe in Italy called by us Mata- 
 chines. He had alfo a number of carpenters and handicraft men con- 
 irantly in his employ. His gardens, which were of great extent, w ere 
 irrigated by canals of running water, and /haded with every variety of 
 trees. In them were baths of cut ftone, pavilions for feafting or retire- 
 ment, and theatres for (hows, and for the dancers and fingers; all 
 which were kept in the moil exact order, by a number of labourers 
 conflantly employed. 
 
 When we had been four days in Mexico, Cortes wifhed to take a 
 view of the city, and in confequence fent to requeft the permiffion of 
 his Majefty. Accordingly, Aguilar, Donna Marina, and a little page 
 of our general's called Orteguilla, who already underftood fomething of 
 the language, went to the palace for that purpofe. Montezuma was 
 pleafed immediately to accede, but being apprehenflve that we might 
 ofier fome infult to his temple, he determined to go thither in perfon, 
 which he accordingly did, in the fame form, and with the fame retinue, 
 as when he fi-rft came out to meet us, but that he was on this occafion 
 preceded by two lords bearing fceptres in their hands, which ;they car- 
 ried on high, as a ifignal of the king's approach. Montezuma, in his 
 litter, with a fmall rod in his hand, one half of which was gold, and 
 the other half wood, and which he boi3e elevated like a rod of juftice, 
 for fuch it was, approached the temple, and there quitted his litter and 
 mounted the Heps, attended by a number of priefls, and offering in- 
 cerrfe, with many ceremonies, to his war gods. Cortes at the head of 
 his cavalry, and the principal part of our foldiers under arms, marched 
 to the grand fquare, attended by many noblemen of the court. When 
 we arrived there, we were aftonifhed at the crowds of people, and the 
 
 regularity 
 

 ( M4 ) 
 
 regularity which prevailed, as well as at the vaft quantities of mer- 
 chandife, which thofe who attended us were afTiduous in pointing out. 
 Each kind had its particular place, which was diftinguifhed by a fign. 
 The articles confifted of gold, filver, jewels, feathers, mantles, cho- 
 colate, ikin.s drefled and undrefTed, fandals, and other manufactures of 
 the roots and fibres of nequen, and great numbers of male and female 
 flaves, fome of whom were fattened by the neck, in collars, to long 
 poles. The meat market was flocked with fowls, game, and dogs. 
 Vegetables, fruits, articles of food ready drefTed, fait, bread, honey, 
 and fweet paftry made in various ways, were alfo fold here. Other 
 places in the fquare were appointed to the fale of earthenware, wooden 
 houfehold furniture fuch as tables and benches, firewood, paper, fweet 
 canes filled with tobacco mixed with liquid amber, copper axes and 
 working tools, and wooden veffels highly painted. Numbers of wo- 
 men fold fifh, and little loaves made of a certain mud which they find 
 in the lake, and which refemblcs cheefe. The makers of ftone blades 
 were bufily employed fhaping them out of the rough material, and 
 the merchants who dealt in gold, had the metal in grains as it came 
 from the mines, in tranfparent tubes, fo that they could be reckoned, 
 and the gold was valued at fo many mantles, or fo many xiquipils of 
 cocoa, according to the fize of the quills. The entire fquare was in- 
 clofed in piazzas, under which great quantities of grain were flored, 
 and where were alfo (hops for various kinds of goods. I mult apo- 
 logize for adding, that boat loads of human ordure were on the borders 
 of the adjoining canals, for the purpofe of tanning leather, which they 
 faid could not be done without it. Some may laugh at this, but I 
 aiTert the fact is as I have Hated it, and moreover, upon all the public 
 roads, places for pafTengers to refort to, were built of canes, and 
 thatched with ftraw or grafs, in order to colled: this material. 
 
 The courts of juftice, where three judges fat, occupied a part of 
 the fquare, their under officers being in the market, infpecting the 
 
 merchandife. 
 
 From 
 
( m* ) 
 
 From the fquare we proceeded to. the great, temple, but before we 
 entered it we made a circuit through a number of large courts, the 
 fmalleft of which appeared to me to contain more ground than the 
 great fquare in Salamanca, with double inclofures built of lime and 
 ftone, and the courts paved with large white cut ftone, very clean; or 
 where not paved, they were plaiftered and poliflied. When we ap- 
 proached the gate of the great temple, to which the afcent was by a 
 hundred and fourteen fleps, and before we had mounted one of them, 
 Montezuma fent down to us fix priefts, and two of his noblemen, to 
 carry Cortes up, as they had done their fovereign, which he politely 
 declined. When we had afcended to the fummit of the temple, we 
 obferved on the platform as we pafled, the large flones whereon were 
 placed the victims who were to be facrificcd. Here was a great figure 
 which refembled a dragon, and much blood frefh fpilt. Montezuma 
 came out from an adoratory in which his accurfed idols were placed, 
 attended by two priefts, and addreiling himfelf to Cortes, expreffed his 
 apprehenfion that he was fatigued; to which Cortes replied, that fa- 
 tigue was unknown to us. 
 
 : 'Jill m 
 Montezuma then took him by the hand, and pointed out to him 
 
 the different parts of the city, and its vicinity, all of which were com- 
 manded from that place. Here we had a clear profpect of the three 
 caufeways by which Mexico communicated with the land, and of the 
 aqueduct of Chapultepeque, which fupplied the city with the fineft 
 water. We were ftruck with the numbers of canoes, palling to and 
 from the main land, loaded with provifions and merchandife, and we 
 could now perceive, that in this great city, and all the others of that 
 neighbourhood which were built in the water, the houfes flood fepa- 
 rate from each other, communicating only by fmall drawbridges, and 
 by boats, and that they were built with terraced tops. We obferved 
 alfo the temples and adoratories of the adjacent cities, built in the form 
 of towers and fortreffes, and others on the caufeway, all whitewafhed, 
 and wonderfully brilliant. The noife and buftle of the market-place 
 below us could be heard almoft a league off, and thofe who had been 
 
 U at 
 
( .'4<S ) 
 
 at Rome and at Conftantinople faid, that for convenience, regularity, 
 and population, they had never feen the like. Cortes now propofed to 
 Fra. Bartholome to apply to Montezuma for permilTion to conftruct 
 our church here, to which the father for the prefent objected, thinking 
 it ill-timed. Cortes then addrefling himfelf to Montezuma, requefted 
 that he would do him the favour to (hew us his gods. Montezuma 
 having firfr. confulted his priefts, led us into a tower where was a kind 
 of faloon. Here were two altars highly adorned, with richly wrought 
 timbers on the roof, and over the altars, gigantic figures refembling 
 very fat men. The one on the right was Huitzilopochtli their war 
 god, with a great face and terrible eyes ; this figure was entirely covered 
 with gold and jewels, and his body bound with golden ferpents; in 
 his right hand he held a bow, and in his left a bundle of arrows. The 
 little idol which flood by him reprefented his page, and bore a lance 
 and target richly ornamented with gold and jewels. The great idol had 
 round his neck the figures of human heads and hearts, made of pure 
 gold and filver, ornamented with precious ftones of a blue colour. Be- 
 fore the idol was a pan of incenfe, with three hearts of human 
 victims which were then burning, mixed with copal. The whole of 
 that apartment, both walls and floor, was Gained with human blood in 
 fuch quantity as to give a very. orTenfive fmell. On the left was the 
 other great figure, with a countenance like a bear, and great mining 
 eyes, of the polifhed fubftance whereof their mirrors are made. The 
 body of this idol was alfo covered with jewels. Thefe two deities, it 
 was faid, were brothers ; the name of this laft was Tezcatepuca, and he 
 was the god of the infernal regions. He prefided, according to their 
 notions, over the fouls of men. His body was covered with figures 
 reprefenting little devils with tails of ferpents, and the walls and pave- 
 ment of this temple were fo befmeared with blood that they flunk worfe 
 than all the flaughter-houfes of Caftille. An offering lay before him of 
 five human hearts. In the fummit of the temple, and in a recefs the 
 timber of which was moft highly ornamented, we faw a figure half 
 human and the other half refembling an alligator, inlaid with jewels, 
 and partly covered with a mantle. This idol was faid to contain the 
 
 germ 
 
( HI ) 
 
 germ, and origin of ail created things, and was the god of harveft, and 
 fruits. The walls and altars were beftained like the reft, and fo offen- 
 five, that we thought we never could get out foon enough. 
 
 [n this place they had a drum of moft enormous fize, the head of 
 which was made of the fkins of large ferpents : this inftrument when 
 ftruck refounded with a noife that could be heard to the diftancc of two 
 leagues, and fo doleful that it deferved to be named the mufic of the in- 
 fernal regions; and with their horrible founding horns and trumpets, 
 their great knives for facrificc, their human vi&ims, and their blood 
 befprinkled altars, I devoted them, and all their wickednefs to God's 
 vengeance, and thought that the time would never arrive, that I mould 
 efcape from this fcene of human butchery, horrible fmells, and more 
 deteflable fights. 
 
 Cortes, half in jeft, addrelTing himfelf to Montezuma, exprefTed 
 his wonder how fo wife a prince could worfhip fuch abfurd and wicked 
 powers ; and propofed to him to place on the fummit of that tower a 
 crofs, and in thefe adoratories the image of the holy Virgin, and he 
 aftured him that he mould then be foon convinced of the vanity and de- 
 ception of his idols. Montezuma fhewed marks of difpleafure at thefe 
 exprellions, faying, that he would not have admitted us into the temple, 
 had he thought that we w r ould have infulted their gods, who were kind 
 to them, who gave them health and feafonable rains, good harveits, 
 fine weather, victories and whatever elfe they defired, and whom they 
 were in duty, and in gratitude, bound to worfhip. Cortes dropped 
 the difcourfe, obferving that it was time for us to go; and Montezuma 
 arTenting, faid, it was necelTary for him to remain, to expiate by fa- 
 crifice the fin which he had committed, in admitting us there. Cortes 
 then took leave, and thus we concluded our vifit to the great temple of 
 Mexico, defcending the fteps with much pain to our invalids. 
 
 I will now proceed to relate other matters, in which, if I am not 
 lb correct as I ought to be, let it be remembered that my fituation was 
 
 U 2 that 
 
( «48 ) 
 
 that of a foldier, who was obliged to be more attentive to the orders of 
 his officer, than to the objects of curiofity around him. The ground 
 whereon this temple flood, was as much as fix of the largefl buildings 
 of this country occupy. From the bafe it diminifhed to the fummit, 
 whereon was a tower, in which the idols were placed, and from the 
 middle of the afcent, to the top, were five concavities, like barbicans, 
 but without parapets. However there are many paintings of temples in 
 the poneflion of the conquerors, one whereof I have, and thofe who 
 have feen them will eafily form an idea of the outride of this temple. 
 I have heard that at the time they laid the foundations of it, the natives 
 of all that country made offerings of their gold, filver, and jewels, of 
 the feeds of the earth, and of prifoners, all which were buried in the 
 foundations of the building. The inquifitive reader will naturally a(k, 
 how I came to know any thing of this, which happened upwards of a 
 thoufand years ago. I will inform him. When we got poiTefTion of 
 this great city, and that it was to be built upon a new plan, it was de- 
 termined to place the church of St. Jago on the ground where this 
 temple flood; and in finking the foundations, we found great quantities 
 of gold, filver, and other valuables, and a Mexican who obtained part 
 of the fame ground, difcovered more treafure, about which there was a 
 law-fuit in fupport of his Majefty's right, the refult of which I am 
 ignorant of. The account was alfo confirmed by Guatimotzin who 
 was then alive, and who faid that the tranfaction was recorded in their 
 ancient hiftorical paintings. The church which now ftands here is 
 called St. Jago el Taltelulco. This temple I have before obferved, was 
 furrounded by courts as large as the fquare of Salamanca, infide of a 
 double inclofure of lime and ftone. At a little diflance from it flood a 
 tower, a true hell or habitation for demons, with a mouth refembling 
 that of an enormous monfler, wide open, and ready as it were to de- 
 vour thofe who entered. At the door flood frightful idols ; by it was 
 a place for facrifice, and within, boilers, and pots full of water, to 
 drefs the flefli of the victims, which was eaten by the priefls. The 
 idols were like ferpents and devils, and before them were tables and 
 knives for facrifice, the place being covered with the blood which was 
 
 fpilt 
 
( i4'9 ) 
 
 ipilt on thofe occafionS. » The furniture was like that of a butcher's 
 flail, and I never gave this accurfed building any name except that of 
 hell. Having patted this, we faw great piles of wood, and a refervoir 
 of water, fupplied by a pipe from the great aqueduct ; and crofting a 
 court, we came to another temple, wherein were the tombs of the 
 Mexican nobility ;' it was begrimed with foot and blood. Next to this 
 was another, full of fkeletons, and piles of bones, each kept apart, but 
 regularly arranged. In each temple were idols, and each had alfo its 
 particular priefts, who wore long veftments of black, fomewhat be- 
 tween the drefs of the dominicans and our canons ; their long hair was 
 clotted together, and their ears lacerated in honor of their gods. 
 
 At a certain diftance from the buildings of which I have lafl 
 fpoken were others, the idols of which were, as they faid, the advo- 
 cates, or fuperintendent deities of human marriages, and all round the 
 great court were many houfes, which w r ere not very lofty, and wherein 
 refided the priefts, and others who had charge of the idols. Here was 
 alfo a great refervoir of water, fupplied with pipes, exclufively for the 
 fervice of the two idols Huitzilopochtli and Tezcatepuca, and hard by, 
 a large building, where were a number of the young Mexican women, 
 who redded there as in a nunnery, until they were married. They 
 worfhipped two female deities, who prefided over marriages, and to 
 them they offered facrifiees, in order to obtain good hufbands. I have 
 been thus diffufe in my defcription of this great temple, becaufe it was 
 the mod confiderable in that city, amongft the many fumptuous build- 
 ings of that kind which it contained. The temple of Cholula however 
 was higher than this, having a hundred and twenty fteps ; it was alfo 
 held in great veneration, and was built on a plan different from that of 
 Mexico. The temple at Tezcuco was very large, having a hundred 
 and feventeen fteps. All thefe were of different ftructure, but agreed 
 in having a number of outer courts, and a double inclofure. One 
 ridiculous circumftanee is, that each province had its own peculiar 
 gods, who were fuppofed to have no concern with any other; fo that 
 the idols were innumerable in this country. Having fatigued ourfelves 
 
 with 
 
( ijo ) 
 
 with the examination of thefc fcenes, fo new to u&, we retired to our 
 quarters. 
 
 Cortes perceiving how adverfe the king was to the converfion of 
 his temple into a chriitian church, applied to one of the principal 
 officers of his palace, for materials to confrruct a chapel and altar, 
 within our quarters. His defire being made known to Montezuma, it 
 was inftantly complied with, and timber and workmen being provided, 
 in three days we had it completed. Here we faid mafs every day ; we 
 had however to lament the total want of wine for the holy facrament, 
 it having been all ufed in the illnefs of Cortes, the reverend father, and 
 others, during the wars in Tlafcala. However we were conftant in our 
 devotions, as well on account of our duty, as in order to imprefs a pro- 
 per idea of our holy religion, on the minds of Montezuma and the na- 
 tives. Being employed in looking out for a proper place to fix the holy 
 crofs, one of our carpenters obferved an appearance on the wall, as if a 
 door had been there, and lately clofed up. When this was made 
 known to Cortes, it was privately opened, and on entering the apart- 
 ment, they found riches without end ! The fecret foon tranfpired, and 
 we went, all of us, to view them. I was then a young man, and I 
 thought that if all the treafures of the earth had been brought into one 
 place, they could not have amounted to fo much. It was agreed to 
 clofe up the door again, and we determined to conceal the knowledge 
 of it until the proper time mould offer. 
 
 A council was now called, compofed of Cortes as prefident, with 
 four captains, and twelve foldiers whereof I was one, and having duly 
 confidered how evidently the Lord guided us, and what wife and valiant 
 captains and brave foldiers we had, as alfo the fickle difpofition of the 
 Indians, who though now kind to us, might change, there was no 
 faying how foon, and that notwithftanding the hofpitality with which 
 Montezuma treated us, he might at any moment fall into an oppofite 
 line of conduct-, we refblved to follow the opinion of Cortes, by adopt- 
 ing the moil effectual meafure, which was, to feize, and make that 
 
 monarch 
 
( '5' ) 
 
 monarch our prifoner; as we could not know at what moment we 
 might be perhaps poifoned in our food, and as no gift of his, nor all 
 his father's treafure, could make compenfation to us for the alarms, 
 and diflreffing thoughts, which filled the minds of thofe of any reflec- 
 tion. For thefe reafons it was therefore agreed to adopt the meafure 
 without delay. The captains who were prefent propofed, that Mon- 
 tezuma mould be induced by a plaufible pretext to come into our quar- 
 ters, and when there, to feize him, and if he refitted, to make his 
 perfon anfwer it : and they urged, that of the two great dangers, this 
 was much the leaft. It was then obferved by fome of our foldiers, that 
 Montezuma's officers did not provide us fo plentifully as at the firfl, 
 and two of our Tlafcalan allies had told our interpreter, Aguilar, in 
 confidence, that they obferved a bad difpofition on the part of the 
 Mexicans towards us, for the two lafl days. This debate lafled a full 
 hour; at length it was agreed to adjourn until the next day, and in the 
 mean time we confulted our reverend father of the order of mercy, 
 praying to God to guide us in this difficulty. On the day after this 
 debate, arrived two Indians of Tlafcala very fecretly, with letters from 
 Villa Rica, whereby we were informed, that Juan de Efcalante had 
 fallen, together with fix foldiers, in a battle with the Mexicans,* and 
 that the inhabitants of the mountains and of Cempoal were in commo- 
 tion, and refufed to fupply provifions, or to work, fo that the garrifon 
 knew not what to do. Thefe letters added, that the opinion of the In- 
 dians were much altered fince they found that the Spaniards could be 
 killed like other men. God knows this intelligence afflicted us; it was 
 the firft. defeat that we had experienced fince we landed on that conti- 
 nent ; and here let the reflecting reader ponder upon the changes which 
 fate makes in the affairs of men. We who yefterday were honored by 
 Montezuma, in pofleflion of wealth, and confidered invulnerable like 
 demigods, to day found ourfelves lowered in the confederation of the 
 natives to a level with them in whofe power we were. We now 
 
 therefore 
 
 * Cortes received the intelligence of this event in Cholula. 
 
( »s* ) 
 
 therefore faw in a ftronger point of view than ever, how neceflary it 
 was for our very exiftence to feize Montezuma, and that if we failed, 
 we might as well perifh in the attempt as meet our certain fate in any 
 other way. But before I go farther I will give an account of the mis- 
 fortune which befel Juan de Efcalante. 
 
 I have already related, that in a town named Quiabuiftlan, about 
 thirty chiefs of the neighbouring diftricts had voluntarily come under 
 our government. A Mexican garrifon, it appears, attempted to levy 
 contributions upon fome of thefe people. When this was reprefented 
 to Efcalante the commandant in Villa Rica, he fent word to the officers 
 of Montezuma to defift, threatening them in cafe they did not, but at 
 the fame time expreffing his wilhes to be on friendly terms with them. 
 To this an abrupt reply was returned, that he mould find them in the 
 field. Efcalante was a man who had blood in his eye, and on receiving 
 this anfwer he immediately prepared forty of his own people, and two 
 thoufand of his allies, and put himfelf in march againfl the Mexicans, 
 whom he met out upon a pillaging expedition, and attacked. Our 
 allies who were always afraid of the Mexicans, fled at the firft fhower 
 of arrows, and left the poor Spaniards to get out of the bufinefs as well 
 as they could. With great difficulty they arrived at Almeria, where 
 Efcalante and fix foldiers foon died of their wounds. One foldier they 
 took alive ; his name was Arguello, a native of Leon ; this man had a 
 large head, and thick curled beard, and was of great bodily ftrength. 
 Such is the truth of the affair at Almeria, which is entirely different 
 from the account of the hiftorian Gomara, where he fays that Pedro de 
 Ircio went to colonize Panuco with a party of foldiers, at a time when 
 we had not a fufficiency of men to keep up our guards. In many 
 things which that hjftorian relates concerning the feizure of Montezuma, 
 he ought to have recollected that eye witnefTes to that tranfaction were 
 yet alive, to contradict him. 
 
 The Mexican captains reported the affair to Montezuma, and pre- 
 fented him with the head of the Spanifh foldier, who died of his 
 
 wounds, 
 
( l S3 ) 
 
 wounds, as they were bringing him prifoner. It is faid that Mon- 
 tezuma trembled when he beheld it, and ordered it to be fent elfewherc. 
 He afked his captains why, being fo numerous, they had not con- 
 quered fuch a handful of men ; they replied, that the reafon was, be- 
 caufe they beheld a fupernatural being, who encouraged the Spaniards, 
 and {truck terror into their people ; and this Montezuma believed could 
 be no other than the holy Virgin Mary, with her fon in her arms, as 
 we had explained to him that (he was our patronefs. This I cannot 
 teftify to, not having been there myfelf, but fome of thofe who were 
 there allured me of the truth of it, and it was the univerfal belief 
 amongft us. Would to God that it were fo ! Certain however it is, 
 that the divine mercy was with us throughout, for which praifed be 
 God! 
 
 It having been decided that we mould feize the perfon of the king, 
 we pafled the whole of the preceding night in praying to our Lord, 
 that he would be pleafed to guide us fo that what we were about to do 
 fhould redound to his holy fervice, and in the morning * we proceeded 
 to arrange the manner in which our determination was to be carried 
 into effect. Our cavalry and infantry were as ufual in readinefs to turn 
 out if called upon, and as it was always our cuftom to go fully armed, 
 the appearance in that manner gave no fufpicion. Cortes having left 
 our whole force in readinefs, proceeded to the palace, attended by the 
 captains, P. de Alvarado, Gonzalo de Sandoval, J. V. de Leon, Fra. 
 dc Lugo, and A. de Avila, with the interpreters Donna Marina and 
 Aguilar ; fending before him to acquaint the king, that he was on his 
 way to pay him a vifit. This he did in order to prevent any effect 
 arifing from an unexpected appearance. The king concluded that it 
 was on account of the affair of Almeria, and that Cortes was enraged 
 about that which in reality he did not care the value of a chefnut for, 
 and fent back word to Cortes that he was welcome. Accordingly, our 
 
 X general, 
 
 Eight days after the arrival of the Spaniards in Mexico. 
 
( '54 ) 
 
 general, and we who attended him, having entered into the prefence of 
 Montezuma, after paying him his refpects, he addreffed the king 
 through his interpreters, faying, he was aftonifhed that a monarch 
 who was fo brave, and who had (hewn himfelf fo friendly to us, 
 fhould have given orders to his troops in Tuzapan to attack the Spa- 
 niards, kill one of them, and his horfe, and pillage and deflroy our 
 allies. Cortes wifhed to conceal the death of Efcalante and the fix 
 others. He then charged the king with the treacherous attempt againfl 
 us in Cholula, which he faid he had hitherto been deterred from fpeak- 
 ing of, by motives of efteem and regard; but that now, in addition to 
 thefe provocations, his officers were plotting our immediate deftrudtion, 
 and he concluded by faying, that, in order to prevent the ruin of the 
 city, it was neceffary that his Majefty mould, peaceably, and without 
 making any oppofition or remonftrance, immediately go with us to our 
 quarters, where he mould be treated with the greateft refpect; but that 
 if he faid one word, or gave the leaft alarm, the five captains then pre- 
 fent would inftantly put him to death. On hearing this Montezuma 
 was at firft. fo terrified that he appeared to have loft all fenfation. Hav- 
 ing recovered himfelf a little, he denied his having ever given any order 
 to his troops to attack our countrymen, and taking from his wrift the 
 fignet of Huitzilopochtli with which he was ufed to confirm any order 
 of great importance, he caufed the officer of whom complaint had been 
 made, to be fent for. He then replied to the propofal of leaving his 
 palace, and fummoning up his dignity faid, that he was not the perfon 
 to be forced t© take fuch a ftep, contrary to his inclination. The con- 
 vcrfation was prolonged, Cortes giving him good reafons for what he 
 propofed, and the king replying to him with better, infomuch that 
 above half an hour had now elapfed. The captains who were ftanding 
 by began at laft to grow very impatient, and J. V. de Leon cried out to 
 Cortes in his rough voice, •' Why Sir do you wafte fo many words? 
 '■* Let him yield himfelf our prifoner, or we will this inftant plunge 
 V our fwords into his body. Tell him this, and alfo, that if he fays a 
 " word, he dies for it. Better for us to aflure our lives now, or perifh at 
 " once.'** The manner in which this was fpoken ftruck the king, and he 
 
 afked 
 
( '55 ) 
 
 afked Donna Marina the meaning of it. She with her ufual readinefs 
 anfwered by requeuing that he would immediately confent to what was 
 propofed to him, and go where he mould meet all refpect and honor, 
 as (he perceived that if he hefitated, they were refolved to put him to 
 inftant death. He then addreffed Cortes and faid, " I have a legitimate 
 U fon, and two legitimate daughters; take them as hoftages for me, 
 W but do not expofe me as a prifoner to my own people. " Cortes 
 however ^replied faying nothing but what was originally propofed could 
 do, and that remonftrances were unavailing. At length he was forced 
 to confent, upon which our captains addrelTed him with every declara- 
 tion of efteem and refpect, earneftly defiring that he would not be 
 offended at what had palled, and that he would tell his officers and 
 guards that he went by his own free will, and by the advice of his gods 
 and priefts. His magnificent ftate litters were now brought, and at- 
 tended by his ufual guards he proceeded to our quarters, where our pofts 
 and centinels being duly placed, he was received and entertained with 
 every mark of refpecl:. He was foon waited on by the princes of his 
 family and the chief nobility of Mexico, who came to know the caufe 
 of the ftep that he had taken, and alio if it was his wifh that they 
 mould attack us ; but he replied, that it was his intention to ftay with 
 us for a few days, and that whatever further commands he had for 
 them, he would fignify in due time ; but charged them to do nothing 
 to difturb the city. 
 
 Thus was the feizure of the great Montezuma effected. He was 
 attended while with us in the fame manner as in his own palace, his 
 wives, family, and officers, were with him, and he bathed every day: 
 he appeared calm and refigned, and had always in his prefence twenty 
 counfellors or chiefs. Ambafladors came to him on affairs of im- 
 portance from diftant countries, either to deliver tribute, or with bufi- 
 nefs which he difpatched. I recollect that however great the prince or 
 chief might be, before he entered the king's prefence he took of his 
 rich drefs, and put on a plain one of the coarfe manufacture of nequen, 
 and in this habit, and barefooted, approached the royal apartments, 
 
 X % which 
 

 ( 156 ) 
 
 which he entered, not directly, but making a circuit by the wall : and 
 having come, with his eyes call: down upon the ground, into the pre- 
 fence of the king, he made three profound bows, and addreiTed him, 
 calling him, " Lord, my lord, great lord." He then difplayed before him 
 a cloth, whereon was painted and reprefented the bufinefs on which he 
 came, the particulars of which he pointed out to him with little rods, 
 or wands, delicately wrought and polifhed. During this time two old 
 lords flood by the king, and as foon as they had attentively confidered 
 all the particulars, they gave their opinions upon it to Montezuma, 
 who difpatched the affair with a few words. The perfon who had 
 brought it, then, without making any reply, withdrew from the king's 
 prcfence, making three profound bows, and keeping his face towards 
 the throne till out of fight ; and as foon as he was out of the royal 
 apartments, he put on his rich drefs, and walked about the city. 
 
 The melTengers, who, as it has been mentioned, were difpatched 
 with the royal flgnet, to arreft and bring to Mexico the officers of 
 whom our general had complained, foon returned with them. On 
 their arrival and being brought into their monarch's prefence, I do not 
 know what pafTtd, but he immediately fent them to Cortes to do with 
 them as he thought fit. Being examined when the king was not by, 
 they avowed all that had happened, and faid they did it by the orders 
 of Montezuma, which were, that they mould if neceffary recur to 
 force, to obtain the tribute due, and attack the Spaniards if they ap- 
 peared in fupport of his refractory fubjects. Montezuma being charged 
 by Cortes with this which now appeared, he endeavoured to exculpate 
 himfelfas well as he could; but Cortes told him, that although his 
 participation in the guilt of his officers was e 1 ident, and although the 
 orders of our monarch were to punilh with death all who inflicted 
 death, yet fuch was his regard for him, that he would fooner lofe his 
 own life than do his Majefty an injury. All thefe aiTurances however 
 could not remove the fears of Montezuma. 
 
 As to the officers, Cortes fentenced them to be burnt alive in front 
 
 of 
 
57 ) 
 
 of -the palace of their king; this was immediately proceeded upon, and 
 during the time of its taking place, and in order to prevent any impedi- 
 ment occurring, he alfo ordered that Montezuma mould be put in irons. 
 When this was doing, -the -unfortunate king could no longer fupprefs 
 his emotions at the indignity, but wept aloud. In this fituation he re- 
 mained until the execution was over, at which time Cortes, attended by 
 his five captains, went to his apartment, and with his own hands freed 
 him from the irons, alluring him that he was dearer to him than even 
 a brother, and that he trufted foon to be able to make his dominions 
 exceed double their prefent extent; and alfo, that if he wifhed to go to 
 his palace, he was at perfect liberty to do fo. Montezuma's fpirit was 
 now broke, and the tears ran down his cheeks while Cortes was fpeak- 
 ing ; he declined the offer with thanks, knowing well the emptinefs of 
 his words, and added, that he confidered it molt prudent to remain 
 where he was, in order to prevent disturbance and infurrection in the 
 city. What we understood and ceitainly was the cafe, was, that Cortes 
 had caufed the interpreters to fay that though he was inclined to relcafe 
 him, the other officers never would allow it. As foon as Montezuma 
 had given his anfwer, Cortes threw his arms round his neck, and pro- 
 tefted that he loved him as himfelf. The king then alked of him his 
 page Orteguilla, a youth who had already learned the language, and 
 Cortes immediately complied with his requeft, whereby Orteguilla 
 afterwards remained about the perfon of the king, a circumftance very 
 ufeful both to him and to us. Montezuma was very partial to the 
 youth, from whom he was conftantly ufed to enquire particulars re- 
 lative to Europe, and Orteguilla from his knowledge of the language, 
 was able to communicate to us whatever he obferved, that was of im- 
 portance for us to know. Thus Montezuma remained amongft us, 
 treated with the greater!: refped:, no officer or foldier, nor even Cortes 
 himfelf, coming into his prefence, or palling him, without pulling off 
 his helmet, and he always treated us moil kindly and courteoufly. 
 
 The officers of Montezuma who were publicly executed as I have 
 
 related, 
 
( '58 ) 
 
 related, were four in number.-f Their names were Quetzalpopoca who 
 was the principal, Coatl, Quiabuitle, and another whom I have for- 
 gotten, nor is it of much importance. As foon as this chaftifement 
 was known through the different provinces of New Spain, it {truck 
 univerfal terror, and the people on the coail returned to their fubmiflion. 
 Now let the curious confider upon our heroic actions ; firft, in deftroy- 
 ing our (hips and therewith all hope of retreat, fecondly, in entering 
 the city of Mexico after the alarming warnings that we had received, 
 thirdly, in daring to make prifoner the great Montezuma king of all 
 that country, in his own capital, and in the centre of his own palace, 
 furrounded by his numerous guards, and fourthly, in publicly burning 
 his officers in front of his palace, and putting the king in irons during 
 the execution. Now that I am old, I frequently revolve, and reflect 
 upon the events of that day, which appear to me as frefli as if they had 
 juft paffed, fuch is the impreffion they have made upon my mind. I 
 fay, that it was not we who did thefe things, but that all was guided 
 by the hand of God, for what men on earth would otherwife have 
 ventured, their numbers not amounting to four hundred and fifty, to 
 have feized and put in irons a mighty monarch, and publicly burned 
 his officers for obeying his orders, in a city larger than Venice, and at 
 a diftance of a thoufand and five hundred leagues from their native 
 country!!! There is much matter for reflection in this, and it merits fr 
 be detailed otherwife than in the dry manner in which I relate it. 
 
 Cortes now thought it necefTary to appoint a commandant at Villa 
 Rica. For this purpofe he chofe Alonzo de Grado, an indifferent 
 foldicr, but a perfon of good underftanding, who fpoke well, and was 
 of a handfome appearance; he was alfo a mufician, and an excellent 
 penman. He was always in oppofition to Cortes relative to our advance 
 to Mexico, and was the principal orator on thofe occafions. Cortes 
 
 when 
 
 t They were feventcen in all: Quetzalpopoca lord of Nauhtlan, his fon, and 
 fifteen other noblemen. 
 
( »59 ) 
 
 when He gave him the appointment good-humouredly faid to him, 
 " Now Senior de Grado, go and poffefs your wifhes; you are com- 
 " mandant of Villa Rica, and fee that you fortify it well; and mind I 
 M charge you on no account to go out and fight the wicked Indians, 
 •' nor let them kill you as they did Juan de Efcalante." This Cortes 
 faid ironically, knowing the condition of the man, and that all the 
 world could not have got him to put his nofe out of the town. We 
 who were liftening to this, and perceived his drift, could hardly for- 
 bear laughing aloud. He then gave him his inftructions to behave 
 kindly to his Indian neighbours, and not permit them to be robbed or 
 opprelTed : he alfo defired him to caufe the fmiths who were in that 
 fettlement to make two large chains, out of the old iron of the {hips, 
 and fend them to him immediately, and to lofe no time in proceeding 
 with the conftruction of the wooden fort. When De Grado arrived 
 at his government, he affected to carry on bufinefs with a lofty de- 
 meanour, and fent to the neighbouring Indians who were at peace with 
 us, requiring them to give him gold, and female (laves ; paying no at- 
 tention whatever to the fortifications, but palling his time in feafting 
 and play. What was worfe, he combined with the adherents of Ve- 
 lafquez, offering to put him in pofTeflion of the poft he was entrufled 
 with. Thefe things being foon communicated to Cortes, he repented 
 df his imprudent ftep in appointing to fuch a place a man whofe bad 
 difpofition he well knew : he alfo forefaw that Velafqucz mull: fooner 
 or later find out that he had fent agents to Old Caftille, and would pro- 
 bably fend a force againft us. For thefe reafons it was neceffary that 
 he fhould have a perfon of confidence in the command at Villa Rica ; 
 he therefore fent Sandoval, who was now alguazil mayor, with whom 
 went Pedro de Ircio already mentioned, who gained the confidence of 
 Sandoval, a goodnatured man, by diverting him with anecdotes of the 
 families of the Count de Urena, and Don Pedro Giron, in which he 
 had ferved. De Ircio by thefe means gained his favor fo completely, 
 that he never ceafed promoting him, till he had got him the rank of 
 captain: inftead of which promotion, for the licenfes he gave his 
 tongue, and for which Sandoval at times reprehended him, he deferred 
 
 to 
 

 ( >«o ) 
 
 to have been well punifhed. Sandoval on his arrival at Villa Rica im- 
 mediately arretted De Grado and fent him prifoner to Mexico, under a 
 guard of Indians, according to the orders of Cortes. The new gover- 
 nor foon made himfclf very popular amongtt the natives by his affa- 
 bility and humanity, and he immediately began to put the fort into 
 proper repair. Cortes would not fee Dc Grado on his arrival, but con- 
 fined him in the ftocks, where he remained two days. I recollect that 
 the timber whereof thefe were made has a ttrong fmell of garlic. De 
 Grado, who was a man of great plaufibility at latt made his peace, and 
 was employed, not in a military capacity, but in one conformable to his 
 talents, being given the office of contador, which had been held by 
 Avila, who was fent as procurador to the Ifland of St. Domingo. San- 
 doval had orders to fend the iron-work neceflary for the conttruction of 
 two vcfTels, which he punctually executed, and the various articles ar- 
 rived fafely in Mexico. 
 
 Cortes, regularly every day after mafs, went to wait on Mon- 
 tezuma, attended by all his officers, and alked him what he would be 
 pleafed to order that they could execute; to which the king ufed to 
 anfwer, thanking him, that he found himfelf perfectly to his fatisfac- 
 tion. Thus, from one fubject to another they ufually fell into difcourfe 
 about our holy faith, and the power of our emperor. At other times, 
 Montezuma and Cortes ufed to play at a certain game which they call 
 Totoloque, in which they take aim with golden balls at certain objects 
 made alfo of gold. I remember once in particular, when Cortes and 
 Alvarado were playing againft Montezuma and his nephew, Monte- 
 zuma jocularly faid that he would not allow Tonatiu, meaning Alva- 
 rado, fo called on account of his handfome perfon, that word meaning 
 the fun, to mark, expreffing himfelf in fuch a manner as to imply, 
 that Alvarado did not fay that which was true ; at which we all burft 
 out laughing, becaufe Alvarado was a little addicted to exaggeration. 
 When Cortes gained, he gave his winnings to thofe about Montezuma, 
 and when the king gained he did the fame to our foldiers of the guard. 
 Indeed he never let a day pafs, without making prefents of fome kind 
 
 to 
 
( 161 ) 
 
 to all of us, but more particularly to Velafquez de Leon who was the 
 captain of his guard, and always paid him great attention. One night 
 a foldier named Truxillo, was guilty of a certain piece of difrefpe<ft 
 within his hearing, at which Montezuma was highly offended, and 
 enquired of the page who the perfon was. The page told him that he 
 was a man of low birth, who knew no better. He then proceeded to 
 tell him of our different ranks and qualities, about which he was very 
 curious. On the next day he ordered Truxillo to be brought into his 
 prefence, and after having reproved him, he made him a prefent worth 
 about five crowns. The words of Montezuma made lefs imprefiion on 
 the foldier than his gold, and on the next night the fellow was guilty 
 of the fame piece of impolitenefs, in order to get more. Of this Mon- 
 tezuma complained to Velafquez, who ordered the man to be relieved, 
 and feverely reprimanded him. Another foldier one night complained 
 that he was ill, curling this dog of ah Indian, meaning Montezuma, 
 who gave them fo much trouble. This being overheard by the king, 
 who difcovered what he had faid, he complained thereof to Cortes, by 
 whofe command the man was immediately whipped, notwithstanding 
 he was a very good foldier; his name was Pedro Lopez. After this 
 example Uriel: difcipline and filence were kept by the guard, to the 
 great fatisfaction of the king, who was very kind to us , knew us all, 
 and fpoke to us by our names. I was at this time a {tripling, and 
 always behaved to him with great refpect; his page had told him that 
 I had been twice upon his coafts before the arrival of Cortes, and I had 
 defired the page to mention to him, that inftead of gold or mantles, he 
 would oblige by giving me a handfome Indian girl. "This requefl: he 
 gracioufly complied with, calling me to him and faying, " Bernal 
 4< Diaz del Caflillo, the young woman I prefent to you is the daughter 
 M of one of my principal nobility; treat her well, and her friends will 
 " give you gold and mantles, as much as you can deiire." I kiffed 
 his Majefty's hand, thanking him for his favors, and praying God to 
 profper him; to which Montezuma replied faying, " It feems to me 
 " that Del Caftillo is of noble condition." Wherewith he ordered me 
 three plates of gold, and two loads of mantles. 
 
 Y I will 
 
( i«a ) 
 
 I will now relate fome more particulars of his courfe of life. - In, 
 the morning, having paid his devotions, he eat a flight breakfaft, not 
 of meats but vegetables, fuch as agi or pepper, and then remained a 
 full hour hearing bufinefs, in the manner I have already defcribed. 
 The number of judges or counfellors who attended upon him at thofe 
 times amounted to twenty. His numerous miflrefles he ufed to marry 
 to his officers and particular friends; fome of them fell to our lot; 
 mine was called Donna Francifca; a lady of high birth, as fhc fhewed 
 by her manners. Thus fometimes amufing himfelf, and fometimes 
 meditating on his fituation, the great Montezuma pafTed the days of his 
 confinement amongft us. 
 
 The materials being arrived, Cortes requefted that the king would 
 give him permiffion to conftrucT: two veffels, for the purpofe of amufing 
 himfelf upon the water, and alfo that he would order his carpenters to 
 affift. The oak timber was only at the diftance of about four leagues, 
 and Montezuma having given his confent, the work went on fo expe- 
 ditioufly, by the number of Indian carpenters, and was fo ably con- 
 dueled by our principal builder Martin Lopez, that in a very fhort fpace 
 of time, they were built, launched, and rigged, with an awning over 
 each. 
 
 Montezuma at this time requefted permiffion from Cortes to pay 
 his devotions, and perform facrifices, in order that his friends and fub- 
 jects might fee that he lived among us by the order of his gods, and his 
 own choice. Cortes returned for anfwer, that in fo doing, it was his 
 bufinefs to beware how he did any thing whereby to lofe his life; for 
 that he would fend a guard of officers and foldiers with him, giving 
 them flricl: orders to kill him inftantly in cafe there appeared any thing 
 like a commotion. With this caution he gave him his permiffion to 
 vifit his temple. It was alfo at the fame time fignifled to him, that no 
 human facrifice would be permitted; to which Montezuma having 
 agreed, he fet out in his ufual pomp, and accompanied by four of our 
 captains, Velafquez de Leon, Alvarado, Avila, and De Lugo, with a 
 
 hundred 
 
( "§3 ) 
 
 hundred and fifty foldiers. Our reverend father of the order of mercy 
 alfo attended for the purpofe of preventing human facrifice. Mon- 
 tezuma on his arrival near the temple came out of his litter, and was 
 fupported up to it as ufual, being met by a number of priefts. They 
 had on the preceding night facrificed four Indians, nor could all our 
 endeavours prevent that inhuman practice, which we were for the pre- 
 sent obliged to connive at, fearing to do any thing which would caufe 
 an infurrection. After Montezuma had flaid a fhort time at his devo- 
 tions he came down from the temple, and returned to our quarters in 
 .great good humour, making prefents to all of us who attended him 
 upon the occafion. 
 
 The veffels were now afloat upon the lake, fully equipped, and 
 manned with expert failors, and they obeyed both fail and oar, fo as to 
 anfwer our utmoft expedition. When Montezuma was informed of it, 
 he requeued Cortes to permit him to go hunting in a certain diftrid, 
 which was prohibited to all others on pain of death. Cortes affented, 
 warning him that his life paid the forfeit of any attempt at a refcue, 
 and he offered him the ufe of his (hips to go there, which Mon- 
 tezuma was greatly pleafed with, and accepted. 
 
 The fwifteft failing veffel conveyed the king and his fuite, the 
 other was occupied by his fon and a number of the nobility. They 
 were attended alfo by a vail number of boats, great and fmall. Cortes 
 ordered out a party compofed of Velafquez de Leon, Alvarado, De Oli, 
 and Avila, all men who had blood in their eyes, and two hundred 
 loldiers, giving them orders to be very watchful over Montezuma: 
 four brafs guns with their ammunition and artillery-men, were alfo 
 embarked. 
 
 The wind blew very frefh, our failors took delight in exhibiting 
 their Ikill, and the mips feemed to fly acrofs the lake, leaving the veffels 
 of the natives far behind. Montezuma being arrived where he was to 
 hunt, landed for that purpofe, and as the place abounded with game, 
 
 Yz he 
 
( '64 ) 
 
 he had foon killed a great quantity of various kinds, fuch as deer, hares, 
 and rabbits. After having amufed himfelf for fome time in this manner, 
 he returned on board the veffel, and fet fail for Mexico. We dif- 
 charged our artillery during the voyage, which afforded him amufe- 
 ment and fatisfaction, and he delighted us ail by his affable and friendly 
 behaviour ; nor is it poffible to defcribe, how noble he was in every 
 thing he did, nor the refpect in which he was held by every one about 
 him. One day, three of our captains were in his prefence when a 
 hawk entered the apartments purfuing a quail, which kind of birds, as 
 well as doves, bred in and about the palaces. As our officers and 
 foldiers were admiring the beauty and flight of the hawk, and talking 
 upon the fubject in general, Montezuma was curious to know what 
 we were faying, which being explained to him, and alfo how we could 
 tame hawks and fly them from our hands, Montezuma faid that he 
 would order the bird to be caught for us, and giving immediate direc- 
 tions to that purpofe, by the next morning his hunters had caught and 
 brought to us the identical bird. 
 
 Cacamatzin the king's nephew, and prince of the city of Tezcuco, 
 the largefl: next to Mexico in the empire, having received information 
 that the king had been now many days kept prifoner by the Spaniards, 
 and that they had alfo opened the treafury of his anceftors, in order to 
 fecure it by a timely effort, convoked his vaffals, and alfo the neigh- 
 bouring princes. Amongfl: them was the lord of Matalcingo, a great 
 warrior, and near relation of Montezuma, who was faid to have pre- 
 tenfion to the throne. Thefe princes and chiefs he fummoned, in order 
 to induce them to aflemble their forces, and fall upon us in a body. 
 When they were met in confutation upon this proportion, the prince 
 whom I before mentioned to have had pretenfions to the throne, made 
 the fupport of them the condition of his entering into the confederacy. 
 Cacamatzin then brought forward a fimilar claim, declaring that he 
 would go through the bufinefs with his own force, for which purpofe 
 he made arrangements with his friends in the city of Mexico. This 
 coming to the knowledge of Montezuma, he immediately forbid any 
 
 fuch 
 
C 165 ) 
 
 fuch fteps being taken, and communicated to Cortes the information 
 which he had received. The tranfaction was already in a certain degree 
 known to us, but not to the full extent. Cortes in confequence thereof 
 propofed to take with him a body of Mexicans to attack and deftroy the 
 city of Tezcuco, hut this determination not being fatisfactory to Mon- 
 tezuma, Cortes fent to Cacamatzin, deflring him to defift. from his 
 warlike preparations , as he wiflied him for his friend. Cacamatzin 
 replied that he was not to be duped like others by plauilble words ; that 
 he expected foon to fee us, and then we might fay to him what we 
 would. Cortes once again fent to Cacamatzin warning him not to pro- 
 ceed to hoftilities, the confequence of which would be the lofs of the 
 king's life ; to which this chief returned for anfwer, that neither the 
 king nor Cortes were of any confequence to him, for that he was de- 
 termined to perfevere in his intentions. 
 
 He had at this time a brother in Mexico, who had been obliged 
 to fly thither on account of a family quarrel. This being known to us, 
 our general propofed to Montezuma to call the reigning prince to his 
 court, where we could feize on and detain him until he became more 
 amenable, or if we thought proper elevate the brother now in Mexico 
 to his place. Montezuma agreed to fend for him, adding, that if he 
 refufed to come, he would give directions for having him brought by 
 force. For this Cortes returned him thanks with many profefTions of 
 fincere regard, alluring him that he ftaid by him entirely for his pro- 
 tection, and that for his part he mould be happy to accompany him to 
 his palace, but that he could not get his captains to confent to it. The 
 king thanked him, and faid that he would immediately fend to inform 
 Cacamatzin of his true fituation, and how it was adopted of his own 
 free will, and by the advice of his gods ; for Montezuma was perfectly 
 well acquainted with the diilimulation practifed by Cortes, and that it 
 was only done in order to found him. Montezuma according to his 
 promife fent a meflage to the prince, who perfectly underftood the 
 manner in which it was obtained, and declared his determination to 
 attack us in four days, faying, that his uncle the king was a pitiful 
 
 monarch, 
 
( i66 ) 
 
 monarch, and no better than a hen, for not having attacked us as he 
 advifed him at the pafs of Chalco. That for his part he was deter- 
 mined to avenge the wrongs that had been committed by us upon Mon- 
 tezuma and the country, and that if in fo doing the throne of Mexico 
 fell to his lot, he would liberally reward thofe who fupported him. 
 
 Some of the chiefs who heard thefe declarations had fcruples upon 
 the fubject, objecting to go to war without the orders of their fove- 
 reign. This filled the prince with rage, efpecially when they propofed 
 to fend to him for his inftruclions ; he caufed three of them to be taken 
 prifoners, and the others who were prefent intimidated thereby, de- 
 clared their determination to fupport him. He then fent a meflage to 
 Montezuma, reprefenting the difgrace in which he was fallen, by con- 
 necting himfelf with wizards and magicians, and that he would come 
 and put us all to death. Montezuma was highly offended at this, and 
 taking off* his feal, he entrusted it to the care of fix of his captains, 
 commanding them to go and fhew it to certain perfons whom he 
 named, as knowing they were not on terms of friendship with the 
 prince, and to fignify to them his orders, that they fhould feize Caca- 
 matzin and fend him into his prefence. Accordingly they entered 
 where the prince was, difcourfing with fome of his chiefs, relative ta 
 his expedition, and having fecured him, together with five others, 
 embarking them in a piragua, they brought them to Mexico, where 1 
 Gacamatzin was placed in one of the royal litters, and conducted into 
 the. prefence of Montezuma. The king, after having reproached' him 
 for his difobedience and treafon, delivered him to Cortes, to do what 
 he thought proper with him, releafing the other prifoners. Cortes 
 thanked the great Montezuma, and made arrangements, that the brother 
 of Cacamatzin fhould fucceed to the principality, by the name of Don 
 Carlos, and he was accordingly inverted with this dignity in the pre- 
 fence of Montezuma. The other chiefs who had joined in the meafures 
 of Cacamatzin abfented themfelves from court through fear, but were 
 fhortly made prifoners, and brought to Mexico in chains. Thus was 
 concluded this important bufinefs, to our entire fatisfaction. We con- 
 tinued 
 
tinued ftill paying our court to Montezuma, in the manner'fo great and 
 generous a prince deferved, never fitting down, not even Cortex himfelf, 
 in his prefence, until the king commanded it. The converfation fre- 
 quently turned upon our holy religion, and the truths thereof feemed 
 to be every day. making more impreilion upon the king's mind. 
 
 Cortes now entered again upon the fubjecl: of Montezuma's ac- 
 knowledging the fovereignty of our Emperor, to which Montezuma 
 replied, that he would fummon the princes his vaffals, which he ac- 
 cordingly did, and nearly the whole of them attended within the fpaco 
 often days. Among the few who abfented themfelves was that rela- 
 tion of Montezuma's already fpoken of, as of extraordinary prowefs in 
 war, who returned for anfwer, that he would neither come, or pay 
 any more tribute. The king was incenfed at this, and fent officers to 
 apprehend him, but without fuccefs. The princes being aflembled and 
 the little page prefent, Montezuma reminded them of the ancient pro- 
 phecies, whereby they were told that from thofe parts where the fun 
 rifes, men were to come to rule the country, and that with their arrival 
 fhould ceafe. the empire of the Mexicans. The king added, that for 
 his part he believed we were the people fpoken of; that he had facri- 
 ficed to his gods, requeuing in vain an anfwer from them, but they 
 referred him to the former ones, and commanded him to afk no more, • 
 whereby he concluded their will to be that obedience fhould be yielded 
 to the king of Caftille, to whom thefe Grangers were vaffals. "I 
 " now," continued he, " befeech you to give them fome token of 
 " fubmifTion; they require it of me, let no one refufe. For eighteen 
 " years that I have reigned, I have been a kind monarch to you, you 
 •' have been faithful fubjects to me; fince my gods will have it fo, 
 " indulge me by this one inftance of obedience." The princes, with 
 many fighs and tears, promifed Montezuma, who was frill more 
 affected than them, that they would do whatever he deiired. He then 
 fent a melTage to Cortes, telling him, that on the enfuing day, he and 
 his princes would tender their .allegiance to his Majefty our Emperor. 
 This they accordingly did at the time appointed, in the prefence of all 
 
 our 
 

 
 ( i68 ) 
 
 our officers, and many of our foldiers, not one of whom could refrain 
 from weeping, in beholding the agitation and diftrefs of the great and 
 generous Montezuma. 
 
 Cortes and his captains being in the prefence of Montezuma, con- 
 vening about indifferent fubjects, the general took an opportunity to 
 afk fome queftions relative to the gold mines. Montezuma told him 
 that the richefl were in the province of Zacatula, and he gave an ac- 
 count of the manner in which the gold was obtained, which was, by : 
 warning the earth, the fmall grains . of metal finking to the bottom. 
 He alfo informed Cortes that they obtained it in two rivers in the pro- 
 vince of Guztepeque, where the natives did not obey him, but that if 
 Cortes would fend fome troops thither, he would order his officers to 
 conduct them. Cortes thanked the king, and pitched upon the pilot 
 Umbria, and two foldiers to examine the mines of Zacatula. To thofe 
 in the Chinantecan and Zapotecan territories he fent a captain named 
 Pizarro, a young man, his relation j but at that time the names of 
 Pizarro and Peru w r ere equally unknown. The latter took with him 
 four foldiers ufed to mining, and four noble Mexicans. Montezuma 
 then prefented Cortes with a map> admirably painted on cloth, of the 
 whole northern coaft as far as Tabafco, an extent of a hundred and forty 
 leagues. Among the rivers was that of Guacacualco, which Cortes 
 determined to have examined, and Diego de Ordas offering himfelf, was 
 accepted by Cortes contrary to his own inclination, as he was a perfon 
 from whofe advice and judgement he derived great advantage. Mon- 
 tezuma told De Ordas on his departure, that his power did not extend 
 where he was going, but that if he wifhed for the affiftance of his 
 frontier garrifons, he was welcome to take them. 
 
 The firft. who returned was Gonzalo de Umbria. He brought 
 with him gold to the value of three hundred crowns, and reported that 
 the mines would be very valuable, if they were as expert at the bufinefs 
 there, as in St. Domingo or Cuba. Two principal perfons of that 
 country alfo attended him to Mexico, and brought a prefent of gold of 
 
 about 
 
( 169 ) 
 
 about a hundred crowns value, offering to become his Majefty's fubjects. 
 The having afcertained the fituation of the mines was matter of great 
 fatisfaction to Cortes. Umbria defcribed the country in which he had 
 been as very rich and populous, and indeed he and his companions 
 feemed to have returned no way the worfe for their journey, and Cortes 
 intended that it mould be fo, in order to make up their former dif- 
 ferences. 
 
 Diego de Ordas reported that he had pafTed through very populous 
 diflricts, and had been univerfally well received; that he had met with 
 bodies of the troops of Montezuma on the frontiers, of whofe outrages 
 the inhabitants made heavy complaints, for which De Ordas feverely 
 reprehended the military chiefs, threatening them with the punifhment 
 of the lord of Nauhtlan. Proceeding towards the river he was hof- 
 pitably received, by the caciques and inhabitants of the neighbouring 
 country. On founding the mouth of the river they found three fathom 
 water at low-tide, in the malloweft part, and within the bar, water 
 fufficient for large (hips, it ftill deepening as they went higher up. He 
 alfo found a place fit for a naval efTablifliment, where the natives came 
 to him, and offered themfelves as vaffals to his Majefty, complaining 
 bitterly of Montezuma and his officers ; they alfo pointed out to our 
 people the place, where, in a late action they had killed many of his 
 troops, and which they had in confequence named "Cuilonemequi," that 
 is- to fay the place of the (laughter of the Mexicans, giving them a moil: 
 opprobrious epithet. He further reprefented the foil of the country as 
 lit for cattle and tillage, and the port as well fituated for trade with 
 Cuba, St. Domingo, and Jamaica, but difadvantageous in regard to its 
 diftance from Mexico, and the MoralTes in its neighbourhood. Pizarro 
 returned from Tuftepeque with gold in grains to the value of a thoufand 
 crowns. He related how he afcended into the mountains inhabited by 
 the Chinantecans, who fallied out under arms, and refufed to fuffer the 
 Mexicans to come among them, vowing that they would kill them all 
 if they attempted it ; but our people were admitted willingly, and they 
 there obtained gold in its native ftate with a rough furface. Pizarro 
 
 Z brought 
 

 IHBI BflH 
 
 ( *7° ) 
 
 brought with him certain of the chiefs of the country, who wifhed to 
 renounce the Mexican yoke, and become fubjects of his Majefty. 
 Thefe Cortes received mofr. kindly, and difmiffed to their homes 
 Avith a promlTe of fupport and protection. He then enquired for the 
 other foldiers; to which Pizarro replied that the country being rich, 
 and the people well inclined to us, he had left them to make a planta- 
 tion of cocoa and to collect flock and birds ; as alfo for the purpofe of 
 exploring the rivers and mines. Cortes faid nothing at the time, but 
 feverely reprimanded him in private, for going beyond his orders, and 
 employing the foldiers in fuch ridiculous purfuits. He alfo imme- 
 diately fent off a meffenger, with orders to them to return to their head 
 quarters. 
 
 Cortes now demanded of Montezuma a general contribution of 
 gold to be made through the whole extent of his territories, to our 
 emperor, and alfo that the king mould deliver to us his treafure for the 
 fame purpofe. Montezuma immediately fent officers to thofe diftricts 
 where the mines were, requiring a quantity' of plates of gold, of the 
 vifual fize paid in tribute, two of thefe being fent as a ftandard. He 
 at this time however remarked to Cortes, that from many of his dis- 
 tricts gold was not to be expected in any confiderable quantity, the 
 people only pofTeffing fuch toys as had been tranfmitted to them from 
 their anceftors. Much gold was immediately tranfmitted from the rich 
 provinces, but when the order was received by the refractory lord who 
 was nearly related to Montezuma, the anfwer which he returned was, 
 that he would pay no tribute, for that he had as good a right to the 
 throne of Mexico as Montezuma himfelf. This greatly enraged the 
 king, who immediately fending trufty officers with his token, the fcal, 
 they apprehended and brought this chief to Mexico. When he came 
 into the prefence of the king he behaved with fuch infolence to him as 
 appeared to border upon madnefs, and Cortes learning thefe particulars, 
 and alfo that Montezuma had ordered him to be put to death, in- 
 terceded in his favor, and obtained leave to keep him in his cuflody. 
 As loon as he had an interview, he addreffed this chief very kindly, 
 
 and 
 
( '7' ) 
 
 and endeavoured to make a friend of him, offering him his liberty, 
 which however Montezuma would not accede to, but defired he mould 
 be put in chains as the others had been. 
 
 In twenty days from the time of the orders- being ilTued, the tribute 
 was collected. The king then fummoned Cortes, with the captains 
 and foldiers who ufually formed his guard, and addrelTed us faying, 
 44 Know, that I am indebted to your great king, and efteem him, for 
 •• having fent an embaffy to me from fuch a diftance, and alfo becaufe 
 44 I am convinced that according to what we have heard from our an- 
 " ceftors, he is to rule us; a prophecy which is confirmed by the de- 
 44 clarations of our gods. Take this gold, which is all that could be 
 44 collected on fo fhort a notice, and alfo the treafure which I derive 
 44 from my anceftors, and which I know you have feen; fend it to 
 44 your monarch, and let it be recorded in your annals, that this was 
 44 the tribute of his valTal Montezuma. I will give you for your 
 44 emperor fome moft valuable jewels named calchihuis, each of which 
 4 4 is worth two loads of gold ; I will alfo fend three tubes ufed for 
 44 mooting darts or pellets, fo richly adorned with jewels that he will 
 44 be pleafed to fee them, and this which I now give is thelaft of the 
 44 treafure which has remained with me." We all took off our helmets, 
 and returned thanks to the great Montezuma for his liberality and mu- 
 nificence, which Cortes promifed that he would reprefent in the 
 ftrongeft terms to his Majefty. 
 
 After fome more converfation, Montezuma commanded his officers 
 to deliver to us the treafure which was in the concealed apartment. 
 This was accordingly done, and we were for the fpace of three days 
 conftantly employed in taking it to pieces, from the various manners in 
 which it was worked up; in this we were alfo affifted by the royal 
 goldfmiths from Efcapuzalco. When thus feparated, the articles of 
 gold were formed in three heaps, weighing upwards of fix hundred 
 thoufand crowns, exclusive of the various other valuables, the gold in 
 plates and bars, and the metal in its rough ftate from the mines. The 
 
 Z 2 goldfmiths 
 
( *9* ) 
 
 goldfmiths melted down the metal which was in the heaps, and ran it 
 into bars of the breadth of three ringers. When this was done, another 
 prefent was received from Montezuma, fo rich that it was worthy of 
 admiration, exclufive of the jewels called calchihuis, the ornamented 
 tubes covered with jewels and pearls, the beautiful embroideries of 
 pearls and feathers, and the penaches, and plumage, a recital whereof 
 would be endlefs. The bars of gold were ftamped with the imperial 
 arms by the approbation of us all, and as to the rich ornaments, it was 
 judged beft that they mould not be taken to pieces. We alfo caufed 
 weights to be made of iron for the purpofe of afcertaining the quantity 
 of gold in the bars. They were not perfectly exact, but perhaps an 
 ounce more or lefs, being arrobas, half arrobas, and down to four 
 ounces. The officers of his Majefty valued the gold, altogether, and 
 exclufive of filver and ornaments, at fix hundred thoufand crowns; but 
 fome faid that it amounted to more. Nothing farther was then 
 thought necefTary, than to deduct his Majefly's fifth, and diftribute 
 the mares to the officers and foldiers ; Cortes however propofed that the 
 divifion mould be poftponed until more treafure was brought in, and 
 more exact weights made, but the foldiers were clamorous for an im- 
 mediate divifion, for they perceived that iince the various articles had 
 been taken to pieces , above a third part was already gone ; for Cortes, 
 the captains, and others, were conveying it off and concealing it. At 
 length it was determined to weigh it, and to poftpone the divifion until 
 the enfuing day. It was accordingly fo done, and exclufive of the 
 ornaments and plates of gold, it was found to amount to upwards of 
 fix hundred thoufand crowns. I will now relate how it was divided, 
 and how the moft of it remained with Cortes and certain others. 
 
 In the partition of the treafure Cortes firft laid afide his Majefty 's 
 fifth; fecondly, for himfelf, another fifth; thirdly, a portion of the 
 gold to reimburfe the expences in the Ifland of Cuba, and alfo for the 
 naval expenditure incurred by Velafquez, and the deflruction of the 
 mips; fourthly, for the expences of our agents in Spain; fifthly, for 
 our foldiers in Villa Rica; fixthly, for the lofs of killed horfes; fe-- 
 
 venthly, 
 
( 173 ) 
 
 vehthly, for the reverend father and the captains; eighthly, double 
 (hares for the cavalry, muiketeers, and crofsbow-men. Thus by the 
 time all thefe drafts were made, what remained for each foldier was 
 hardly worth {looping for !! Many refufed to take their (hares, and the 
 whole, nearly, remained with Cortes. We were obliged to be (ilent, 
 for to whom could we appeal for juftice? Some at length took their 
 (hares at a hundred crowns, and then cried out for more; thefe men's 
 mouths Cortes (lopped, giving privately a little to one, and a little to 
 another, with promifes in abundance on condition that they kept them- 
 felves quiet. That which was allotted to the foldiers in Villa Rica 
 went no better, as (hall be related in its place, and fuch was the refult 
 of the divifion of Montezuma's treafure. 
 
 Our captains got chains of gold made for them by the king's 
 workmen; Cortes had alfo (imilar works executed for him, together 
 with a fervice of plate. Many of our foldiers who had lined their 
 pockets well did the fame, and deep gaming went on, day and night, 
 with cards made out of the heads of drums; and thus we.pafled our 
 time in Mexico. 
 
 Quitting for the prefent the fubject of Montezuma's gold, badly 
 divided, and worfe employed, I will relate what happened to a poor 
 fellow, one Cardenas a pilot and a native of Triana. He had a wife 
 and children, and like many others of us little or nothing to give them. 
 When he perceived that all this immenfe treafure of Montezuma's had 
 dwindled into a (hare of a hundred crowns, and that he, after all his 
 battles, had nothing to expect in future but hard blows, it made fuch 
 an impreflion on him, and he exprefled himfelf fo loudly, that it could 
 not but come to the ears of Cortes. Accordingly when he heard all 
 that, and much more, which had been faid, he called us together, and 
 in a long fet fpeech gave us a great many honied words, which he had 
 an extraordinary facility of doing, wondering how we could be fo fo- 
 licitous about a little paltry gold, when the whole country would foon 
 be ours, with all its rich mines, wherewith there was enough to make 
 
 us 
 

 ( J 74 ) 
 
 us great lords and princes and I know not what. To the more loud 
 he gave fome fmall prefents, and to Cardenas, he fecretly promifed to 
 fend three hundred crowns for his wife and children. This Cardenas 
 was afterwards very troublefome to him. 
 
 As all men are avaricious, as with moil the deiire of acquiring 
 increafcs with what they poffefs, and as it was well known that a great 
 quantity of valuable pieces of gold was taken out of the treafury, fuf- 
 picion naturally fell on feveral. Juan Velafquez de Leon had then 
 fome large chains of gold, and trinkets and ornaments of that metal, in 
 the hands of the king's workmen, and the treafurer Mexia knowing of 
 it, and alfo how he had procured the gold, laid claim to them; but 
 De Leon refifled, faying it had been given him by Cortes, before 
 it was ran into bars; to which the treafurer replied, that Cortes had con- 
 cealed enough, and taken enough from his foldiers already, without 
 giving him fo great a quantity. The quarrel rofe fo high between 
 them, being both valiant men, that they drew their fwords, and before 
 they could be parted each had received two wounds. Cortes on hearing 
 it ordered them to be put in arreil, and in chains; this he did to keep 
 up appearances, having privately fpoken to De Leon who was his par- 
 ticular friend, and defired him to fubmit quietly; and the other he re- 
 leafed in consideration of his office as treafurer. Velafquez was a ilrong 
 man, and ufed to walk much backwards and forwards in the apartment 
 where he was confined. Montezuma hearing the rattling of his chains, 
 enquired who it was ; and being told, he interceded with Cortes for 
 him, on the full opportunity. Cortes laughing replied that Velafquez 
 was a mad fellow, who if he did not keep him confined, would go up- 
 and down the country robbing his majeily's fubjects of their gold. 
 The good king faid, if it was only on that account he was detained, he 
 would fupply his wants, and begged that he might be releafed. Cortes 
 affected to make a favor of it, but at length agreed, declaring that he 
 would banifh him from head quarters. Accordingly he went as far as 
 Cholula, but in fix days returned, richer, by the king's gold, than 
 when he went. After this Cortes and Mexia were never great friends. 
 
 The 
 
( '75 ) 
 
 The king at this time made a propofal of marriage to Cortes, of- 
 fering him one of the princefles his daughters. This offer Cortes re- 
 ceived as it merited, and fuggefted the propriety of her being previoufly 
 initiated into the myfteries of our holy religion, by being baptized ; to 
 which the king who was on all occafions compliant, immediately 
 affented. He however continued as attached as ever to his worfhip and 
 facrifices, which put Cortes and his captains to a dilemma ; but it was 
 though^ moft confiftent with their duties as chriftians to incur the 
 danger of infurrection, and deftroy the idols of the Mexicans r in order 
 to plant the true crofs. in their place, or if that was found impoffible, 
 we refolved to content ourfelves for the prefent with making a chapel 
 for the chriftian worihip in the temple. Seven officers and foldiers at- 
 tended Cortes, when he waited on Montezuma to fignify to him our 
 refolution. When it was made known to him, and he faw the violence 
 with which the meafure was determined to be carried into effect, he 
 earncftly begged permiffion to confult his priefts, and Cortes appearing 
 touched with his fituation, made figns to the officers and foldiers to 
 retire, and leave the king with him and the reverend father. He then 
 told him, that in order to accommodate the matter more to his fatisfac- 
 tion, he would endeavour to prevail with his officers, for the prefent 
 to offer no violence to the idols, provided a part of the great temple was 
 appropriated to the purpofe of a chapel, and an altar and crucifix allowed 
 to be placed there; which being once done, his Majefty would in a 
 fhort time be convinced of the errors and falfehood of his worfhip. To 
 this Montezuma with much agitation, and the appearance of deep for- 
 row, heavily confented; and in confequence, an altar and crucifix 
 being erected, mafs was folemnly faid, and a perfon was appointed to 
 take care of the chapel. 
 
 The time of our ftay in this city was one feries of alarms, fufE* 
 cient in themfelves to have deftroyed the lives of thofe who were not 
 fupported by the divine interpofition. It appeared, that in confequence 
 of our late meafure, and the reprefentations of the priefts acting upon 
 the prejudices of the people, our dangers were now thickening on us. 
 
 Their. 
 

 ( '7« ) 
 
 Their gods threatened to leave them unlefc we were put to death, for 
 having violated their temple, and it was the determination to obey their 
 will. This refolution was communicated to Montezuma by his priefts, 
 and all his chief warriors, who added to their religious fubject of com- 
 plaint, every other which they could colled:, relative to our conduct 
 iince we arrived in Mexico. The page Ortegu ilia alfo at this time came 
 to inform Cortes of fome alarming circumftances, fuch as a number of 
 fecret conferences which he had obferved, between Montezuma and his 
 nobility and chiefs, the angry and melancholy countenance of the king, 
 and other circumftances highly important and interefhn^ to us. Cortes 
 immediately on hearing this, taking with him five of his captains, and 
 his interpreters, waited on Montezuma. The king feemed much dif- 
 treffed, and informed him, that he was grieved to have lately learned, 
 that it was the determination of his gods that we mould all be put to 
 death, or expelled from Mexico; he, therefore, being our fincere 
 friend, recommended to us on no account to run the rilk, but to fave 
 our lives, whilft it could be done, by a fpeedy retreat. Cortes and the 
 reft could not conceal their uneailnefs on hearing this, and no wonder. 
 The general, however, immediately replied, that he was on that occa- 
 iion much grieved at two things; one was, his not having veflels 
 ready for the purpofe of returning, the other, that in cafe of his doing 
 fo, he fhould be under the neceflity of taking his Majefty with him, 
 in order to prefent him to his fovereign the Emperor. He therefore in- 
 treated Montezuma, that he would reftrain his priefts and warriors, 
 until he fhould have time to build three fhips, faying if this were not 
 acceded to, we were all refolved to die to the very laft man; and as a 
 proof of the fincerity of his determination to depart, he declared, that 
 he would immediately fend his fhipbuilders to fell wood and conftruct 
 the veffels, on the coaft. The determination of Cortes to bring 
 Montezuma with him, made that monarch more diftreffed and dejected 
 than ever; Cortes then repeated his afTurance of no unnecefTary delay, 
 and defired the afuftance of the king's carpenters in constructing the 
 veffels ; at the fame time requefting his influence with the priefts and 
 nobility, to prevent any infurrc&ion in the city, and his endeavours 
 
 to 
 
( HI ) 
 to appeafe his gods, provided it were not by human facririces. 
 
 Cortes immediately proceeded to execute his determination of 
 building the three (hips, contrary to what is related by Gomara, who 
 fays that the whole was a feint, in order to lull Montezuma and his 
 fubjects. But on the contrary, Martin Lopez, the principal carpenter, 
 who is now living, has affured me that he really, and in good earneft, 
 did fet about the work, and that the veffels were actually on the flocks. 
 During this time we remained very penfive and fad, in the city of 
 Mexico, from the precarioufnefs of our fituation, expecting every mo- 
 ment to be attacked. Our apprehenlions were increafed by the infor- 
 mations obtained by Donna Marina, and the terror and tears of the 
 page, who, underltanding the language, obtained hints which efcaped 
 our knowledge. We kept however good and conftant watch on Mon- 
 tezuma, and guard on our quarters, never fleeping out of our armour, 
 and our horfes were conflantly bridled and faddled all night. 
 
 Without meaning to boafl I may fay of myfelf, that my armour 
 was to me as eafy as the fofteft down, and fuch is my cuftom, that 
 when I now go the rounds of my diftricl:, I never take a bed with me 
 unkfs I happen indeed to be attended by ftrange cavaliers, in which 
 cafe I do it only in order to avoid the appearance of poverty, or penn- 
 rioufnefs, but by my faith, even when I have one I always throw my- 
 felf on it in my clothes, fuch it is to be a true foldier! another pecu- 
 liarity I have is, that I cannot ileep through the night, but always 
 awaken and get up in order to contemplate the heavens and ftars, and 
 thus I amufe myfelf, walking backwards and forwards, as I ufed to do 
 when on guard, for a good fpace of time, without hat or cap; and 
 glory be to God, I never yet caught cold, nor was a jot the worfe for. 
 it. And this the reader muft pardon me for mentioning, it not being 
 from vanity, but that I wifh him to know what kind of men we, the 
 true bred foldiers, and real conquerors of Mexico were. • 
 
 Aa 
 

 j***?* 
 
 
 ( '78 ) 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Expedition of P. de Narvaez. His army defeated by Cortes 
 at Cempoal t May 26th. 1520. — Return of the Spaniards to 
 Mexico. War there. Death of Montezuma. Expulfion of 
 the Spaniards j July if. Battle of Obtumba. Reception of 
 the Spaniards in Tlafcala, July 10th. 
 
 HE Bifhop of Burgos who was at this time prefident of the Indies, 
 bore unlimited fway in that department, during the abfcnce of the Em- 
 peror in Flanders. He now fent out orders to Velafqucz, to feize, and 
 make us prifoners, at all events : in confequence of which the governor 
 of Cuba fitted out a fleet of nineteen (hips, and embarked therein an 
 army of one thoufand four hundred foldicrs, and twenty pieces of 
 cannon, with all neceiTary ammunition and appointments, eighty ca- 
 valry, and one hundred and fixty mufkets and crofs-bows, the whole 
 being under the command of Pamphilo de Narvaez. Such were his 
 exertions, and his animolity againft Cortes and us, that he went for 
 thefe purpofes a journey of above feventy leagues from the Havannah. 
 While he was thus occupied, it appears, that the court of royal au- 
 dience of St. Domingo, and the brethren of the order of Jeronymites, 
 got intelligence thereof. They, knowing our good intentions, and 
 great exertions for the fervice of God and his Majefty, and confidering 
 alfo how injurious to the interefls thereof, the meditated expedition of 
 Velafquez was likely to be, fent the oydor Lucas Vafquez de Aillon 
 to Cuba, with orders to put a pofitive flop to the failing of it. But 
 whatever orders, opposition, or menaces he could make ufe of for the 
 purpofe were of no avail, Velafquez confident of the fupport of the 
 Bifhop of Burgos, and having alfo expended all his property in the 
 
 equipment.. 
 
( *79 ) 
 
 equipment, was more T>ent on it than ever, and held the oydor and his 
 authorities in defiance. When the oydor therefore faw that his en- 
 deavours to prevent the armament from failing were in vain, he thought 
 it moil; prudent under all the circumftances to embark with it, in order 
 to mediate, and prevent any injury to the public fervice, or, if neceffary, 
 by virtue of his office as oydor, to take poffeflion of the country, in 
 the name of his Majefty the Emperor. 
 
 The fleet fitted out by Velafquez and under the command of 
 Narvaez, arrived at the port of St. Juan de Ulua without any accident, 
 except the lofs of one fmall vefTel. The whole compofed a formidable 
 and refpectable force, confidering that it was entirely created in the 
 Ifland of Cuba. On its arrival, the foldiers who had been lent in queft 
 of the mines in that country, as has been before related, went on board, 
 and it is faid that on fo doing, they returned thanks to God for their 
 delivery from the command of Cortes, and the dangers of the city of 
 Mexico. Narvaez finding them fo open, ordered that they mould be 
 plentifully fupplied with wine, to render them more communicative, in 
 which he effectually fucceeded. Cervantes the jefter, under colour of 
 facetioufnefs, expofed to him all the difcontents of our people relative 
 to the partition of the treafure, and alfo the quantity that was obtained; 
 giving Narvaez in many points, much more intelligence than he wifhed 
 to hear. They alfo informed him of the bad ftate of the garriibn com- 
 manded by Sandoval in Villa Rica. The news of the arrival of the fleet 
 was foon communicated to Montezuma, who kept his knowledge of it 
 from Cortes, and at the fame time ordered liberal gifts to be prefented to 
 Narvaez, whereby a private correfpondence was opened between them, 
 to the difadvantage of the former, of whom Narvaez told the king every 
 thing that was bad, faying we were all outcafts and robbers, and that 
 the Emperor hearing of our bad conduct, and of our having detained 
 the great Montezuma in cuftody, had fent that force to liberate him, 
 and punifli us, by putting us all to death. This intelligence gave the 
 king great fatisfaction, for from the account of their force which was 
 accurately reprefented to him in painting, he thought us loft. He fent 
 
 A a % more 
 
( 1 8o ) 
 
 more magnificent preients to Narvaez, and could not conceal t\\Q fat i s - 
 faction which he felt. It was now three days fince he had received this 
 intelligence, without communicating it to Cortes, who obferved and 
 Was furprifed at the alteration which he perceived in him. At the ex- 
 piration of that time however, being, from the circumftance of Cortes 
 having paid him two vifits in the courfe of the day, apprehenfive of the 
 general having obtained the knowledge of it through fome other channel, 
 he told him the news, faying, that he had juft that moment received it. 
 Cortes demonstrated the greatefr. joy, and after Montezuma had fhewn 
 him the reprefentations of it which had been tranfmitted to him, whereby 
 Cortes learned all that it is was necelTary for him to know, he took his 
 leave, and communicated it to his troops, who inftantly got underarms, 
 and fired vollies. We foon however perceived that Cortes when by 
 himfelf was very penfive, and fhortly calling us together, he explained 
 to us the evident deftination of this armament, that it was meant againll: 
 us, and he now, by gifts, as well as promifes, as if what we received 
 was his private bounty, inftead of our fair right, made interefl with 
 us, to continue firm and fteady to him in the conteft which was to 
 take place. 
 
 From the reprefentation of our deferters, Narvaez was induced to 
 fend to the governor of Villa Rica, demanding of him to furrender his 
 command. He entrufled this bufinefs to three perfons, Guevara a man 
 of talents and a clergyman, a relation of Velafquez named Amarga, and 
 one Vergara a fcrivener, who accordingly fet out for Villa Rica. San- 
 doval had received information of the arrival of an armament, and 
 guefTing its object, prepared againft an attack. He fent off all his in- 
 valids to an Indian village at fome diftance, and having exhorted his 
 foldiers to fland by him, he caufed a gibbet to be erected, and placed a 
 guard on the road of Cempoal. When the deputation from Narvaez 
 arrived at Villa Rica, they did not meet a perfon except Indians, for 
 Sandoval had given orders to the Spaniards not to appear, and remained 
 at home himfelf. They were perplexed how to proceed, but guefling 
 by the appearance _of the houfe that it muft be the governors, after 
 
 going 
 
( >8i ) 
 
 going to mafs they proceeded thither. On entering, Guevara faluted 
 Sandoval, and immediately began a conversation, the purport of which 
 was, the great force Velafquez had fent, and the expence he had been 
 at, for the purpofe of arrefting Cortes, and all with him as traitors* 
 and he concluded by fummonirig Sandoval to furrender himfelf and his 
 poft, to General Pamphilo de Narvaez. The expreflions ufed by this 
 churchman greatly difpleafed Sandoval, who told him, that if it was not 
 for the protection his holy profeffion afforded him, he fhould be pu- 
 niihed for his infolenc.?, inuring the word traitors to thofe who were 
 more faithful fubjedts to his Majefty than either Narvaez or Velafquez ; 
 and as to his demands, he referred him to Cortes, telling him to go to 
 Mexico and fettle his buiinefs with him there. Guevara infifting on 
 executing his million, called to the notary Vergara to take out his autho- 
 rities, which he was preparing to do, but Sandoval flopped him, fay- 
 ing, " Look you Vergara ; your papers are nothing to me; I know not 
 " if they are true or falfe, originals or copies; but I forbid you to read 
 " them here, and by heaven if you attempt it, I will this inftant give 
 " you a hundred lathes. " At this Guevara cried out, " Why do you 
 " mind thefe traitors, read the commhTion." Sandoval then calling 
 him a lying knave ordered them all to be feized ; whereon, a number of 
 Indians who were employed to work about the fortrefs, having been 
 prepared for the purpofe, threw trammels over them like fo many 
 damned fouls, and making them fail, inftantly let off with them on 
 their backs, for Mexico; they hardly knowing if they were dead or 
 alive, or if it was not all enchantment, when they travelled in fuch a 
 manner, poft hafte, by frefh relays of Indians, which were in waiting,, 
 and faw the large and populous towns, which they patted through, 
 with a rapidity that ftupified them. Thus they were carried, day and 
 night, till they were fafely depofited in Mexico. Sandoval fent to con- 
 duel; them, Pedro de Solis, now firnamed De atras La Puerta, by 
 whom he wrote a line in hafte to Cortes, informing him of the par- 
 ticulars. As foon as the general got intelligence of their arrival, he 
 ord< : d us out under arms, and received them with the greateft honor* 
 looiening them from their trammels, and apologizing for the rudenefs 
 
 of 
 
( i8a ) 
 
 of his officer, whom he highly blamed. He gave them the mofl hof- 
 pitable entertainment, and treated them with the greatefr. refped:; and 
 having pretty well lined their pockets with gold, he in a few days fent 
 back, as tradable as lambs, thofe who had fet out againft. him like 
 furious lions. 
 
 As our general was one of thofe whofe refources never are exhauft- 
 ed, fb alfo it is hardly neceiTary to dwell upon the merits of thofe vali- 
 ant officers and foldiers, who accompanied him, and by our valour in 
 the field, and wifdom in counfel, fupported him through all his diffi- 
 culties. On this occafion it w T as determined by us, as moft expedient, 
 to fend letters to Narvaez and others, which fhould come to hand pre- 
 vious to the arrival of Guevara. In this we mofl earneftly requefted, 
 that no flep might be taken which would endanger our general inte.refts, 
 or encourage the Indians to rife upon us, and we alfo held out every 
 inducement that friendship or intereft could fuggeft, to bring them over 
 to us. At the fame time, under thefe general offers of kindnefs, we 
 did not forget fecretly to treat with fuch as we thought likely to-be- 
 wrought upon, for Guevara and Vergara had both informed Cortes 
 that Narvaez was not well with his captains, and that gold would do 
 wonders with them. Cortes adjured Narvaez in his letters, by their 
 former intimacy, not to give caufe by his conduct for the Mexicans to 
 rife and dcftroy them all, affuring him that they were ready to do any 
 thing to liberate Montezuma, whofe difpofition had alfo greatly altered 
 fince the time that Narvaez had begun to correfpond with him; adding, 
 that he was convinced, that what was alledged to have been faid by 
 him never could have come from fo wife a man, but was the fabrication 
 of fuch wretches as Cervantes the buffoon, and the others, who had 
 mifled and mifreprefented him. He at the fame time offered an unli- 
 mited fubmiffion to whatever Narvaez would order. Cortes alfo deter- 
 mined to write to the Secretary Andres de Duero, and the Oydor Lucas 
 Vafquez , and took care that the letters fhould be well accompanied with 
 prefents. When Narvaez received the firft, letter he; turned it into ridi- 
 cule, handing it about among his officers, calling us traitors, and fay- 
 ing 
 
( '8 3 ) 
 
 ing that he would put us all to death; and as to Cortes, he would cut 
 off his ears, and broil and eat them, with a great deal of fuch abfurdity. 
 Of courfe he fent no reply whatever. J lift at this time, Guevara and 
 his affociates arrived, and they immediately launched out in the praifes 
 of Cortes, declaring the expreffions of refpect he had made ufe of rela- 
 tive to Narvaez, the fervices that he had rendered, and the advantages 
 that would refult from a junction of their forces. This put Narvaez 
 in fuch a rage that he would neither fee nor hear any of them again. 
 They then began to converfe with their comrades, and when the latter 
 perceived how well furnifhed they had returned, they already wifhed 
 themfelves amongft us. At this time alfo, arrived the reverend father of 
 the order of mercy, and brought with him the private letters and pre- 
 fents j he went firft to kifs the hands of Narvaez, and to tell him how 
 anxious- Cortes was to ferve under his command, but Narvaez would 
 not fee him, except to revile and abufe him. The reverend father there- 
 fore gave up that part of his commiflion, and applied himfelf to the 
 distribution of the prefents, with fuch effect, that in a (Tiort time all the 
 principal officers of the army of Narvaez were in our interefts. 
 
 If the oydor was originally inclined to favour Cortes, he was now 
 much more fo fince he faw the magnificent prefents which had been fo 
 liberally diftributed. This was ftrongly contrafted by the miferable ava- 
 rice of Narvaez, who ufed to fay in his lofty tones to his major domo, 
 " Take heed that not a mantle is miffing, as I have duly entered down 
 " every article. ,, This penurioufnefs put his officers in ah uproar of 
 exclamation againfl: him, all which he attributed to the intrigues of the 
 oydor Vafquez. There was alfo a difference between them owing to 
 his not keeping due accounts with the oydor, as was his duty, relative 
 to the provifions fent in by order of Montezuma; and Narvaez being 
 encouraged by the favour and patronage of the Bifhop of Burgos, now 
 feized the oydor, and fent him as a prifoner to the Illand of Cuba, or 
 Old Spain, and a gentleman of the name of Oblanco, a man of confidc- 
 ration, remonftrating with Narvaez upon this, and faying a good deal 
 upon the merits of Cortes and his affociates, was alfa arretted by him, 
 
 and; 
 
( 184 ) 
 
 and thrown into prifon, which he took (o much to heart that in three 
 days he died. The oydor Vafquez, during the voyage, prevailed on 
 the captain of the fhip to land him in St. Domingo, where, waiting 
 on the officers of the royal court of audience, and the Jeronymite bro- 
 thers, they were highly offended at the treatment their officer had re- 
 ceived, and made complaints upon the fubjecl: to his Majefty's council 
 in Caftille, without any effecT: however, owing to the influence of the 
 Bifliop of Burgos. 
 
 The troops fent by Velafquez now quitting the coaft, advanced to 
 Cempoal. The firft thing that Narvaez did upon his arrival there, was, 
 to take forcibly from the fat cacique, all the gold and mantles, and alfo 
 the young Indian women who had been given to Cortes and his officers 
 by their parents, and had been left in his care on our march to Mexico. 
 The fat cacique complained to him of this, and alfo of the robberies 
 committed by his foldiers, faying, that it was otherwife when Cortes 
 and his men were there; upon which Salvatierra, a very impudent 
 boafting fellow exclaimed, " See what fear thefe Indians have of this infig- 
 ** niflcant Cortes." And yet I proteft, that this man who was fo ready 
 with his tongue on all occasions, when we came to attack Narvaez and 
 his army, was the mofl defpicablc cowardly wretch I ever beheld. 
 Narvaez at this time tranfmittcd a copy of the commiffion which he held 
 under the government of Cuba, the farther particulars relative to which 
 I will mention in their place. Our general received conftant intelligence 
 of whatever occurred, from his friends in the army of Narvaez, and 
 alfo from Sandoval, who now informed him that he entertained five per- 
 forms of confideration who had quitted Narvaez, affigning as a reafon 
 for it, that when they faw he did not refpect his Majefty's oydor, ftill 
 lefs had they any hopes of good treatment from him, being the oydor 's 
 relations. From thefe perfons he had got information of the refolution 
 of Narvaez, to come immediately and fcek Us out in Mexico. 
 
 This being made known to fuch of us as Cortes was in the habit 
 of advifing with, he agreed with us in a general determination, to march 
 
 againfi: 
 
( «*i ) 
 
 againft Narvaez and his forces, leaving Alvarado in the command of 
 the city. With him remained all thofe who were not inclined to go 
 with us, and alfo all thofe who we thought would be better from us* 
 as having an inclination towards Narvaez or Velafquez. We alfo left 
 a fhfriciency of provifions, which was the more neceffary as the harveft 
 had been deficient, owing to a want of rain. We ftrengthened our 
 quarters by a good pallifade, leaving eighty three foldiers, with four 
 large guns, twenty four mufquets and crofs-bows and feven horfes, to 
 keep in awe, the populous city of Mexico. 
 
 Cortes having waited on Montezuma previous to our march, the 
 king queftioned him relative to his intention of marching againft Nar- 
 vaez, both being of the fame country, and vaiTals of the fame monarch. 
 He alfo requeued to know if he could be of any fervice, exprefling his 
 appreheniion, from what he had heard of their fuperior numbers; and 
 he alfo afked of Cortes, an explanation relative to the charges brought 
 by the new comers againft him and us, that we were outcafts and trai- 
 tors, and that the others were fent to bring us to punifhment. Cortes 
 chearfully replied, that he had not before fpoken to him on the fubjecl 
 of his departure, becaufe he was convinced it would give his majefty 
 concern ; that it was true we were all vaftals of the fame monarch, but 
 utterly falfe that we were traitors and fugitives, for on the contrary, we 
 had come fully authorifed. That as for their deftroying us by their fu- 
 perior numbers, it did not depend upon them, but upon our Lord Jefus 
 Chrift, and his bleffed mother, who would fupport us ; and he alfo add- 
 ed, that as our monarch ruled many difTerent countries, the inhabitants 
 of fome were more 'brave than thofe of others, and that we were all na- 
 tives of Old Caftille, and called true Caftillians, whereas our opponents 
 were commanded by a Bifcayan; and that his majefty mould foon fee the 
 difference between us, as he hoped with the blefting of God, to" bring 
 them back with him prifoners, and that our going mould not therefore 
 give his majefty any uneafinefs. He alfo exprefted his hope, that 
 Montezuma would to his utmoft endeavour, prevent any infurreclion 
 in the city, as he certainly would, on his return, make thofe who be- 
 
 B b haved 
 

 
 ( '86 ) 
 
 haved ill in his abfence, dearly anfwer for it. Cortes then took his 
 leave, embracing Montezuma twice, which the king returned, and 
 Donna Marina acquitted herfelf fo well in her office, that fhe made the fc- 
 paration a very melancholy one. Montezuma promifed to do all that 
 Cortes defired him, and offered to alTifl him with five thoufand troops ; 
 an offer which Cortes, knowing indeed that he had them not to fend, 
 declined, by faying, that he required no aid but that of our Lord Jefus 
 Chrift ; but he requefted that the king would caufe due attention to be 
 given to that part of the temple which was confecrated to our holy reli- 
 gion. Having parted from Montezuma, he fummonned Alvarado and 
 thegarrifon of Mexico, and addrefling them in a body, he charged them 
 to watch well, and not fuffer the king to efcape from them, promifing, 
 at his return, if they did their duty properly, to make them all rich. 
 The clergyman Juan Diaz, and certain other fufpedled perfons, he left 
 with Alvarado. 
 
 We then fet out on our march by the city of Cholula, from 
 whence we fent to the chiefs of the Tlafcalans, requiring them to aflifl 
 us with a force of four thoufand warriors. They replied, that if it was 
 again!! Indians, they were very ready to go; but if againft our coun- 
 trymen, they begged to be excufed. They fent us however twenty 
 loads of fowls. Cortes alfo wrote to Sandoval to join him, with all his 
 force, at a place called Tampinequeta, or Mitalaquita, twelve leagues 
 from Cempoal. We marched without baggage, in regular order, and 
 with two confidential men, foot foldiers, a days journey before us; 
 they did not keep the direcT: road, but went by thofe where cavalry 
 could not pafs, enquiring for intelligence concerning the army of Nar- 
 vaez. 
 
 When we had proceeded fome diftance upon our march, one of 
 our advanced parties met with four Spaniards, who turned out to be 
 thofe of Narvaez, with the proofs of his commiffion of captain gene- 
 ral. On our coming to where they were, they faluted Cortes with great 
 refpect, aad he immediately difmounted, in order to confer with them. 
 
 Alonzo 
 
( »8 7 ) 
 
 Alonzo de Mata the principal perfon, was then proceeding to read th& 
 documents ; but Cortes cut him fhort, by anting him if he was a roy- 
 al notary, adding, that on producing his commiflion he mould be obey- 
 ed, but if he had it not, he could not be permitted to read any fuppofcd 
 orders; that thofe of his Majefty he fubmitted to, proftrate on the 
 ground, but defired to fee the original. Mata, frightened, and hold- 
 ing in reality no office under the crown, did not know what to fay ; 
 but Cortes relieved him from his embarrafment, and he halted here, to 
 give them time to refrefh themfelves. Cortes told them our deftination, 
 and that he was ready to receive any meflage from their general, of 
 whom he never ufed a difrefpectful expreiTion ; but he talked privately 
 with thefe perfons, and ufed arguments of fo convincing a nature, that 
 before they feparated, he made them completely his friends. On their 
 return, they were loud in their praifes of Cortes, and his generofity; and 
 of the magnificence of our appearance; for many of our foldiers bore 
 ornaments of gold, upon their arms, and chains and collars of the fame 
 about their necks. Sandoval and his party joined us on the next day, 
 at the rendezvouz; they were in all about feventy. With them came 
 the five who had quitted Narvaez, and who were molt gracioufly re- 
 ceived by Cortes. Sandoval told him, that he had fome time before 
 fent two foldiers, difguifed like Indians, into the quarters of Narvaez ; 
 their complexions refembled the natives, and each brought a load of 
 fruit to fell. They went directly to the habitation of the brave Salvati- 
 erra, who bought their fruit for a firing of yellow beads ; he then fent 
 them to get grafs for his horfe, on the banks of a little river; they 
 brought the laft load about the hour of vefpers, and having fed the horfe* 
 they fat there till night, during which time they heard Salvatierra ob- 
 ferve to fome of his aflbciates, what a lucky moment they had come at, 
 to get the feven hundred thoufand crowns, from that traitor Cortes. 
 As foon as it was dark, our foldiers got out of the houfe unobferved, 
 taking with them the horfe, faddle and bridle, and on their way they 
 met with another horfe which was lame, and which they alfo feized 
 and brought off. Cortes laughed heartily when he heard it, and we 
 afterwards learned that Salvatierra had diverted all the army of Narvaez 
 
 B b 2 with 
 

 ( >88 ) 
 
 with his abfurditics, when he found the trick that had been played up- 
 on him. After that time they kept a better watch. 
 
 
 It was determined now by us, to fend the reverend father of the 
 order of mercy, with a letter to Narvaez, the contents of which were 
 to this purpofe. That we had rejoiced on hearing of fo noble a perfon's 
 arrival in this country, as expecting material advantage therefrom, both 
 to our holy religion, and his Majefty's fervice; but that contrary to our 
 expectations he had reviled us, and caufed the whole country to revolt. 
 That our general had fent, , offering to refign to him whatever territories 
 or provinees he chofe to occupy, and to engage in new expeditions. 
 That if he came by virtue of a commifTion from his Majefty, we de- 
 manded a fight of the original, within the fpace of three days, for which 
 purpofe, and to obey it proftrate on the earth, we had now advanced 
 hither; but if no fuch authority was in his poffeflion, he fhould return 
 to the Ifland of Cuba, and not do any thing here that would throw the 
 country into a difturbance, which if he attempted, we Would as in du- 
 ty bound make him prifoner, and fend him to be dealt with according 
 to his Majefty's pleafure. That he was anfwerable for all the lamenta- 
 ble confequences that would enfue, and that this letter was thus fent, 
 becaufe no royal notary dare undertake to deliver one, as according to 
 due form ought to be done, after the violence committed againft his Ma- 
 jefty^ officer, the oydor, a crime Lsefae Majeftatis, the perpetrator of 
 which Cortes was in duty bound to apprehend and bring to juftice, and 
 for which he thereby cited him to appear and anfwer, calling God to 
 witnefs the juftnefs of his conduct. This letter concluding with ex- 
 pressions of great refpect, was figned by Cortes, the captains, and fe- 
 veral foldiers, and fent by the Reverend Father Olmedo, and byafoldier 
 of the name of Ulagre, whofe brother came over with Narvaez as the 
 commander of his artillery. 
 
 Olmedo on his arrival waited in Narvaez with great refpect, and 
 alfo proceeded to execute the reft of his million, in bringing together 
 certain officers of that army, amongft whom were Rodorigo Mira and 
 
 Ulagre 
 
( i8 9 ) 
 
 Ulagre of the artillery. To thefc he liberally dift ributed his gold, and 
 alfo, more privately, to Andres de Duero, with an earned invitation to 
 him to vifit Cortes. Narvaez foon began to fufpect what was the real 
 object of Olmedo, and was inclined to fcizc and make him prifoner ; 
 which being known to Duero, who had great influence with Narvaez, 
 not only on account of his fituation, but alfo from their being, fome way 
 related, he reprefented to him the impropriety of committing fuch ari 
 outrage againft a perfon of a holy function. He alfo furmifed to him 
 the great probability that the foldiers of Cortes might be eafily won over 
 to him by a little attention and policy. Having by thefe arguments and 
 other fimilar ones appeafed Narvaez for the prcfent, he took his leaver 
 and informed Olmedo of what had patted. Narvaez mortly after fent 
 for Olmedo, who waited on him, and defired pcrmiflion to fpeak to him 
 in private, and there in a laughing manner began to tell him how he 
 knew that he had give'n orders to take him prifoner, whereas there was 
 not a perfon exifting more devoted to his fervice, and that he knew to 
 a certainty many perfons in the army of Cortes would be very glad to fee 
 him delivered into the hands of his excellency; indeed he would venture 
 to fay our whole army was of that opinion, and as a proof of it, he af- 
 fured him, that he pofTeffed a letter full of abfurdities, which Cortes 
 had written by the perfuafion of thofe who wifhed to deliver him up, 
 and which was indeed fuch ridiculous fluff that he had been once or 
 twice inclined to throw it away, but would with his permiflion now. 
 bring it to him. He accordingly went, as he faid, for the letter, pre- 
 tending he had left it in his baggage, but in reality to call to Duero and 
 others, to defire them to be prefent as witnefles at the delivery of it. 
 
 Duero, in order to carry on his plan of getting an interview with 
 Cortes, then propofed, that fteps mould be taken to open a communi- 
 cation between them and him, to which Auguflin Bermudez a fecrefe 
 friend of Cortes added, that Duero and Salvatierra fhould be fent upoa 
 the buflnefs; this he did knowing the character of Salvatierra, who was 
 not at all difpofed to the expedition. It was at laft fettled, that Duero 
 fhould wait on Cortes to invite him to a meeting for the purpofe of ac- 
 commodation 
 

 ( *9° ) 
 
 commodation, and the arrangement of their future meafures, at a place 
 which lay at a convenient diftance between the quarters of the two ar- 
 mies, and that there Narvaez was to feize and make him prifoner, for 
 which purpofe he prepared twenty of his foldiers in whom he placed 
 moft confidence. Intelligence of all this was immediately conveyed to 
 Cortes. The reverend father remained at the quarters of Narvaez, hav- 
 ing made out a relationlhip to Salvatierra, with whom he dined every 
 day. 
 
 Our general, on firit hearing of the arrival of Narvaez, fent a fol- 
 dier who had ferved in Italy and underftood perfectly the management 
 of the lance, to the province of the Chinantans, who had fhortly before 
 entered into alliance with us. They ufed lances much longer than ours, 
 with blades of fharpened ftone. This foldier, named Barrientos, was 
 fent for the purpofe of obtaining from them three hundred of their lances, 
 and as there was plenty of copper in that province, he gave him direc- 
 tions to get two heads made of this metal, for each lance. Thefe were 
 accordingly done, being executed with fuch ingenuity that they exceed- 
 ed the pattern. He alfo obtained the afliftance of two thoufand warri- 
 ors of this nation, who were to rendezvouz at our quarters, armed in 
 the fame manner. Having done this he returned, with two hundred 
 Indians, bringing with them the lances which he had procured for us, 
 and which we found on handling to be extraordinarily good, and we 
 were immediately exercifed with them, A mufter was alio taken of our 
 army, which amounted to two hundred and fix, * including fife 
 and drum, with five mounted cavalry, two artillery men, few crofs- 
 bow-men, and fewer mufqueteers. And this was the force, and fuch 
 the weapons, with which we marched againil, and were to encounter 
 and defeat the army of Narvaez. 
 
 I mult recall the recollection of my reader to that part of my narra- 
 tive, wherein I related how Andres de Duero, and the Contador de 
 
 Lares, 
 
 Exclufive of the garrifon of Villa Rica. 
 
( >9" ) 
 
 Lares, negotiated the appointment of Cortes to the ftation of captain 
 general. Alfo that they were to make an equal partition of all the 
 treafure that fhould be acquired by him. Duero now therefore feeing 
 Cortes fo wealthy, under colour to Narvaez of a treaty whereby to o-et 
 Cortes in ins power, waited on the latter, in order to obtain from him 
 his fhare of the riches, for the third partner, De Lares, was fometime 
 dead. This Cortes not only acceded to, but moreover promifed him 
 equal command with himfelf, and an equal (hare of territory 
 when the conqueft of the country mould be effected; fo that it was 
 agreed between them, together with Auguftin Bermudez, Alguazil 
 major of the army of Narvaez, and many others whom I will not now 
 name, to get rid of the command of Narvaez altogether. Cortes to 
 confirm thefe, and bring over others, was more liberal than ever in his 
 prefents, with which he loaded the two Indians of Duero. On one of 
 thefe days of intercourfe, after they had been a confiderable time toge- 
 ther privately, and had dined, Duero having mounted his horfe, afked 
 Cortes if he had any commands for him; to which Cortes replied, that 
 he wifhed to remind him not to deviate from what they had now fettled, 
 for that if he did, by his confeience, which was his ufual oath, he 
 would be in his quarters within three days, and that he mould be the 
 very firft perfon at whom - he would throw his lance; and faying this, 
 he bid him farewell. Duero turned off laughing, and faid that he would 
 not fail. On his arrival at the quarters of Narvaez, he is faid to have 
 told him, that Cortes and all with him were ready to range themfelves 
 under his command. 
 
 Cortes now fent for Juan Velafquez'de Leon, a perfon of much 
 confideration, and who had always been his particular friend, though 
 a near relation of the governor of Cuba, and on his coming to him told 
 him, in that fmooth and perfuafive manner that he could put on when 
 ever he pleafed, ' * Senior Velafquez de Leon, Duero has informed me, 
 " that Narvaez is anxious to fee you in his camp, and that it is report- 
 41 ed if you go thither I am an undone man. Now my worthy friend 
 11 mount your grey mare, put on your fanfarona, (gold chain,) take with 
 " you all your valuables, and more frill, which I will give you, and 
 
 go 
 
( *9* ) 
 
 *• and fix yourfelf with Narvaez immediately, and diitribute the gold 
 *.* I give you according to my directions. " Velafquez replied, that 
 he would willingly obey his ordei in every thing but one, which was 
 that of taking his treafure with him. To which Cortes anfwered that 
 he believed as much, but that he did not wifh him to go on other terms 
 than what he had mentioned. De Leon flill however continued firm 
 in what he had faid, and after a fecret conference fet out for Cempoal. 
 In about two hours after the departure of Velafquez, Gortes ordered the 
 drum to be beat to arms, whereon our little army arTembled, and w r e fet 
 forward on our march. On our way we killed two wild hogs, which 
 our foldiers faid was a good omen. We ilept all that night by the fide 
 of a rivulet, according to cuftom the ground our bed and ftones our 
 pillows, and next day arrived at the river and place where the city of 
 Vera Cruz is now built, but which was at that time an Indian village, 
 and planted with trees. As it was about midday and the weather very 
 fultry, we repofed here for the prefent, being much fatigued by the 
 weight of our arms and lances. 
 
 Captain de Leon arrived by day break at the town of Cempoal. 
 The Indians were overjoyed to fee him and circulated the news of his 
 arrival, fo that Narvaez heard of it, and immediately thereon came out 
 to embrace him. Velafquez having paid his compliments faid, that he 
 only came in the hopes of making an amicable arrangement between 
 him and Cortes; upon which Narvaez taking him afide, afked him 
 how he could talk of treating with any fuch traitor. Velafquez re- 
 plied, that Cortes was a faithful and zealous officer of his majefty, 
 and defired that no fuch epithet mould be applied to him in his pre- 
 fence. Narvaez however perfifted, offering, if he would renounce 
 Cortes, to make him the fecond in command; to which Velafquez 
 replied that he fhould be unpardonable 'in quitting one who had done 
 fo much for the fervice of his God and king. By this time all the 
 principal officers had arrived to falute Velafquez, who was a favorite 
 amongft them, being a very polite and well bred gentleman, of a 
 fine figure and perfon, and he now wore a great gold chain which 
 
 made 
 
( *93 ) 
 
 made two returns over his moulders, and round his body, {o that he 
 gave the idea of a truly gallant foldier, and imprcffed all who beheld 
 him with refpect. The Alguazil Bermudcz, and Andres de Duero, 
 wifhed particularly to communicate with him in private, but juft at this 
 moment arrived a Captain Gamarra, together with one Juan Yufte, 
 Juan Buono, and Salvatierra the braggart. Thefe perfons, determined 
 Narvaez to make him prifoner, for the freedom with which he had 
 fpoken in favour of Cortes, and Narvaez had in confequence given 
 privately an order for the purpofe, which coming to the knowledge of 
 thofe already fpoken of, as having embarked in the interefts of Cortes, 
 they immediately reprefented to him the impropriety of fuch a violent 
 proceeding, and how impolitic it would be. Hereupon Narvaez again 
 addrefTed him in a very friendly manner, requeuing his afliftance to 
 bring Cortes and the reft of us into their power, and invited him to dine 
 with him the next day. Velafquez promifed afTiftance to his defign, 
 but reprefenting Cortes as determined and head ftrong, he recommend- 
 ed a diviiion of the country, and that each fhould take feparate pro- 
 vinces. At this time Olmedo getting within hearing of Velafquez, and 
 fpeaking in the manner of a perfon of truft, addreiTing himfelf to Nar- 
 vaez faid, '* Let your excellency order out your troops under arms, 
 V and mew him what your force is, that Cortes may know, and be 
 *' terrifyed at it." Narvaez agreeing to this, the troops were turned 
 out in review order, and paffed by them. Velafquez complimenting 
 Narvaez upon their number and appearance, and wifhing him an in- 
 creafe of his power, the latter replied, faying, he believed Velafquez 
 was now convinced how effectually he could have crufhed Cortes and 
 all thofe with him: to which Velafquez only anfwered that he trufted 
 they knew how to defend themfelves. On the next day he dined 
 with Narvaez, and there was in company a nephew of the governor'of 
 Cuba, a captain in the army. The converfation turning on the recent 
 events, ^his gentleman ufed very infulting language in refpecT to Cortes; 
 upon which, Velafquez rifing up addrefTed himfelf to Narvaez and faid, 
 11 I have already requefted, general, that you would not permit in my 
 " prefence, difrefpectful language of any of my friends, for we do not 
 
 C c deferve 
 

 ( *94 ) 
 
 *' deferve it." But the other gentleman, on this, launching out into 
 ftill greater liberty with Velafquez himfelf, the latter infhmtly laid his 
 hand on his fword, defiring Narvaez to permit him to punifh him as a 
 bafe liar: but the officers prefent interfering prevented mifchief, and it 
 was recommended both to Velafquez and Olmedo to quit the place. 
 Velafquez accordingly, on his excellent grey mare, armed in his helmet 
 and coat of mail which he always wore, and his gold chain about his 
 moulders, went to take his leave of Narvaez, who returned his falute 
 very coolly. The young man we have before fpoken of was again very 
 violent, but Velafquez gave him no other reply than fwearing by his 
 beard, that he would in a few days fee what materials he was made of: 
 then, taking hafty leave of thofe who were Handing by, he put fpurs 
 to his good grey mare, and was foon out of fight, for he had got a hint 
 or fufpicion that Narvaez would fend after him, and faw fome perfons 
 on horfeback, apparently for the purpofe; but he was too well mount- 
 ed for them, and reached our camp in fafety. 
 
 We were at that time repofing by the fide of the river, after the 
 fatigues of fo fultry a march, when a report came from an outpoft that 
 horfemen were in fight. On their arrival, what greeting, and em- 
 bracing, and joy and congratulation ! and how Cortes received them ! 
 and well he might, for they were eminently ferviceable to him. We 
 all got round to hear their narrative. Velafquez told Cortes firft how 
 he had executed his commiffion, and diftributed his prefents. Then our 
 merry droll friar took off Narvaez when he made him order out his 
 troops in review, to laugh at him ; and told us by what fmefle he got 
 him to read the letter; and how he had perfuaded the bragging fool 
 Salvatierra that he was his coufin, the one being from Olmedo, and the 
 other from Burgos ; and of the ridiculous fpeeches and geftures the fel- 
 low made when he was talking how he would kill Cortes, and all of 
 us, for the lofs of his horfe; mimicking him to admiration. Thus 
 were we all together like fo many brothers, rejoicing and laughing as if 
 we had been at a wedding or a feaft, knowing well that tomorrow 
 was the day in which we were to conquer or die, oppofed to five times 
 
 our 
 
( '95 ) 
 
 our number. Such is the fortune of war! We then proceeded on our 
 march, and halted for the night by the river and bridge which is about 
 a league diftant from Cempoal ; at prefent there is a dairy farm at that 
 place. 
 
 After the departure of the reverend father and Juan Velafquez from 
 the quarters of Narvaez, it feems that certain of the officers gave advice 
 to him of the fecret practices which had been going on, and recommend- 
 ed to him to be well upon his guard, as Cortes had many friends 
 amongft his troops. The fat Cacique alfo, who was greatly in dread 
 of being called to account by Cortes, for having delivered up the women 
 and mantles with which he had been intruded, was very vigilant in 
 watching and obtaining intelligence of our motions, as he was directed 
 by Narvaez to do. 
 
 Finding that we had now approached near to Cempoal, the fat 
 Cacique thus addreffed Narvaez. " What are you doing, and how 
 " carelefs are you ! do you think that Malintzin and his Teules are equal- 
 " ly fo? I tell you that when you leaft expect it he will come upon 
 " you and put you all to death." Although Narvaez laughed at this, 
 he did not however reject the warning. The flrft thing he in confe- 
 quence did was, to declare war againft us with fire, fword, and free rope. 
 This we learned from a foldier named El Galleguillo, who came over to 
 us, or was fent by Andres de Duero to Cortes. He then drew up his 
 artillery, cavalry, and infantry, in a plain diflant a quarter of a league 
 from Cempoal, where he determined to wait for us. It happened to 
 rain exceedingly heavy on that day, and as the troops of Narvaez were 
 not accuflomcd to hardfhip, and moreover defpifed us, they grew rel- 
 iefs and uneafy in their fituation, and the captains advifed their chief 
 to march them back to their quarters, which he accordingly did, form- 
 ing his eighteen guns in a line, in front of the building in which he 
 lodged. His officers alfo advifed, that a grand guard of forty cavalry 
 fhould be ported for the night on the road of Cempoal, and that fome 
 cavalry vedettes, and active foot foldiers, mould be placed to watch 
 
 C c 2 the 
 
( '9* ) 
 
 the ford which we mutt pafs. Twenty of the cavalry were alfo to pa- 
 trole during the whole night in and about the quarters of Narvaez. All 
 this was done by the advice of his officers, who wifhed to get back un- 
 der fhelter, and who defpifed Cortes, faying it was abfurd to fuppofc 
 he would come to attack them with his pitiful handful of men, and 
 that if he had advanced, it was only a mere oftentation, in order to in- 
 duce them to come into terms. 
 
 
 When Narvaez returned to his quarters, he promifed publicly two 
 thoufand crowns to whoever killed Cortes or Gonzalo de Sandoval. He 
 placed as fpies at the ford, one Gonzalo Carrafco who lives now in La 
 Puebla, and another foldier of the name of Hurtado. He alfo filled his 
 own quarters with Soldiers armed with mufquets, crofs-bows, and 
 partizans, and did the fame by thofe of the Veedor Salvatierra, Gamar- 
 ra, and Juan Buono. 
 
 As foon as we had arrived at the river which runs through the 
 fertile meadows at about a leagues diftance from Cempoal, trufty perfons 
 being felected and fent to the outpofts, our Cortes fummoned us all, of- 
 ficers and foldiers, around him, where he was on horfeback, and earnest- 
 ly enjoining filence, addrefled us as follows. " Gentlemen, it is well 
 M known to you that D. Velafquez governor of Cuba felected me for 
 " your captain general, not that your number did not contain many 
 " equally worthy; and you alfo recollect how it was believed by us, and 
 11 publicly proclaimed, that we came to colonize, w r hen in reality our 
 " inftructions went no farther than to barter with the natives. You al- 
 M fo recollect my determination to return to Cuba, in order to give an 
 " accounf of my miflion to him by whom I was entrufted with it, but 
 " that by your command I was required to ftay and colonize in the 
 " country for his Majefty's fervice, as, thanks to God, has been done, 
 " and a wife determination it was. You alfo made me as you recollect 
 '* your captain general, and chief magistrate, until his Majesty's plea- 
 *' fure was known, and we have in confequence rendered effential fer- 
 il vice to our God and Monarch. I mult now remind you how we 
 
 have 
 
( *97 ) 
 
 '* have written to his Majelty, giving a full account of thefe countries, 
 ' • and requefting that the government of them may not be beflowed on any 
 44 unworthy perfon, and that we, fearing the effect of the arts and influ- 
 44 enceofthe Bifhop of Burgos, and of the Governor of Cuba whom he 
 44 favors, had refolved to maintain his Majefty's government and 
 14 right in this country, until his royal mandate duly authenticated 
 44 mould be produced to us, which we would then as in duty bound, 
 44 obey, proftrate upon the earth. You alfo recollecl: how we have fent 
 44 the treafure obtained by us to his Majefty. Now therefore, advert- 
 " ing to other matters, I muff remind you how often you have all been 
 44 at the point of death in various wars and battles, how we have fuf- 
 44 fered from fatigues, and rains, and winds, and hunger, fleeping on 
 44 our arms, on the ground and in fnow. Not to mention above fifty 
 44 of our countrymen dead, and your own wounds as yet unhealed, our 
 44 fufferings by fea and land, the perils of Tabafco, Tlafcala, and of 
 44 Cholula, where the velTels were prepared in which we were to have 
 44 been boiled, and our perilous* entry into Mexico. In addition there- 
 44 to many of you have been on expeditions of adventure antecedent 
 44 to this, and have rifqued and loft your properties, and now gentle- 
 44 men, Narvaez comes, and maligns and afperfes us with the great 
 44 Montezuma, and immediately on landing proclaims war againff. us, 
 44 with fire, fword, and rope, as if we were infidel Moors." As foon 
 as Cortes had concluded this he proceeded to exalt our perfon s and valour 
 to the fkies, and after an abundance of the moft flattering promifes he 
 concluded by obferving, that Narvaez came to deprive us of our lives, 
 and properties; that he had imprilbned his Majefty's oydor, and that 
 it was uncertain if he held his command by any more than the favor of 
 theBifhop of Burgos. It was therefore necellary, hefaid, for us, as faith- 
 ful fubjects, to fight in defence of his Majefty's rights, our lives, and 
 properties, and he now demanded to hear our determination. 
 
 Our officers and foldiers all replied, that we were ready and deter- 
 mined to conquer or die; and we warned him not to fay any more about an 
 accommodation, or partition of the country, for that if he did, we 
 
 would 
 

 ( 198 ) 
 
 would plunge our f words in his body. Cortes on hearing this applauded 
 our fpirit, faying, that he expected no lefs, and adding a profusion of 
 promifes, and aflurances that he would make us all rich and profperous. 
 He then, adverting to our intended attack, earneftly enjoined us to ob- 
 ferve the ftrictefr. filence, faying, that to conquer in battle, prudence and 
 filence were more necelTary than excefs of bravery ; that he knew our ar- 
 dour induced all to ftrive who fhould be mod forward, and that it was 
 necefTary to diftribute us by companies, and to appoint to each his dif- 
 tincl: duty. Accordingly, he ordered that in the attack the firft thing to 
 be done mould be, to feize the artillery. For this duty he felected fe- 
 venty foldiers, of which number I was one, and put us under the com- 
 mand of Pizarro, an active lad, whofe name however was at that time 
 as little known as that of Peru. He gave us alfo further orders, that as 
 foon as we were mailers of the guns, we mould join and fupport the 
 detachment which was to attack the quarters of Narvaez. This laft 
 mentioned duty he afligned to Sandoval, with feventy fele&ed men, and 
 as this captain was alfo alguazil major^ he gave him a warrant to arreft 
 Narvaez, drawn up as follows. 
 
 Gonzalo de Sandoval, alguazil major for his Majefty in New 
 Spain. You are hereby commanded, to feize the body of Pamphilo de 
 Narvaez, and in cafe he makes refinance, to put him to death; the 
 fame being necelTary to the fervice of God, and his Majefty, whofe 
 officer he has imprifoned. Given under my hand, at head quarters. 
 Counter figned, ) 
 
 Pedro Hernandez, Secretary, v 
 
 Hernando Cortes. 
 
 Cortes alfo promifed to the firft foldier who laid his hand on Nar- 
 vaez, the fum of three thoufand crowns, to the fecond, two thoufand, 
 and to the third, one thoufand, as he faid, to buy gloves. He appoint- 
 ed captain I. Velafquez de Leon to feize his relation Diego Velafquez, 
 with whom he had the quarrel, and gave him a detachment of feventy 
 foldiers, retaining twenty with himfelf, as a referve, to go wherever he 
 iaw moft occafion, and more particularly to fupport the attack upon the 
 
 quarters 
 
( IQ 9 ) 
 
 quarters of Narvaez, and Salvatierra, in a lofty temple. Having thus 
 arranged his troops and inftructed his captains, he addrelTed us in a few 
 words, faying, he well knew that the army of Narvaez was four times 
 more numerous than ours, but that they were not accuftomed to arms, 
 and many of them were ill ; he therefore trufted, that, attacking them 
 thus unexpectedly, God would give the victory to us, who were his 
 faithful fcrvants, and that next to divine affiftance, we were to rely on 
 our own courage, and the ftrength of our arms ; that now was the hour 
 of trial, and that at worft it was preferable to die with glory. 
 
 One circumftance has ftruck me fince, which is, that he never 
 once faid or infinuated to us that fuch or fuch perfons in the army of 
 Narvaez were our friends; and in fo doing he acted like a wife captain, 
 making us rely entirely on our own exertions, and ufe them to the ut- 
 molt, without expecting any other afliltance or fupport. Our three de- 
 tachments were now formed, and the captains at the head of each, they 
 and the foldiers mutually encouraging each other. Our captain, Pi- 
 zarro, explained to us how we were to rufh in upon the guns with our 
 lances at the charge, and that immediately on getting them in our pof- 
 feilion, the artillery men who were attached to his company mould point 
 and fire them againft the quarters of Narvaez^ 
 
 What would we not have given for defenfive armour on this night ! 
 A morion, a helmet, or a breaflplate, would have fetched any money., 
 Our counterfign was Spiritu fanto, Spiritu fanto. That of Narvaez was 
 Santa Maria , Santa Maria. 
 
 As Captain Sandoval and I were always intimate friends, he at this 
 time called me aiide, and made me promife him that after the capture 
 of the guns if I remained alive, [ would feek out and attach myfelf to- 
 him for the reft of the engagement. Thefe things being arranged, we 
 remained with empty ftomachs, leflecting on what was before us, and 
 waiting for the orders to march. I was ftationed centinel at an advan- 
 ced poll:, and had not been there long when a patrole came to me, and 
 
 afked 
 
( 200 ) 
 
 afked me if I had heard any thing. I replied that I had not. A cor- 
 poral foon after came to our poft and faid that Galleguillo the deferter 
 of Narvaez's army was miffing, and that he had come amongfr. us as 
 a fpy ; in confequence of which Cortes had given orders that we fhould 
 march inftantly. Accordingly we heard our drum beat, and the cap- 
 tains calling over their companies. 
 
 We joined the column, and proceeding on our march, we found 
 the foldier whom we had miffed, fleeping in the road under fome man- 
 tles, for the poor fellow not being inured to hardfhips was fatigued. We 
 continued our march at a quick pace, and in profound filence, and foon 
 arrived at the river, where we furprifed the two vedettes of the army of 
 Narvaez, one of whom, by name Carrafco, we made prifoner, the other 
 flying before us into the town, and giving the alarm. On account of 
 the rain, we found the river deeper than ufual, and difficult to pafs, 
 owing to the loofe ffones under our feet, and the weight of our arms. 
 I alfo recoiled: that the foldier whom we had made prifoner called to our 
 general, " Senior Cortes do not advance, for I fwear that Narvaez is 
 " with his whole force dra\vn up to receive you." Cortes gave him 
 in charge to his fecretary, Hernandez, and we proceeded, and on com- 
 ing into the town, heard the man who had efcaped, giving the alarm, 
 and Narvaez calling to his captains to turn out. 
 
 Our company which headed the column, charging our lances, rum* 
 ed on, and doling up to the guns, made ourfelves matters of them 
 without giving the artillery men time to put the matches to more than 
 four, of which one (hot only took effect, killing three of our foldiers. 
 Our whole force now advanced with drum beating, and falling upon 
 the cavalry brought down fix orfeven of them, whilft we who had got pof- 
 feilion of the guns could not quit them, becaufe the enemy kept up a 
 heavy difcharge of arrows and mufquetry from the quarters of Narvaez. 
 Captain de Sandoval and his company coming forward, marched up the 
 fleps of the temple, notwithstanding that he was floutly refilled by the 
 enemy with miffile weapons, mufquetry, partizans, and lances, and 
 
 then, 
 
( 201 ) 
 
 then, we who were in charge of the artillery, perceiving that there was 
 no longer any danger to them, left them to our gunners, and proceeded 
 with Captain Pizarro to fupport the attack of Sandoval, who had been 
 forced down fix or feven of the fteps. Supported by us they again ad- 
 vanced, making the enemy give ground in their turn, and juft at that 
 inftant, if I do not miftake, I heard the voice of Narvaez crying out, 
 " Santa Maria aflift me, for they have killed me, and flruck out one 
 M of my eyes ! " On this we all (houted out, " Victory ! victory ! for the 
 '.' Efpiritu Santo! Narvaez is dead." 
 
 Still we could not force our way into the temple, until Martin Lo- 
 pez the {hip wright, a very tall man, fet fire to the thatch of the roof, 
 and the fire fpreading, forced thofe who were infide to rufh out and 
 come tumbling down the fteps. P. Sanchez Farfan was the flrft who 
 laid his hand on Narvaez; we brought him prifoner to Sandoval, to- 
 gether with feveral of his captains, and continued fhouting, "Victory! 
 44 Live our King and Cortes ! Narvaez is dead ! " 
 
 During this time Cortes and the reft of our army were engaged 
 with thofe of the troops of Narvaez who yet held out, in fome lofty 
 temples which we now battered with the artillery. As foon as 
 our fhouts were underftood, and the caufe of them, Cortes made pro- 
 clamation that all who did not inftantly fubmit, and range themfelves 
 under the flandards of his Majefty, and the command of his officer Cor- 
 tes, mould be put to death. This however had no effect on thofe who 
 occupied the lofty temples where Diego Velafquez and Salvatierra were 
 ported, until Sandoval with one half of our body, and the guns, pro- 
 ceeded againft them, and entering, made thofe officers and the people 
 with them prifoners. As foon as this was done, Sandoval returned to 
 keep guard upon Narvaez, who was doubly ironed. We had alfo with 
 him under our care, Salvatierra, D. Velafquez, Gamarra, Juan Yufte, 
 Juan Buono Vilcaino, and many other principal perfons. Shortly after, 
 Cortes came in unobferved, fatigued, and the fweat running down his 
 face; and addrefling Sandoval, without any congratulation or compli- 
 
 D d ment 
 

 
 ( 202 ) 
 
 ment, told him that it was impoflible to defcribe what he had gone 
 through. Then turning about he cried, " What is become of Narvaez ? 
 " how is Narvaez ? Sandoval anfwered, "Here he is very fate. Cortes then 
 M faid, "Son Sandoval keep good watch on him, and the other captains.'* 
 After which he haftened out to caufe proclamation to be made, that alt 
 mould immediately lay down their arms and fubmit. 
 
 All this pafled during the night, mowers falling very frequently, 
 and in the intervals the moon (hone; but juft at the moment of our at- 
 tack it was extremely dark, and rained heavily, and a multitude of fire 
 flies appearing at the fame time, the foldiers of Narvaez thought that 
 they were the lighted matches of our mufquetry. 
 
 Narvaez was very badly wounded, and his eye was beaten out; he 
 therefore requefted that his furgeon named Maeftre Juan mould be 
 fent for. This being done, whilft he was under the operation of hav- 
 ing his eye drefted, Cortes entered the room unnoticed; but being 
 foon obferved, Narvaez addrefting him faid, " Senior Captain Cortes, 
 " appreciate as it deferves your good fortune, in having defeated and 
 " made me prifoner." Cortes replied that his thanks were due to Cod. 
 and to his valiant officers and foldiers, but that it was the leaft of our 
 atchievements fmce our arrival in New Spain, and that for daring, he 
 thought the arreft of his Majefty's officer much exceeded it. He then 
 quitted the place, again warning Sandoval to keep good guard. 
 
 We foon after brought Narvaez and the reft of the prifoners to ano- 
 ther apartment, where a guard was placed upon them compofed of our 
 moft trufty and confidential foldiers. To this duty I was appointed, and 
 Sandoval before he left us called me afide, and gave me a private order 
 to permit no perfon whatever to fpeak to Narvaez. We knew that forty 
 of the cavalry were at an outpoft on the river ; it was therefore necefTary 
 to keep a good guard until this party was difpofed of, left they fhould 
 fall on us in order to refcue their officers. Cortes now fent to them Chrif- 
 toval de Oli, and de Ordas, mounted on two of the horfes of Narvaez 
 which we found tied in a fmall wood clofe to Cempoal, with unlimited 
 
 offers 
 
( 203 ) 
 
 offers if they would come in and fubmit. Our officers guided by one 
 of Narvaez 's foldiers arrived at the polf of the cavalry, and by their 
 promifes and arguments won them over, and they all entered the town 
 together. 
 
 By this time it was clear day. Cortes, feated in an arm chair, a 
 mantle of orange colour thrown over his moulders, his arms by his fide, 
 and furrounded by his officers and foldiers, received the falutations of 
 the cavaliers who as they difmounted came up to him to kifs his hand. 
 It was wonderful to fee the affability, and the kindnefs with which he 
 fpoke to and embraced them, and the compliments which he made to 
 them; amongft the number were Auguftin Bermudez, Andres de Du- 
 ero, and many other friends of our general. Each, as he had paid his 
 refpects, took his leave, and went to the quarters affigned him. Du- 
 ring all this time, and even before the arrival of the cavalry, the drums, 
 fifes, and timbals of the army of Narvaez never ceafed, having ftruck 
 up at day break in honor of Cortes, without being defired or fpoken to 
 by any one of us. One of them a Negro and a comical fellow, danced 
 and fhouted for joy, crying, " Where are the Romans who with - fuch 
 " fmall numbers have ever atchieved fuch a glorious victory?" Nor 
 was it poffible to filence him or the reft, until Cortes was at laft obli- 
 ged to order one of them to be confined. 
 
 Our loftes on each fide on this occafion were as follow. The en- 
 iign of Narvaez, named Fuertes, an Hidalgo of Seville. A captain, of 
 the fame army named Roxas, of Old Caftille, and two others killed, and 
 many wounded. One alfo of the three who had antecedently deferted 
 from us to him was killed. Four of our foldiers were killed, and a 
 number wounded. The fat Cacique on our approach had taken refuge 
 in the quarters of Narvaez ; he alfo received a wound : Cortes ordered 
 him to his houfe, and to be there protected and taken care of. Of the 
 two others who deferted from us, each got his deferts, Efcalona being 
 feverely wounded, and Cervantes well beaten. 
 
 As 
 Dd 2 
 
H 
 
 ( 20 4 > 
 
 As to the fierce Salvatierra, his foldiers declared that they never faw fo 
 pitiful a fellow, nor fo terrified a being when he heard our drum beat; 
 but when we fhouted for victory, and cryed that Narvaez was dead, he 
 told them that he had got a pain in his ftomach, and could fight no 
 more. Such was the refult of his bravados. Captain Velafquez de 
 Leon took his relation Diego Velafquez to his own quarters, where he- 
 had his wounds attended to, and treated him with the utmoft diftinc- 
 tion. 
 
 The reinforcement of the warriors of Chinanta, which Cortes had 
 been promifed, marched in fhortly after the action was over, conducted 
 by our foldier Barrientos, with great pomp and regularity, in two files, 
 lanciers and archers alternately, and in this manner they came to the num- 
 ber of one thoufand five hundred, with colours, drums, and trumpets, 
 fhouting, and making fuch a warlike appearance that it was glorious to 
 behold. It afforded matter of aftoniihment to the army of Narvaez, for 
 they appeared to be double their real number. Our general received 
 them with infinite courtefy, and difmiffed them with thanks and hand* 
 fome'prefents. 
 
 Cortes now fent Francifco de Lugo to order all the captains and 
 pilots of the fleet to come to him at Cempoal, or, in cafe they refufed, 
 to make them prifoners. He alfo gave directions that the (hips mould 
 be difmantled, thereby cutting off all pofTibility of a communication with 
 Cuba. Narvaez had confined one Barahona, a rich man, and after- 
 wards an inhabitant of Guatimala; him Cortes ordered to be immediate- 
 ly releafed, and kindly treated; I recollect when he joined us he appear- 
 ed in a very weak and languid ftate. The captains and pilots of the 
 fleet immediately came to pay their refpects to our general. He made 
 them take an oath that they would not feparate from him, and would 
 obey his orders; and he appointed one of them, Pedro Cavallero, his 
 admiral of the whole fleet. Cortes warned him, that if, as he expect- 
 ed, more veflels arrived from Cuba, he mould immediately difmantle 
 them, and fend the captains and pilots to the head quarters. 
 
 Having 
 
( 205 ) 
 
 Having thus fecurcd his port, he turned to other matters, and or- 
 dered Velafquez de Leon with one hundred and twenty men upon an 
 expedition to Panuco. One hundred of them were foldiers who had 
 come with Narvaez; the other twenty were taken from amongft our- 
 felves. This force was alfo to have two fhips with it, for the purpofe 
 of extending our difcoveries. He gave a command upon a fimilar plan 
 to Diego de Ordas, to eftablifh a colony at Guacacualco. Ordas was 
 alfo to fend to Jamaica for horfes and flock, to eftablim an independent 
 fupply in the country, the province he went to being well adapted for 
 breeding cattle. Cortes commanded all the prifoners to be releafed, ex- 
 cept Narvaez, and Salvatierra, who frill complained of the pain in his 
 ftomach. He alfo ordered all the horfes and arms which had been ta- 
 ken from the foldiers of Narvaez to be returned to them; this gave our* 
 people much difcontent, but fince the general would have it fo, we were. 
 obliged to fubmit, and I for my part, was obliged to furrender a good 
 horfe which I had put in a fafe place, with a faddle and bridle, two- 
 fwords, three poinards, and a fhield. Hereupon Captain Alonzo de 
 Avila, and alfo our Reverend Father Olmedo, took an opportunity of 
 fpeaking to Cortes, and told him that they believed he had a mind to 
 imitate Alexander of Macedon, who after his army had atchieved any 
 glorious action, was more generous to the vanquifhed, than to the con- 
 querors ; for that it was obferved, that, all the gold and valuable prefents, 
 as fail as he received them, he gave to the captains of the other army, 
 quite appearing to forget us, which was not well done on his part, we 
 having made him what he was. To this Cortes replied by protefting, 
 that he, and all he had w r as entirely at our fervice, and he would 
 prove it by his future conduct; but that what he did was unavoidable 
 for our common intereft, we being fo few, and the others fo many. 
 Avila in anfwer to this ufed fome expreffions of rather a lofty kind, up- 
 on which Cortes obferved, that whoever did not wifh to follow r him 
 might depart, that the women in CafHlle had bred good foldiers, and 
 would continue to do fo. Avila anfwered again in a ftill more bold and 
 imperious manner, and as Cortes could not at that time break with him, 
 he was forced to diilimulate, knowing him to be a brave and determi- 
 ned 
 

 ( 206 ) 
 
 ned man. He therefore pacified him with prefents, for he always ap- 
 prehended fome act of violence on his part, and for the future took care 
 to employ him on bufinefs of importance at a diftance, as in the Ifland 
 of St. Domingo, and afterwards in Old Spain. 
 
 Narvaez brought with him a Negro who was in the fmall pox; 
 an unfortunate importation for that country, for the difeafe fpread with 
 inconceivable rapidity, and the Indians died by thoufands; for not know- 
 ing the nature of it, they brought it to a fatal iiTue by throwing them- 
 felves into cold water in the heat of the diforder. Thus black was the 
 arrival of Narvaez, and blacker ftill the death of fuch multitudes of un- 
 fortunate fouls, which were fent into the other world, without having 
 an opportunity of being admitted into the bofom of our holy church. 
 At this time a claim was made on Cortes by fuch of our fojdiers as had 
 been in diflant garrifons, for their (hare of the gold taken in Mexico. 
 ■He, as well as I recoiled:, referred them to a place in Tlafcala, defiring 
 that two perfons might be fent thither to receive it. I will at a future 
 period relate what happened hereupon; but I mull at the prefent revert 
 to other things. 
 
 The wheel of fortune making fudden turns, evil follows clofely 
 upon good, as was our cafe at prefent, our late fucceffes being contraft- 
 ed by melancholy news from Mexico. We now received intelligence 
 by exprefs from that city, whereby we were informed, that an infurrec- 
 tion had broken out, and that Alvarado was befieged in his quarters, 
 which they had let on fire, having killed feven of his men, and wound- 
 ed many ; for which reafon he earneftly called called for fuccour and 
 fupport. When we received this news, God knows how it airlifted us! 
 We fet out by long marches for Mexico, leaving Narvaez and Salvati- 
 crra prifoners in Villa Rica, under the cuftody of Rodorigo Rangel, who 
 alfo had directions to collect all the ftragglers, and to take care of the in- 
 valids, of whom there were many. At the moment we were ready to 
 march, arrived four principal noblemen from the court of Montezuma, 
 to lodge a formal complaint againft Alvarado, for having afTaulted them 
 
 when 
 
( *°7 .) 
 
 when dancing at a folemn feftival in honor of their gods, which he 
 had permitted them to hold, whereby, in their own defence they had been 
 forced to kill feven of his foldiers. Cortes replied to them in terms not 
 the moft pleaflng, faying he would foon be at Mexico, and put all in 
 proper regulation; with which anfwer they returned, very little indeed 
 to the fatisfac"lion of Montezuma who felt the infult ftrongly, many of 
 the natives being killed. 
 
 In confequence of this intelligence, the detachments were counter- 
 manded, and Cortes exhorted the troops of Narvaez to forget pad: ani- 
 mofities, and not to lofe this opportunity of ferving his Majefty and 
 themfelves, expofing to their view the riches they would acquire, fo 
 that they one and all declared their readinefs to proceed to Mexico, a re- 
 folution they never would have taken, if they had known the force 
 of that city. By very long marches we arrived at Tlafcala, where we 
 learned that until the time that Montezuma and the Mexicans got in- 
 telligence of the defeat of Narvaez, they had never ceafed making attacks 
 upon Alvarado ; but when they heard of our fuccefs they defifted, leav- 
 ing the Spaniards greatly fatigued and diftxeiTed, by their continual ex- 
 ertions and want of water and provifions. This information was con- 
 veyed by two Indian meflengers who arrived at the moment we entered 
 Tlafcala. Here Cortes made an infpection of our army, which now 
 amounted to one thoufand three hundred men, nearly one hundred of 
 whom were cavalry, and one hundred and fixty were crofsbow-men and 
 mufqueteers. Two thoufand warriors of the Tlafcalans having joined 
 us, we purfued our route by long marches to Tefcuco, where we were 
 very ill received, and every thing bore the appearance of difafTection. 
 
 On St. John's day in the month of June one thoufand five hundred 
 and twenty, we arrived in the City of Mexico, meeting with a reception 
 very different from our former one, for none of the nobility or chiefs of 
 our acquaintance could be recognifed, and the city feemed to be totally 
 depopulated. When we entered our quarters, Montezuma came to em- 
 brace Cortes, and wifh him joy of his victory, but the general would 
 
 neither 
 

 ( 208 ) 
 
 neither hear, nor fpeak to him; whereon the King retired very melan- 
 choly, to his apartment. Cortes made inquiry into the circumftances 
 of the commotion, which evidently was not approved or inftigated by 
 Montezuma. Indeed if he had thought fit to act: againfr. our party, 
 they could all have been deftroyed, as eafily as leven of them. By what 
 Alvarado told Cortes it appeared, that a number of Indians, enraged at 
 the detention of Montezuma, at the erection of the crucifix in their tem- 
 ple, arid by the order of their gods as they faid, had gone thither to 
 pull it down, but to their infinite aftonifliment, found all their ftrength 
 utterly unable to move it. This being reprefented to Montezuma, he 
 defired no attempt of the kind mould be made again. Alvarado added 
 for his own exculpation, that the attack was made upon him by the 
 friends and fubjects of Montezuma, in order to liberate their monarch, 
 at the time that they believed Narvaez had deftroyed Cortes and his ar- 
 my. Cortes now afked Alvarado for what reafon he fell upon the Mex- 
 icans, while they were dancing and holding a feftival in honour of their 
 gods. To this Alvarado replied, that it was in order to be beforehand 
 with them, having had intelligence of their hoflile intentions againfr. 
 him from two of their own nobility and a prieft. Cortes then afked him 
 if it was true that they had requested permiflion of him to hold their fef- 
 tival, and the other hereupon replied that it was fo, and that it was in 
 order to take them by furprife, and to punifh and terrify them, fo as to 
 prevent their making war upon the Spaniards, that he had determined 
 to fall on them by anticipation. At hearing this avowal Cortes was 
 highly enraged ; he cenfured the conduct of Alvarado in the ftrongeft 
 terms, and in this temper left him. 
 
 Alvarado farther faid, that one time when he was attacked by the 
 Mexicans, he endeavoured to fire off one of his guns, and could not get the 
 priming to light; but fometime after, when they were in very great dan- 
 ger, and expected all to have been killed, the piece went off of itfelf, 
 and made fuch havock amongft the enemy that they were completely 
 driven back, and the Spaniards thus miraculouiTy faved. I heard feve- 
 ral other foldiers alfo mention this as a fact : it was alfo faid, by Alvara- 
 do 
 
( *°9 ) 
 
 do only, that when the garrifon was in great want of water, they fank 
 a pit in the court, and immediately a fpring of the fweetefl water broke 
 forth. I can declare, to my own knowledge, that there was a fpring 
 in the city which very frequently threw up water tolerably frefh. 
 Glory to God for all his mercies ! 
 
 Some fay that it was avarice tempted Alvarado to make this attack, 
 in order to pillage the Indians of the golden ornaments which they wore 
 at their feftival. I never heard any juft reafons for the afTertion, nor 
 do I believe any fuch thing, although it is fo reprefented by Fra Bar- 
 tholome de las Cafas ; but for my part I am convinced, that his inten- 
 tion in falling on them at that time was, in order to ftrike terror into 
 them, and prevent their infurrection, according to the faying, that, the 
 firft attack is half the battle. A very bad plan as appeared by the refult, 
 and it is certain, that after the affair at the temple, Montezuma did 
 moil: earneftly defire that they fhould not attack our people, but the 
 Mexicans were fo enraged that they could not be retrained . 
 • 
 
 Cortes during our march had expatiated to the new comers upon 
 the power and influence he poffeffed, and the refpecl with which he was 
 treated in Mexico, and had filled their minds and heightened their ex- 
 pectations, with promifes and golden hopes. When on his return there- 
 fore he experienced the coldnefs and negligence of his reception in Tez- 
 cuco, and equal appearances thereof in Mexico, he grew very peevifh 
 and irritable; and the officers of Montezuma coming to wait upon him, 
 exprefTing the wifh of their Sovereign to fee him, Cortes angrily ex- 
 claimed, u Away with him! The dog! why does he neglect to fupply 
 V us." When the captains De Leon, De Oli, and De Lugo, heard this 
 expreffion, they intreated him to be moderate, and reminded him of the 
 former kindnefs and generofity of the King. But this feemed to irritate 
 Cortes the more, confidering it a kind of cenfure, and he indignantly 
 faid, " What compliment am I under to a dog who treated fecretly with 
 *'. Narvaez, and as we fee neglects to fend provifions?" This the cap- 
 tains admitted ought to be done; and Cortes, confident in the great rein- 
 
 E e forcement 
 

 
 ( 2IO ) 
 
 forcemcnt of numbers he had obtained, continued a haughty demeanour. 
 He in this manner now addreffed the noblemen fent to him by Mon- 
 tezuma, bidding them tell their mafter, immediately to caufe markets 
 to be held and pro virions fupplied, and to beware of the confequences 
 of neglect. Thefe lords very well underftood the purport of the inju- 
 rious exprefTions which he had ufed, and on their return informed the 
 King of what had paffed. Whether it was from rage at the itory told 
 by them, or the confequence of a preconcerted plan to fall upon us, with- 
 in a quarter of an hour after, a foldier entered our quarters, wounded 
 dangeroufly, and in great hurry, and told us that the whole people were 
 in arms. This man had been fent by Cortes to bring to our quarters 
 fome Indian ladies, and amongft them the daughter of Montezuma, 
 whom Cortes, when he marched againit Narvaez, had left in the care 
 of their relation the Prince of Tacuba. He was on his return with them 
 when he was attacked by the people who were arTembled in great num- 
 bers, had broken a bridge upon the caufeway of Tacuba, and had once 
 had him in their hands and were hurrying him into a canoe to carry 
 him off for facrifice, but that he extricated himfelf from them, with two 
 dangerous wounds. 
 
 Cortes immediately on receiving the intelligence ordered out a par- 
 ty of four hundred men, under the command of Captain de Ordaz, to 
 go and fee what foundation there was for the account given by the fol- 
 dier, and to endeavor if poiTible to pacify the minds of the people. De 
 Ordaz had hardly proceeded the length of half a ftreet, when he was 
 attacked by immcnfe numbers of Mexicans in the ftreets, and on the 
 terraces of the houfes, who by their firft difcharge killed eight foldiers 
 on the fpot, wounded molt of the reft, and De Ordaz himfelf in three 
 places. Finding it therefore impoflible to proceed, he retreated flowly to 
 our quarters, in doing which he loft another good foldier named Lez- 
 cano, who with a two handed fword had performed many feats of great 
 force and valour. Our quarters had been attacked by multitudes at the 
 fame moment; they poured in fuch difcharges of miflile weapons upon 
 us there that they immediately wounded upwards of forty fix, twelve of 
 
 whom 
 
( 2" ) 
 
 whom afterwards died. The ftreets were fo crowded, that De Ordas 
 when he endeavored to reach us could not proceed, and was inceffantly 
 attacked in front, in rear, and from the roofs of the houfes. Neither 
 our fire arms, nor our good fighting could prevent the enemy from clo- 
 fing in upon us for a length of time; however De Ordaz at laft forced 
 his way back, with the lofs of twenty three men. The enemy (till con- 
 tinued their attacks, but all we had hitherto fuffered was nothing to that 
 which fucceeded. They fet fire to various parts of the buildings which 
 we occupied, thinking to burn us alive, or flifle us with the fmoke; 
 and we were obliged to flop it by tearing down the building, or by 
 throwing earth upon it. All the courts and open fpaces of our quar- 
 ters were covered with their arrows and rniflile weapons, and in repellin°- 
 their attacks, repairing the breaches which they had made in the walls, 
 dreffing our wounds, and preparing for enfuing engagements, we patted 
 that day and night. 
 
 As foon as the next morning dawned we {allied out with our whole 
 force upon the enemy, being determined if we could not conquer, to 
 make them fear us. The Mexicans came to meet us with their whole 
 force, and both parties fought defperately; but as the numbers of our 
 opponents were fo immenfe, and as they conflantly brought up frefh 
 troops, even if we had been ten thoufand Hectors of Troy, and as ma- 
 ny Roldans, we could not have beaten them off; nor can I give any idea 
 of the defperation of this battle; for though in every charge we made 
 upon them we brought down thirty and even forty, it was of no avail; 
 they came on even with more fpirit than at firft, nor could we, by our 
 cannon or fire arms, make any impreflion on them. If at any time they 
 appeared to give ground it was only to draw us from our quarters, in 
 order to enfure our deftru&ion. Then the ftones and darts thrown on us 
 from the terraces of the houfes were intolerable. But I defcribe it faint- 
 ly ; for fome of our foldiers who had been in Italy fwore, that neither 
 amongft Chriftians nor Turks, nor the artillery of the King of France, 
 had they ever feen fuch defperation as was manifefled in the attacks of 
 thofe Indians. We were at length forced to retreat to our quarters, 
 which we reached with great difficulty. 
 
 Ee 2, On 
 

 ( 212 ) 
 
 On this day we loft ten or twelve foldiers, and all of us who came 
 back were feverely wounded. From the period of our return we were 
 occupied in making preparation for a general fally on the next day but 
 one, with four military machines conftr lifted of very ftrong timber, in. 
 the form of towers, and each capable of containing twenty five men un- 
 der cover, with port holes for the artillery and alfo for the mufquetiers 
 and crofsbow-men. This work occupied us for the fpace of one day, 
 except that we were obliged likewife to repair the breaches made in our 
 walls, and refift thofe who attempted to fcale them in twenty different 
 places at the fame time. They continued their reviling language faying, 
 that the voracious animals of their temples had now been kept two days 
 failing, in order to devour us at the period which was fpeedily approach- 
 ing, when they were to facrifice us to their gods; that our allies were 
 to be put up in cages to fatten, and that they would foon repoflefs our 
 ill acquired treafure. At other times they plaintively called to us to give 
 them their king, and during the night we were conftantly annoyed by 
 fhowers of arrows, which they accompanied with fhouts and whift- 
 lings. 
 
 At day break on the enfuing morning, after recommending our- 
 felves to God, we fallied out with our turrets, which as well as I recol- 
 lect were called burros or mantas, in other places where I have feen 
 them, with fome of our mufquetry and crofs-bows in front, and our 
 cavalry occasionally charging. The enemy this day fhewed themfelves 
 more determined than ever, and we were equally refolved to force our 
 way to the great temple, although it fhould coft the life of every man 
 of us; we therefore advanced with our turrets in that direction. I will 
 not detail the defperate battle which we had with the enemy in a very 
 ftrong houfe, nor how their arrows wounded our horfes, notwithstand- 
 ing their armour, and if at any time the horfemen attempted to purfue 
 the Mexicans, the latter threw themfelves into the canals, and others 
 fallied out upon our people and maffacred them with large lances. 
 
 As to fetting fire to the buildings, or tearing them down, it was 
 
 utterly 
 
( 2^3 ) 
 
 utterly in vain to attempt ; they all flood in the water, and only com- 
 municating by draw bridges, it was too dangerous to attempt to reach 
 them by fwimming, for they fhowered ftones from their flings, and 
 mafTes of cut flone taken from the buildings, upon our heads, from the 
 terraces of the houfes. Whenever we attempted to fet fire to a houfe, 
 it was an entire day before it took effect, and when it did, the flames 
 could not fpread to others, as they were feparated from it by the water, 
 and alfo becaufe the roofs of them were terraced. 
 
 We at length arrived at the great temple, and immediately and in- 
 flantly, above four thoufand Mexicans rufhed up into it, without in- 
 cluding in that number other bodies who occupied it before, and defend- 
 ed it againft us with lances, ftones, and darts. They thus prevented 
 our afcending for fome time, neither turrets, nor mufquetry, nor cavalry 
 availing, for although the latter body feveral times attempted to charge, 
 the flone pavement of the courts of the temple was fo fmooth, that the 
 horfes could not keep their feet, and fell. From the fteps of the great 
 temple they oppofed us in front, and we were attacked by fuch num- 
 bers on both fides, that although our guns fwept off ten or fifteen of 
 them at each difcharge, and that in each attack of our infantry we kil- 
 led many with our fwords, their numbers were fuch that we could not 
 make any effectual impreflion, or afcend the fleps. We were then for- 
 ced to abandon our turrets, which the enemy had deflroyed, and with 
 great concert, making an effort without them, we forced our way up. 
 Here Cortes fhewed himfelf the man that he really was. What a defpe- 
 rate engagement we then had ! every man of us was covered with blood, 
 and above forty dead upon the fpot. It was Gods will that we fhould 
 at length reach the place where we had put up the image of our Lady, 
 but when we came there it was not to be found, and it feems that Mon- 
 tezuma, actuated either by fear or by devotion, had caufed it to be re- 
 moved. We fet fire to the building, and burned a part of the temple of 
 the gods Huitzilopochtli and Tezcatepuco. Here our Tlafcalan allies 
 ferved us elTentially. While thus engaged, fome fetting the temple on 
 fire, others fighting, above three thoufand noble Mexicans with their 
 
 priefls 
 

 ( 214 ) 
 
 prieits were about us, and attacking us, drove us down fix and even 
 ten of the Heps, while others who were in the corridores, or within fide 
 the railings and concavities of the great temple, (hot fuch clouds of ar- 
 rows at us that we could not maintain our ground, when thus attacked 
 from every part. We therefore began our retreat, every man of us be- 
 ing wounded, and forty fix left dead upon the fpot. We were purfued 
 with a violence and defperation which is not in my power to defcribe, 
 nor in that of any one to form an idea of who did not fee it. During 
 all this timealfo other bodies of the Mexicans had been continually attack- 
 ing our quarters, and endeavoring to fet fire to them. In this battle, we 
 made prifoners two of the principal priefts. I have often feen this en- 
 gagement reprefented in the paintings of the natives, both of Mexico 
 and Tlafcala, and our afcent into the great temple. In thefe our party 
 is reprefented with many dead, and all wounded. The fetting fire to the 
 .temple when fo many warriors were defending it in the corridores, rail- 
 ings, and concavities, and other bodies of them on the plain ground, and 
 filling the courts, and on the fides, and our turrets demolifhed, is con- 
 fidered by them as a moil heroic action. 
 
 With pteat difficultv we reached our auarters. which we found 
 the enemy almoft in polTelTion of, as they had beaten down a part of 
 the walls ; but they defifted in a great meafure from their attacks on our 
 arrival, mil throwing in upon us however fhowers of arrows, darts, and 
 .ftones. The night was employed by us in repairing the breaches, in 
 drefiing our wounds, burying our dead, and confulting upon our future 
 meafures. No gleam of hope could be now rationally formed by us, 
 and we were utterly funk in defpair. Thofe who had come with Nar- 
 vaez fhowered maledictions upon Cortes, nor did they forget Velafquez 
 by whom they had been induced to quit their comfortable and peaceable 
 habitations in the ifland of Cuba. It was determined to try if we could 
 not procure from the enemy a celTation of hoftilities, on condition of our 
 quitting the city ; but at day break they alTembled round our quarters 
 and attacked them with greater fury than ever, nor could our fire arms 
 repel them ; although they did confiderable execution. 
 
 Cortes 
 
( *>5 ) 
 
 Cortes perceiving how defperate our fituation was, determined 
 that Montezuma fhould addrefs his fubjects from a terrace, and defire 
 them to defifr. from their attacks, with an offer from us to evacuate 
 Mexico. He accordingly fent to the King to defire him to do fo. 
 When this was made known to Montezuma, he burfr. out into violent 
 expreffions of grief faying, " What does he want of me now? I neither 
 " defire to hear him, nor to live any longer, fince my unhappy fate 
 " has reduced me to this fituation on his account/' He therefore dif- 
 miffed thofe fent to him with a refufal, adding as it is faid, that he 
 wifhed not to be troubled any more with the falfe words and promifes 
 of Cortes. Upon this the Reverend Father Fray Bartholome and Chrif- 
 toval de Oli went to him, and addreffed him with the mofr. affectionate 
 and perfuafive language, to induce him to appear, to which he repli- 
 ed, that he did not believe that his doing fo would be of any avail, that 
 the people had already elected another fovereign, and were determined 
 never to permit one of us to quit the city alive. The enemy continued 
 their attacks, and Montezuma was at length perfuaded. He accord- 
 ingly came, and flood at the railing of a terraced roof, attended by many 
 of our foldiers, and addreffed the people below him, requeuing, in very 
 afte&ionatc language, a ceffation of hoftilities, in order that we might 
 quit the city. The chiefs and nobility, as foon as they perceived him 
 coming forward, called to their troops to defift and be filent, and four 
 of them approached, fo as to be heard and fpoken to by Montezuma. 
 They then addreffed him, lamenting the misfortunes of him, his chil- 
 dren, and family, and alfo told him that they had raifed Coadlavaca 
 Prince of Iztapalapa to the throne, adding, that the war was drawing to 
 a conclufion, and that they had prom i fed to their gods never to defift 
 but with the total destruction of the Spaniards; that they every day 
 offered up prayers for his perfonal fafety, and as foon as they had refcu- 
 cd him out of our hands, they would venerate him as before, and truft- 
 ed that he would pardon them. 
 
 As they concluded their addrefs, a fhower of arrows and flones fell 
 about the fpot where Montezuma flood, from which the Spaniards, in- 
 
 terpofing 
 

 ( 2.6 ) 
 
 terpofing their bucklers, protected the King; but expecting that while 
 fpeaking to his people they would not make another attack, they un- 
 guarded him for an inftant, and jufr. then three Hones and an arrow 
 Struck him in the head, arm, and leg. 
 
 The King when thus wounded refufed all affiitance, and we were- 
 unexpectedly informed of his death. Cortes and our captains wept for 
 him, and he was lamented by them and all the foldiers who had known 
 him, as if he had been their father; nor is it to be wondered at, con- 
 sidering how good he was. It was faid that he had reigned feventeen 
 years, and that he was the belt King Mexico had ever been governed 
 by. It was alfo faid that he had fought and conquered in three occa- 
 sions that he had been defied to the field, in the progrefs of fubjugating 
 different ftates to his dominion. 
 
 All the endeavors of our Reverend Father Fray Bartholome, could 
 not prevail on the King to embrace our faith, when he was told that 
 his wounds were mortal, nor could he be induced to have them attended 
 to. After the death of Montezuma, Cortes fent two prifoners, a noble- 
 man and a nriefiV to inform the new fovereign, Coadlavaca, and his 
 chiefs, of the event, and how it had happened by the hands of his own 
 iubjects. He directed them to exprefs our grief on the occafion, and 
 our wifh that he mould be interred with the refpect due to fo great a 
 monarch. Cortes farther Signified to them, that he did not admit or 
 acknowledge the right of the fovereign that they had chofen, but that the 
 throne mould be filled either by a fon of the great Montezuma, or his 
 coufin who was with us in our quarters. Alfo, that we defired unmo- 
 lefted egrefs from the city, on condition of our committing no more acts 
 of hoftility by fire or fword. Cortes then caufed the body of the King 
 to be borne out by fix noblemen, attended by moil of the priefts whom 
 we had taken prifoners, and expofed it to public view. He alfo defired 
 them to obey the laffc injunctions of Montezuma, and to deliver his 
 body to the Mexican chiefs. Thefe noblemen accordingly related the 
 circumftances of the King's death to Coadlavaca, and we could hear 
 
 the 
 
( **7 ) 
 
 the exclamations of forrow which the people expreffed at the fight of 
 his body. They now attacked us in our quarters with the greateft vio- 
 lence, and threatened us that within the fpace of two days we (hould 
 pay with our lives the death of their king, and the difhonor of their 
 gods, faying that they had chofen a fovereign whom we could not de- 
 ceive, as we had done the good Montezuma. 
 
 In confequence of the fituation to which we were reduced, Cortes 
 determined to make on the enfuing day another fally, and to march 
 towards that part of the city which contained many houfes built on the 
 firm ground, there to do all the injury we could, and that our cavalry 
 taking advantage of the caufeway, mould ride the enemy down ; which 
 he hoped would make them tired of hoftility, and induce them to come 
 into terms. We accordingly made our fally, and proceeded to that part 
 of the city, where, notwithfhmding the refinance and incelTant attacks 
 of the enemy, we burned about twenty houfes, approaching very near 
 the firm ground; but whatever injury we did them was dearly paid for 
 by the lofs of twenty foldiers killed, nor could we get pofleffion of a 
 fingle bridge, all of them being partly broken, and the enemy had alfo 
 made barricades and parapets to obftruct the cavalry, in every part where 
 they expected to be able to act. Thus our difficulties and troubles in- 
 creafed upon us. This fally I recollect took place on a thurfday; San- 
 doval and many other good cavalry men were prefent at it; but thofe of 
 Narvaez not being ufed to fervice, were timorous in comparifon to our 
 veterans. 
 
 As our numbers diminifhed every day, whilfl thofe of the enemy 
 increafed, as alfo did the fury of their attacks, at the fame time that we 
 from our wounds were lefs able to make refinance; our powder being 
 almoft exhaufted, our provifions and water intercepted, our friend the 
 good Montezuma dead, and our propofals for peace rejected, the bridg- 
 es by which we were to retreat broken down, and in fine, death before 
 our eyes in every direction, it was determined by Cortes and all of the 
 officers and foldiers, to quit the city during the night, as we hoped at 
 
 Ff that 
 

 ■ ( *I8 ) 
 
 that time to find the enemy kfs alert. In order to put them the more 
 off their guard, we fent a meflage by a chief prieft, informing them, 
 that if we were permitted to quit the city unmolefted within the fpace 
 of eight days, we would furrendcr all the gold which was in our pof- 
 fefTion. 
 
 There was with us a foldier named Botello, of refpectable demean- 
 our, who fpoke latin, had been at Rome, and was faid to be a necro- 
 mancer; fome faid he had a familiar, and others called him an aftrolo- 
 ger. This Botello had difcovered by his figures and aftrologies, and had 
 predicted four days before, that if we did not quit Mexico on this night, 
 not one of us mould ever go out of it alive. He had alfo foretold that 
 Cortes mould undergo great revolutions of fortune, be deprived of his 
 property, and honours, and afterwards rife to a greater ftate than ever; 
 with many other things of this kind, 
 
 Orders were now given to make a portable bridge of very ftrong 
 timber, to be thrown over the canals where the enemy had broken down 
 the bridges, and for conveying, guarding, and placing this, were af- 
 figned, one hundred and fifty of our foldiers and four hundred of the 
 allies. The advanced guard was compofed of Sandoval, Azevido el Pu- 
 lido, F. deLugo, D. de Ordas, A. deTapia, and eight more captains 
 of thofe who came with Narvaez, having under them one hundred 
 picked foldiers, of the youngeft and moil: active. The rear guard was 
 compofed of one hundred foldiers, moftly thofe of Narvaez, and many 
 cavalry, under the command of Alvarado and Velafquez de Leon. The 
 prifoners, with Donna Marina and Donna Luifa, were put under the 
 care of thirty foldiers and three hundred Tlafcalans; and Cortes, with 
 fi. de Avila, C. de OH, Bernardino Vafquez de Tapk and other offi- 
 cers, with fifty foldiers, compofed a referve, to aft wherever occafion 
 mould require. 
 
 By the time that all this was arranged night drew on. Cortes then 
 ordered all the gold which was in his apartment to be brought to the 
 
 great 
 
( 219 ) 
 
 great faloon, which being done, he defired the officers of his Majefly, 
 A. de Avila and Gonzalo Mexia, to take his Majefty's due, in their 
 charge, afiigning to them for the conveyance of it eight lame or wound- 
 ed horfes, and upwards of eighty Tlafcalans. Upon thefe were loaded 
 as much as they could carry of the gold which had been run into large 
 bars, and much more remained heaped up in the faloon. Cortes then 
 called to his fecretary Hernandez and other royal notaries and faid, 
 M Bear witnefs that I can be no longer refponfible for this gold; here is 
 *' to the value of above fix hundred thoufand crowns, I can fecure no 
 *' more than what is already packed; let every foldier take what he will, 
 " better fo than that it mould remain for thofe dogs of Mexicans." As 
 foon as he had faid this, many foldiers of thofe of Narvaez, and alfo 
 fome of ours fell to work, and loaded themfelves with treafure. £ never 
 was avaricious, and now thought more of faving my life which was in 
 much danger; however when the opportunity thus offered, I did not 
 omit feizing out of a cafket, four calchihuis, thofe precious ftones fo 
 highly efteemed amongft the Indians ; and although Cortes ordered the 
 cafket and its contents to be taken care of by his major domo, I lucki- 
 ly fecured thefe jewels in time, and afterwards found them of infinite 
 advantage as a refource againft famine. 
 
 A little before midnight the detachment which took charge of the 
 portable bridge fet out upon its march, and arriving at the firft canal or 
 aperture of water, it was thrown acrofs. The night was dark and mif- 
 ty y and it began to rain. The bridge being fixed, the baggage, artillery, 
 and fome of the cavalry palTed over it, as alfo the Tlafcalans with the 
 gold. Sandoval and thofe with him paffed, alfo Cortes and his party 
 after the firft, and many other foldiers. At this moment the trumpets 
 and fhouts of the enemy were heard, and the alarm was given by them, 
 crying out, " Taltelulco, Taltelulco, out with your canoes ! the Teules 
 •f are going, attack them at the bridges. " In an inflant the enemy 
 were upon us by land, and the lake and canals were covered with canoes. 
 They immediately flew to the bridges, and fell on us there, fo that they 
 mtirely intercepted our line of march. As misfortunes do not come 
 
 Ff 2 fingle, 
 

 WES?. 
 
 nHIWHel W4*fe< ■ 
 
 ( 22Q ) 
 
 i ingle, it alfo rained (o heavily that Tome of the horfes were terrify ed, 
 and growing reftive fell into the wate r, and the bridge was broken in at 
 the fame time. The enemy attacked us here now with redoubled 
 fury, and our foldiers making a (tout refiftance, the aperture of water 
 was foon filled with the dead and dying men, and horfes, and thofe who 
 were ftruggling to efcape, all heaped together, with artillery, packs, and 
 bales of baggage, and thofe who carried them. Many were drowned 
 here, and many put into the canoes and carried off for facrifice. It was 
 dreadful to hear the cries of the unfortunate fufrerers, calling for ailif- 
 tance and invoking the Holy Virgin or St. Jago, while others who 
 efcaped by fwimming, or by clambering upon the chefts, bales of bag- 
 gage, and dead bodies, earneftly begged for help to get up to the caufe- 
 way. Many who on their reaching the ground thought themfelves fafe, 
 were there feized or knocked in the head with clubs. 
 
 Away went whatever regularity had been in the march at firft ; for 
 Cortes and the captains and foldiers who were mounted clapt fpurs to 
 their horfes and gallopped off, along the caufeway ; nor can I blame 
 them, for the cavalry could do nothing againfr. the enemy, of any effect; 
 for when they attacked them, the latter threw themfelves into the wa- 
 ter on each fide the caufeway, and others from the houfes with arrows, or 
 on the ground with large lances, killed the horfes. It is evident we could 
 make no battle with them in the water, and without powder, and in the 
 night, what elfe could we do than what we did; which was, to join 
 in bodies of thirty or forty foldiers, and when the Indians clofed upon 
 us, to drive them off with a few cuts and thrufts of our fwords, and then 
 hurry on, to get over the caufeway as foon as we could. As to waiting 
 for one another, that would have loft us all ; and had it happened in 
 the day time, things would have been even worfe with us. The efcape 
 of fuch as were fortunate enough to efFecT: it, was owing to Gods mer- 
 cy, who gave us force to do fo; for the very fight of the number of the 
 enemy who furrounded us, and carried off our companions in their ca- 
 noes to facrifice, was terrible. About fifty of us, foldiers of Cortes, 
 and fome of thofe of Narvaez> went together in a body, by the caufe- 
 way; 
 
( 221 ) 
 
 way; every now and then parties of Indians came up, calling us Lut- 
 lones, a term of reproach, and attempting to feize us, and we, when 
 they came within our reach, facing about, repelling them with a few 
 thrufts of our fwords, and then hurrying on. Thus we proceeded, un- 
 til we reached the firm ground near Tacuba, where Cortes, Sandoval, 
 De Oli, Salcedo, Dominguez, Lares, and others of the cavalry, with 
 fuch of the infantry foldiers as had crofled the bridge before it was de- 
 ftroyed, were already arrived. When we came near them, we heard the 
 voices of Sandoval, De Oli, and De Morla, calling to Cortes who was 
 riding at their head, that he mould turn about, and aflift thofe who 
 were coming along the caufevvay, and who complained that he had 
 abandoned them. Cortes replied that thofe who had efcaped owed it to 
 a miracle, and if they returned to the bridges all would lofe their lives. 
 Notwithstanding, he, with ten or twelve of the cavalry and fome of the 
 infantry who had efcaped unhurt countermarched, and proceeded along 
 the caufeway; they- had gone however but a very fhort diftance when 
 they met P. de Alvarado with his lance in his hand, badly wounded, 
 and on foot, for his chefnut mare had been killed; he had with him 
 three of our foldiers, and four of thofe of Narvaez, all badly wounded, 
 and eight Tlafcalans covered with blood. While Cortes proceeded along 
 the caufeway, we repofed in the enclofed courts hard by Tacuba. Mef* 
 fengers had already been fent out from the city of Mexico, to call the 
 people of Tacuba, Ezcapuzalco, and Teneyuca together, in order to in- 
 tercept us. In confequence they now began to furround and harrafs us 
 with arrows, and ftones, and to attack us with lances headed with 
 the fwords which had fallen into their hands on the preceding night. 
 We made fome attacks upon them, and defended ourfelves as well as 
 we could. 
 
 To revert to Cortes and his companions, when they learned from Al- 
 varado that they were not to expect to fee any more of our foldiers, the 
 tears ran from their eyes, for Alvarado had with him in the rear guard, 
 Velafquez de Leon, with above twenty more of the cavalry, and up- 
 wards of one hundred infantry. On enquiry Cortes was told that they 
 
 were 
 

 ( 223 ) 
 
 were all dead, to the number of one hundred and fifty and more. Al- 
 varado alfo told them that after the horfes had been killed, about eighty 
 artembled in a body and parted the firfr. aperture, upon the dead bodies 
 and heaps of luggage; I do not perfectly recollect if he faid that he paf- 
 fed upon the dead bodies, for we were more attentive to what he related 
 to Cortes of the deaths of J. Velafquez and above two hundred more 
 companions, thofe of Narvaez included, who were with him, and who 
 were killed at that canal. He alfo faid that at the other bridge God's 
 mercy faved them, and that the whole of the caufeway was full of the 
 enemy. 
 
 As to that fatal bridge which is called the leap of Alvarado, I fay 
 that no foldier thought of looking whether he leaped, much or little, 
 for we had enough to do to fave our own lives. It mull: however have 
 been as he ftated when he met Cortes, that he parted it upon the dead 
 bodies and baggage, for if he had attempted to furtain himfelf upon his 
 lance, the water would have been too deep for him to have reached the 
 bottom of it; and the aperture was too wide, and the fides too high for 
 him to have leaped, let him have been ever fo active. For my part 
 I aver that he could not have leaped it in any manner, for in about a year 
 after, when we inverted Mexico, I w r as engaged with the enemy on 
 that which is now called the bridge of the leap of Alvarado, for they 
 had there made breartworks and barricades ; and we many times conver- 
 fed upon the fubject at the fpot, and all of us agreed that it could not 
 have happened. But as fome will infift upon the reality of it I repeat it 
 again, it could not have been done, and let thofe who wifh to afcertain 
 it view the place; the bridge is there, and the depth of the water will 
 prove no lance could reach to the bottom. There was in Mexico after- 
 wards one Ocampo, a foldier who came with Garay, a prating fellow 
 and very fcurrilous, amufing himfelf with making defamatory libels. 
 Many of thofe he made upon our captains, too bad to be repeated. He 
 faid of Alvarado, that he left his companion Velafquez and two hundred 
 more, and that fear made him give that great fpring, for that as the fay- 
 ing goes, he leaped for his life. 
 
 As 
 
( «*3 ) 
 
 As our captains found from the information of Alvarado that they 
 were not to expecl: any more of our companions, for that the caufeway 
 was full of warriors of the enemy, and if any had hitherto efcaped they 
 muft now be intercepted, as we alfo found that all the people of thofe 
 countries were preparing to attack us in Tacuba, it was determined un- 
 der the guidance of fix or feven of our allies well acquainted with the 
 country, to endeavor to reach Tlafcala. Accordingly we fet out, and 
 proceeding by an indirect road came to fome houfes hard by a temple 
 on a hill. During our march we were harrafled by the enemy, who 
 threw ftones and fhot their arrows at us. I fear to tire the reader with 
 the prolixity of thofe repeated details, but I am compelled to relate what 
 was of fuch defpe»rate confequence to us, for many of us were in this 
 manner killed. Here we defended ourfelves, and took what care we 
 coula 1 of our wounds. As to provisions, we had none. 
 
 After the conquer!: of Mexico, a church was founded on the fcite 
 of this temple, and dedicated to Nueftra Senora de los Remedios, and 
 thither many ladies and inhabitants of Mexico go in procefiion, and to 
 pay the nine days devotions. 
 
 Our wounds, having taken cold and being only bound with rags, 
 were now in a mifcrable Situation, and very painful; we had alfo to de- 
 plore the lofs of many valiant companions. As for thofe of Narvaez, 
 molt of them perifhed in the water, loaded with gold. Numbers of 
 Tlafcalans alfo loft their lives in the fame manner. Poor Botello too ! 
 the aftrologer ! his ftars bore an evil afpeft for he was killed with the 
 reft. The fons of Montezuma, Cacamatzin, and all the other prifo- 
 ners, amongft whom were fome princes, loft their lives on this fatal 
 night. All our artillery was loft, we had very few crofs-bows, only 
 twenty three horfes, and our future profpedt was very melancholy, from 
 our uncertainty as to the reception we might meet in Tlafcala, which 
 was our only refource. 
 
 Having drefled our wounds and made arrows for our crofs-bows, 
 
 and 
 

 
 ( *H ) 
 
 and being inceflantly harraffed in our prefent poft, we proceeded at mid- 
 night upon our journey, under the guidance of our faithful Tlafcalans, 
 Thofe who were very badly wounded we carried between us; the lame 
 were fupported upon crutches, and fome who were utterly unable to help 
 themfelves on, were placed upon the croups of lame horfes. Thus, 
 w r ith what cavalry we had able to act, in front and on the flanks, and 
 as many of the infantry as were fit to bear arms making head to the 
 enemy, we proceeded on our march, our wounded Spaniards and allies 
 in the centre, the reft opposing the enemy, who continued to follow, 
 harrafs, and revile us, faying we were now going to meet our deduc- 
 tion. Words which we did not at that time underftand. 
 
 I have hitherto forgotten to mention the fatisfaction we had, in 
 feeing Donna Marina and Donna Luifa rejoin us. Having crofted the 
 bridge amongft the firft, they had been faved by the exertions of two 
 of the brothers of Donna Luifa, all the reft of the female Indians hav- 
 ing been loft there. On this day we arrived at a great town named Gu- 
 altitlan, from whence we continued our march, harraffed by the enemy, 
 whofe numbers and boldnefs increafed, infomuch that they killed two 
 of our lame foldiers and one horfe in a bad pafs, wounding many more. 
 Having repulfed them, we proceeded until we arrived at fome villages, 
 and halting there for the night, we made our fupper on the horfe which 
 had been killed. On the next morning we fet out very early, and hav- 
 ing proceeded little more than a league, juft as we began to think our- 
 felves in fafety, three of our vedettes came in with a report that the 
 whole plains were covered with the armies of the enemy. This intelli- 
 gence was truly frightful and we felt it as fuch, but not fo as to prevent 
 our determination to conquer or die, or our arranging all matters to the 
 beft effect for action. 
 
 A halt being made, orders were given to the cavalry, that they 
 fhould charge at half fpeed, not flopping to make thrufts, but pointing 
 the lances at the faces of the enemy, until they were put to flight; the 
 infantry were warned to thruft with their fwords, and to pafs them 
 
 clear 
 
( SW£ ) 
 
 clear through the bodies of their opponents, fo that at worit we mould 
 fell our lives dearly, and this being done, as we faw that the enemy be- 
 gan to furround us, after recommending ourfelves to God and the Holy 
 Virgin, and invoking the aid of St. Jago, the eavalry formed in bodies 
 of fives, and the infantry in concert with them, proceeded to the 
 attack. 
 
 Oh what it was to fee this tremendous battle ! how we clofed foot 
 to foot, and with what fury the dogs fought us ! fuch wounding as 
 there was amongft us with their lances and clubs and two handed fwords, 
 while our cavalry, favoured by the plain ground, rode through them at 
 will, galloping at half fpeed, and bearing down their opponents with 
 couched lances, ftill righting manfully, though they and their horfes 
 were all wounded ; and we of the infantry, negligent of our former 
 hurts, and of thofc which we now received, clofed with the enemy, 
 redoubling our efforts to bear them down with Our fwords. 
 
 Cortes, De Oli, Alvarado mounted on a horfe of one of the fol- 
 diers of Narvaez, and Sandoval, though all wounded, continued to ride 
 through them. Cortes now called out to us to ftrike at the chiefs; for 
 they were diitinguifhed by great plumes of feathers, golden ornaments, 
 richly wrought arms, <#nd devices. 
 
 Then to hear the valiant Sandoval, how he encouraged us crying 
 out, "Now gentlemen is the day of victory; put your truft in God, 
 " we mall furvive for he preferves us for fome good purpofe." All 
 the foldiers felt determined to conquer, and thus animated as we were 
 by our Lord Jefus Chrift, and our lady the Virgin Mary, as alfo by St. 
 Jago who undoubtedly affifted us, as certified by a chief of Gua- 
 timotzin who was prefent in the battle, we continued, notwithstanding 
 many had received wounds and fome of our companions were killed, to 
 maintain our ground. 
 
 It was the will of God, that Cortes, accompanied by the captains 
 
( 2*6 ) 
 
 De Oli, Sandoval, Alvarado, and feveral others, mould reach that part 
 of the army of the enemy which was the poft of their general in chief, 
 who was diftinguifhed by a ftandard, arms covered with gold, and a 
 great penache ornamented in the fame manner. As foon as Cortes per- 
 ceived the chief who bore the ftandard, and who was furrounded by 
 many others bearing alfo great penaches of gold, he cried out to Alva- 
 rado, Sandoval, De Oli, Avila, and the reft, "Now gentlemen, let 
 " us charge them." Then, recommending themfelves to God, they 
 rode into the thickeft of them, and Cortes with his horfe ftruck the 
 Mexican chief, and threw down the ftandard ; the cavaliers who fup- 
 ported him at the lame moment effectually breaking this numerous 
 body. The chief who bore the ftandard, not having fallen, in the 
 charge made upon him by Cortes, Juan de Salamanca, mounted on his 
 good pyed mare, purfued him, and having killed him, feized the rich 
 penache which he bore, and prefented it to Cortes, faying, that as he 
 had given the Mexican general the flrft blow, and ftruck down his ftan- 
 dard, the trophy of the conqucft was due to him. 
 
 It was God's will, that, on the death of their general, and of many 
 other chiefs who furrounded him being known, the enemy mould re- 
 lax in their efforts, and begin to retreat. As foon as this was perceived 
 by us, we forgot our hunger, thirft, fatigue, and wounds, and thought 
 of nothing but victory, and purfuit. Our cavalry followed them up 
 clofe, and our allies, now become lions, mowed down all before them 
 with the arms which the enemy threw away in their flight. 
 
 As foon as our cavalry returned from the purfuit, we all gave 
 thanks to God, for never had there appeared fo great a force together in 
 that country, being the whole of the warriors of Mexico, Tezcuco, 
 and Saltocan, all determined not to leave a trace of us upon the earth. 
 The whole nobility of thefe nations were aflembled, magnificently 
 armed, and adorned with gold, penaches, and devices. This battle 
 was fought near a place named Obtumba. I have frequently feen it 
 repreiented in paintings amongft the Mexicans, in the fame manner as 
 
 I have 
 
( 227 ) 
 
 I have the other battles fought by us antecedently to the final conquefl. 
 I muft now recall to the readers recollection, that our entry into Mex- 
 ico to relieve Alvarado was on the day of St. John in the month of June 
 one thoufand five hundred and twenty. We entered that city with up- 
 wards of one thoufand three hundred foldiers, cavalry included, which 
 latter body was ninety feven in number, and of our infantry eighty were 
 crofsbow-men, and as many mufqueteers. We had alfo with us a great 
 train of artillery and two hundred Tlafcalan allies. Our flight from 
 Mexico was on the tenth of July following, and the battle of Obtumba 
 was fought on the fourteenth day of that month. 
 
 I will now give an account of all our countrymen who loft their 
 lives in Mexico, at the caufeway, in battle, and on the road. In five 
 days were killed and facrificed upwards of eight hundred and feventy 
 foldiers, including feventy two of thofe of Narvaez put to death toge- 
 ther with five CafKHian women, in a place named Tuftepeque. One 
 thoufand two hundred and upwards of our allies of Tlafcala were alfo 
 killed. Juan de Alcantara and two more, who came for the (hare of the 
 gold afligned to them, were robbed and murdered, and if we examine 
 throughout we mall find, that all who were concerned with the trea- 
 fure came to ill fortune. Thus it was with the foldiers of Narvaez, 
 who perifhed in a much greater proportion than ours did, on account of 
 their having followed the dictates of their avarice. 
 
 After the battle we continued our march to Tlafcala, chearfully, 
 and eating certain gourds named ayotes, which we found by the way, 
 the enemy only (hewing themfelves at a diftance, until we arrived at a 
 village where we took up our quarters in a ftrong temple, and halted 
 for the night, occasionally alarmed by the Mexicans, who kept about 
 us as it were to fee us out of their country. From this place we to our 
 great joy perceived the mountains of Tlafcala, for we were anxious to 
 be convinced of the fidelity of our friends, and to know fomething of 
 our companions in Villa Rica. Cortes warned us, as we were fo few 
 in number and had efcaped by God's mercy, to be cautious not to give 
 
 Gg 2 offence; 
 

 ( «s ) 
 
 offence j this he particularly enforced to the foldiers of Narvaez who 
 were not fo much habituated to difcipline. He added that he hoped 
 to find our allies fleady to us, but that if it turned out otherwife, though 
 but four hundred and forty ftrong, ill armed, and wounded, we had 
 vigorous bodies and flout hearts to carry us through. 
 
 We now arrived at a fountain on the fide of fome hills, where is 
 a circular rampart built in old times, at the boundary of the flates of 
 Mexico and Tlafcala. Here we repofed, and then proceeded to a town 
 named Gualiopar, where we procured a little food which we were obli- 
 ged to pay for, and halted one day. As foon as our arrival was known 
 in the head town of Tlafcala, our friends Maxicatzin, Xicotenga, Chi- 
 chimecatecle, the chief of Guaxocingo, and others, came to fee and em- 
 brace Cortes and the reft of our captains and foldiers. They wept for 
 our lofTes, and kindly blamed Cortes for having neglected the warning 
 they had given him of Mexican treachery. They then invited us to 
 their town, rejoicing at our efcape, and congratulating us on our vali- 
 ant actions. They alfo affured us that they were affembling thirty 
 thoufand warriors to join us at Obtumba. Cortes thanked, and diflri- 
 buted prefents to alL They were rejoiced at feeing Donna Marina and 
 Donna Luifa, and lamented the lofs of others ; Maxicatzin in particular 
 bewailed his daughter, and V. de Leon to whom he had given her. 
 Thus we were received by our friends in Tlafcala, 'where we repofed af- 
 ter our dangers. Cortes lodged in the houfe of Maxicatzin, Alvarado 
 in that of Xicotenga; and here we recovered from our wounds, losing 
 but four of our number. 
 

 
 
THE TRUE HISTORY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE CONQUEST OF MEXICO* 
 
 -^QODCOOCCOQC^- 
 
 PART THE SECOND. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Tlafcala, July, 1520. Tranfaclions and occurrences there. 
 Foundation of the colony of Segura de la Frontera. Subjuga* 
 tion of the neighbouring dijlricls by the Spaniards. 
 
 w 
 
 E were thus, as I have mentioned, by the friendfhip of the 
 Tlafcalans, hofpitably received and entertained in their city, after our 
 fatigues, dangers, and lofTes, in the retreat from Mexico. 
 
 One of the firfr. things done by Cortes on our arrival was, to en- 
 quire after the gold which had been brought there, to the value of forty 
 thoufand crowns, and which was the (hare of the garrifon of Villa 
 
 Rica, 
 
( m ) 
 
 Rica, He was informed by the Tlafcalan chiefs, and alfo by one of our 
 invalids who remained there when we marched to Mexico, that the 
 perfons who had been fent from Villa Rica to receive it, had, on their 
 return, been robbed and murdered on the road, at the time we were en- 
 gaged in hoftilities with the Mexicans. Another caufe of uneafinefs to 
 us was, our uncertainty as to the fittiation of our countrymen at Villa 
 Rica. Letters were fent, to inform them of the events which had late- 
 ly taken place, and defiring them to fend us what arms and ammunition 
 they could fpare, and a ftrong reinforcement. We were informed by 
 the return of the melTengers, that all continued well in the neighbour- 
 hood of that garrifon. The reinforcement alfo, which had been requi- 
 red, was immediately lent. It confided of ftwen men in the whole, 
 three of whom were failors, and every one of them invalid's. They 
 were commanded by a foldier named Lencero, the fame who kept the 
 inn at prefent called by his name. For a long time afterwards, a rein- 
 forcement of Lcnccro, was a proverbial expreilion with us. 
 
 We had now fome trouble given us by the younger Xicotcnga. 
 This chief on hearing of our misfortunes in Mexico, and of our being 
 in march for his country, conceived the project of taking us by furprife, 
 and putting us all to death ; for which purpofe he was very active in 
 forming his party, and having afTembled many of his friends, relations, 
 and adherents, he expofed to them the facility with which it could be 
 done. Thefe intrigues however could not go on long, without coming 
 to the knowledge of his father, who reproached him fevercly for his 
 treacherous conduct, afTuring him that if it came to be known, it would 
 coll: the lives of him and all thofe concerned with him. The young 
 man however perfevered, paying no regard to what his father faid, and 
 the aftuir at length coming to the ears of his mortal enemy Chichime- 
 catecle, he immediately gave information of it; whereupon, a council 
 was fummoned of all the chiefs to take the affair into confideration, and 
 Xicotcnga was brought prifoner before them. Maxicatzin was the ora- 
 tor upon the occafion and fpoke at coniiderable length in favour of the 
 Spaniards; he laid that piofpei hy had attended their nation ever fince 
 
 our 
 
( *33 ) 
 
 bur arrival amonp;il them. That we had enabled them to eat fait with 
 their provisions, and that we were certainly thofe of whom their ances- 
 tors had fpoken. He then reprobated and expofed the conduct of the 
 younger Xicotenga. In reply to this, and to the difcourfe cf his father 
 to the fame purpofe, the young man made ufe of fuch outrageous and 
 difrefpedtful language, as induced them to feize him by the collar, and 
 throw him down the fleps of the building into the ftreet, and he very 
 narrowly efcaped with his life; but Cortes did not think it prudent 
 in his prefent fituation to carry matters any farther. Such was the fide- 
 lity of our Tlafcalan allies, with whom we at this time ftaid two and 
 twenty days. 
 
 Cortes meditated an attack upon the adjoining provinces of Tepe- 
 aca and Zacatula, on account of the murders committed by thefc people 
 upon the Spaniards, and determined to fet out upon it, at the expiration 
 of the above mentioned period ; but when he came to propofe this to his 
 troops, he found the univerfal fentiment of the foldiers of Narvaez de- 
 cidedly againft it. They thought that they never could get back foon 
 enough to their houfes and mines in the Ifland of Cuba, and the {laugh- 
 ter of Mexico, and battle of Obtumba, made them defire to renounce all 
 connexion with Cortes, his riches, and his conquefts. But beyond all 
 others Andres de Duero, his friend and companion, moft heartily cur- 
 fed the day he had embarked with him in the bufinefs, and the gold 
 which he had been forced to leave in the ditches of Mexico. They all 
 totally declined any connexion with his new fchemes, and finding that 
 words did not avail them they made a requisition in form to that effect, 
 flaring the yifuflicicncy of our force, and demanding licences to return 
 to Cuba. Cortes having received and read the memorial, replied to it, 
 giving at leaft ten reafons for his plan, to every one they alledged againft 
 it ; his own foldiers alfo addreiled him on the occafion, requeuing him 
 on no account to give permiflion to any one to depart, but that we fhould 
 all remain together, as being moft. conducive to the fervice of God, and 
 his Majefty. At length they w r ere obliged to acquiefce, with a very ill 
 grace, and much murmuring againft Cortes, and his expeditions, and 
 againft us who Supported him in them, and who as they faid had no- 
 
 Hh 
 
 thing 
 

 
 ( 234 ) 
 
 thing to lofe but our lives. Cortes on his part made them a general 
 promife, that by the next convenient opportunity he would fend them 
 to their Ifland of Cuba. 
 
 The hiflorian Gomara in his account of this traniaclion makes no 
 diflinction between us and the foldiers of Narvaez, as if we were equally 
 concerned in prefenting the memorial; and this he does in order to en- 
 hance the merits of his hero, Cortes, and to depreciate us the true con- 
 querors of Mexico, becaufe we did not think it became us to bribe him 
 with gifts to fpeak favourably of us, when we were thofe, and thofe 
 only, who fupported Cortes. And now this hiflorian would annihi- 
 late our reputations, in faying, forfooth, that we memorialled! ! 
 
 It would have better become this hiflorian to attend more to mat- 
 ters of fact, and lefs to his figures of rhetoric in what he writes. I 
 have been aflonifhed at that part of his relation, where he afligns the 
 victory at Obtumba folely to the valor of Cortes. I have faid before, that 
 it was in the firfl inflance owing to God's mercy ; I fay alfo that Cortes 
 did every thing that ought to be expected from a wife and valiant gene- 
 ral, and that he owed his fuccefs, under God, to the flout and valiant 
 captains, and to us brave foldiers, who broke the force of the enemy, 
 and fupported him by fighting in the manner we fought, and as I have 
 related. What that hiflorian fays relative to his charging the general 
 and bearer of the royal flandard of Mexico is true, and it was Juan de 
 Salamanca, afterwards alcalde major of Guacacualco, who killed him 
 with his lance, and prefented the ornamented plume to Cortes ; which 
 plume his Majefly was afterwards pleafed to give Salamanca in his coat 
 of arms. Not that I am unwilling to afcribe all due honour to our Cortes ; 
 for I know that he deferves it; and if it was the cuflom, as formerly, to 
 give triumphs to generals, he is more worthy of one than any Roman. 
 Gomara alfo greatly exaggerates the numbers of our Indian allies, and 
 the population of the country beyond all reafon ; for it was not the fifth 
 part of what he reprefents it. According to his account there would 
 have been more thoufands here, than inhabit all Caflille; but where 
 
 he 
 
( 235 ) 
 
 he has written eighty thoufand we fhould read one thoufand. All this 
 he has done in order to make his narrative the more agreable. In my 
 hiftory I tell the truth, word for word as it happened, without looking 
 to ornaments of rhetoric; for I consider myfelf obliged to adhere to mat- 
 ter of fadt, and do not deal in flatteries. 
 
 We now (ct out on our march, to punifh the diftric'r.s of Cachula, 
 Tepeaca, and Tecamachalco, without artillery or fire arms of any kind, 
 for all had been left in the ditches of Mexico. Our force confifled of 
 fixteen cavalry and four hundred and twenty infantry, moftly armed 
 with fword and target, with about four thoufand Tlafcalans. We halt- 
 ed at night, at the diftance of three leagues from Tepeaca; but the peo- 
 ple of the place had deferted their houfes on our approach. We made 
 fome prifonerS on our way, by whom Cortes fent to the chiefs, to in- 
 form them, that we came for the purpofe of obtaining jufKce for the 
 murder of eighteen Spaniards, who had been without any caufe put to 
 death in crofling their territories ; and alfo to know the reafon of their 
 entertaining Mexican troops, and to warn them, that if they did not 
 immediately treat with us for peace, we would make war againft them 
 with fire and fword. However terrible our language was, that of their 
 anfwer conveyed by our mefTengers and two Mexicans, was much more 
 fo ; for the Mexicans were elevated by their fucceffes againfl us at the 
 bridges. Cortes treated them very kindly, and declared every wifh to 
 -forget and forgive the paft, but all could not do ; they fent back for an- 
 fwer, that if we did not return immediately, they would put us all to 
 death and make a feaft upon our bodies. 
 
 Upon this Cortes called a council of the officers, and it was then 
 determined, that a full ftatement of all which had parted fhould be of- 
 ficially drawn up by a royal notary, whereby all the Mexicans and allies 
 of the Mexicans who had killed Spanifh fubje&s, after having given 
 obedience to his Majefty, fhould be declared in a ftate of flavery. This 
 being duly drawn up and attefted, we once more fent to require them 
 to come in, giving them notice of the conferences of their contumacy, 
 
 H h 2 but 
 
( 236 ) 
 
 but they returned an anfwer fimilar to their former one. Both fides 
 then prepared for battle, and on the next day we came to an action with 
 them. This battle taking place in open fields of maiz, our cavalry 
 fpeedily put the enemy to flight, with confiderable lofs, though they 
 made a ftout refiilance; but our allies fought gallantly, and purfued them 
 hotly, and we took many boys, for flaves. 
 
 The Mexicans being thus defeated, the natives came in, to fue for 
 peace; we accordingly proceeded to the town of Tepeaca, to receive their 
 fubmifTion, and on that fpot was founded our fettlement of Segura de la 
 Frontera, the fituation being eligible, as on the road to Villa Rica, and 
 in a fertile diftrict. The municipal officers were immediately appoint- 
 ed, and the iron brand was made here, for the purpofe of marking thofe 
 natives who were taken for flaves ; they were marked with the letter G, 
 for " Guerra," or war. We made excurfions through the diftricl:, and 
 to the towns of Cachula, (where they had put fifteen Spaniards to death 
 in the houfes,) Tecamechalco, Las Guayavas, and many others whofe 
 names I do not recoiled:; taking a number of prifoners, who were im- 
 mediately branded for flaves. By thefe means, in about the fpace of fix 
 weeks, we reduced the people to order and obedience. 
 
 At this period another prince of the blood royal was elected to the 
 throne of Mexico, for the former one who had expelled us from that 
 city, was dead of the fmall pox. The new king was named Guati- 
 motzin; he was a young man about the age of twenty five years, of ele- 
 gant appearance, very brave, and fo terrible to his own fubjects that 
 they all trembled at the fight of him. When the intelligence reached 
 this prince of what had happened in Tepeaca, he began to be appre- 
 henfive for his other provinces, neglecting, however, nothing that it was 
 in his power to do, to induce the chiefs to continue fleady to him; and 
 he alfo fent confiderable bodies of troops to watch our movements. 
 
 Cortes now received letters from Villa Rica informing him, that a 
 veflel had arrived at the port, commanded by a gentleman named Pedro 
 
 Barba, 
 
( *37 ) 
 
 Barba, who was his intimate friend. He had been lieutenant under 
 Velafquez at the Havannah, and had now brought with him thirteen 
 foldiers and two horfes; he alfo brought letters from Velafquez the go- 
 vernor of Cuba to Narvaez, who was thought to be by this time all pow- 
 erful in New Spain, ordering him, if Cortes was not already dead, to 
 fend him to Cuba, that he might be thence tranfmitted to Caftille, fuch 
 being the directions of the bifhop of Burgos. As foon as Pedro Barba 
 arrived in the harbour, the officer whom Cortes had appointed admiral 
 went to vifit him, taking with him in his boat a ftrong crew, with 
 their arms concealed. When he came on board, he faluted Barba and 
 the reft courteoufly, and enquired after the health of the governor of Cu- 
 ba. The others in their turn enquired after Narvaez, and what had 
 become of Cortes. They were told that Cortes was a fugitive with 
 about twenty of his companions, and that Narvaez had eftablifhed him- 
 felf, and was in pofleflion of great riches. They then invited Barba 
 and the reft on fhore to refrefh themfelves, to which they aftenting de- 
 fended into the boats, where they were bid to furrender themfelves in- 
 ftantly prifoners to Cortes. They had no alternative, and were obliged 
 to fubmit. The fhip was difmantled, and the captain and crew fent to 
 us in Tepeaca, to our great fatisfaction, for though we did not fuffer 
 much in the field, yet continual fatigue had made us very unhealthy, 
 five of our foldiers having died of pleu rifles within a fortnight. With 
 this party came Francifco Lopez, afterwards regidor of Guatimala. 
 Barba was exceedingly well received by Cortes, who was informed by 
 him that he might expect the arrival of another fmal I veftel with provi- 
 flons, within the fpace of a week, which accordingly happened. On 
 board the laft mentioned fhip came a gentleman, native of Medina del 
 Campo, by name Rodorigo de Lobera, eight foldiers, and one horfe. 
 Our friends purfued the fame method with this veftel that they had done 
 with the former, and with the fame fuccefs. The party joined us in a 
 few days, it being no fmall fatisfaction to us, thus to find our army re- 
 cruiting its numbers. 
 
 The new king of Mexico having fent large bodies of troops to thcfe 
 
 provinces 
 

 ( ^ ) 
 
 provinces that were nearefl to the Spanifh army, they became very dis- 
 orderly, robbing and outraging the people. Thefe provocations indu- 
 ced the natives to fend four chiefs fecretly to negotiate with Cortes, of- 
 fering to furrender themfelves to him, provided he would give them 
 his ailiiiance to expell the Mexicans. Cortes immediately acceded to 
 thepropofal, and ordered for this fervice the whole of the cavalry and 
 crofsbow-men, under the command of Chrifloval de Oli. A confide- 
 rable number alfo of Tlafcalans were joined in the expedition. Several 
 of the captains who had come with Narvaez were appointed to com- 
 mand in this detachment, which amounted in the whole to above three 
 hundred foldiers. As our people were on their march, converting with 
 the Indians, they received fuch accounts from them of the force of the 
 enemy, as entirely deprived the foldiers of Narvaez of what little incli- 
 nation they ever had for military expeditions, and made them doubly 
 anxious to return to their Ifland of Cuba, being utterly averfe from a 
 repetition of the days of Mexico, and Obtumba. They began to grow 
 very mutinous, and told their chief in plain terms, that if he was de- 
 termined to periift. in his attempt, he might do it by himfelf, for that 
 they were all refolved to quit him. De Oli remonftratcd with them 
 upon the impropriety or* fuch conduct, in which he was fupported by 
 all the foldiers of Cortes, but in vain; he was compelled to yield to their 
 perverfenefs, and halt at Cholula, from whence he wrote to Cortes, 
 informing him of his fituation. When Cortes received his letter, he 
 immediately returned an angry meflage, ordering him pofitively to ad- 
 vance with his whole force, at all events. When De Oli received this, 
 he fell in a violent rage with thofe who had brought that reprimand on 
 him, and ordering the whole to march immediately, declared he would 
 fend back any one who hefitated to Cortes, to be treated by him as a 
 coward deferved. 
 
 When he arrived within a league of Guacacualco, he was met by 
 fome chiefs, who informed him in what manner he might belt come 
 upon the enemy. Having in confequence fettled his plan of attack, he 
 marched againft, and after a (harp action defeated the Mexican troops, 
 
 > and 
 
( *39 ) 
 
 and put them completely 'to flight, with the lofs on his part, of two 
 horfes, and eight wounded. Our allies this day made a great (laugh- 
 ter of the Mexicans, who fell back, and rallied at a large town called 
 Ozucar, where were other great bodies of their troops. Here they made 
 a poll:, fortifying themfelves and breaking down the bridges ; but De 
 Oli, turned into a tiger by the reproof of Cortes, purfucd them without 
 halting, with as many of his troops as he could bring up. By the af- 
 fiftance of his Indian friends of Guacachula, he contrived to pais the 
 river, and falling on the Mexicans, difperfed them again, with the lofs 
 of two more horfes killed; his own horfe was alfo wounded in feveral 
 places, and De Oli himfelf received two wounds. Here he halted for 
 two days after the action, and all the principal people waited on him, 
 to fubmit as vaflals to his Majefty. Their allegiance being accepted, 
 and the country reflored to peace, he returned with his force to the town 
 of Segura de la Front era. 
 
 Not having been on this expedition, the account I have given is 
 iuch as was related to me, by thofe who were. De Oli was received 
 by Cortes and all of us with great fatisfaction; we laughed heartily at 
 him for his counter march, in which he joined with us, and fwore 
 that for the next expedition he was fent on, he would take the poor fol- 
 diers of Cortes, and not the rich planters of Narvaez, whofe minds 
 were more intent upon their houfes and eftates, than upon feats of arms ; 
 and who were much more ready to command, than to obey. Gomara 
 fays that it was the people of Guaxocingo who gave the information to 
 the officers of Narvaez; but this is abfurd, for the laft mentioned town 
 was entirely out of their route, and it is exactly the fame thing as fay-* 
 ing, that if we were to fet out now from Medina del Campo to travel to 
 Salamanca, we mould go round by Valladolid. 
 
 While we were here, Cortes received letters from Villa Rica, 
 whereby he was informed, that a vefTel had arrived there commanded 
 by a perfon of the name of Camargo, having on board upwards of fe- 
 venty foldiers, all very fickly. She was one of thefe which had been 
 
 fent 
 

 
 ( 240 ) 
 
 fent to eftablifh a colony at Panuco, *and brought intelligence that the 
 other captain who had been fent thither, named Pineda, with all his 
 foldiers, had been put to death by the Indians; and that their fhipping 
 had been burned. Camargo therefore finding the ill fuccefs of that at- 
 tempt, had come to Villa Rica for afTiitance, his men being affiicced 
 with liver complaints, which their yellow and drop Ileal appearance de- 
 monftrated. This officer was very well acquainted with the fituation of 
 affairs, and had been it is faid, a Dominican friar. Having difembark- 
 ed his foldiers, he fet out with them, and arrived by flow marches at 
 La Frontera, where they were kindly received by Cortes, and attended 
 with as much care as we could beltow upon them, but the captain and 
 many of the foldiers very foon died. On account of their morbid co- 
 lour and fwollen bodies, we ufed to call them "the green paunches." In 
 order to avoid the interference of foreign matters with the thread of my 
 narrative, I will now inform my reader, that one after another, at dif- 
 ferent and irregular periods, all the remains of this armament arrived at 
 the port of Villa Rica. Amongft others was an Arragonian named Mi- 
 guel diaz de Auz. He brought upwards of fifty foldiers, with feven 
 horfes; with which he immediately joined us, being the mod effectual 
 reinforcement we had for a long time received. This Captain de Auz 
 ferved very well during the war in New Spain ; it was he who after- 
 wards had a law fuit with a brother in law of Cortes, named Andres de 
 Barrios, whom we ufed to call "the dancer." The law fuit was about trie 
 divifion of Meftitan, which was awarded afterwards as follows; he had 
 the furplus of the rents, beyond two thoufand five hundred crowns, on 
 condition of not entering upon the diftricT: for the fpace of two years, 
 becaufe he was accufed of having killed Indians there, and in other pla- 
 ces where he had been. Another of Garay's vefTels arrived fhortly after 
 at our port. In this came an officer named Ramirez, called by us, "the 
 old." He brought with him forty foldiers, ten horfes, crofs-bows and 
 other arms. Thus Garay continually fent us reinforcements, thinking 
 that his colony was going on well in Panuco. All thefe foldiers joined 
 us at Tepeaca. Thofe who came with Miguel diaz de Auz, as they 
 were plump and in good condition, we named "the Sir loins;" and as the 
 
 foldiers 
 
 By F. de Garay governor of Jamaica. 
 
( *4' ) 
 
 foldiers of old Ramirez wore cotton armour which was very thick and 
 clumfy, fo that no arrow could penetrate through it, we called them 
 "the pack-horfes." 
 
 Cortes having been thus reinforced to the amount of an hundred 
 and fifty foldiers and twenty horfes, determined to punifh the Cacatame 
 and Xalacingo Indians, with feveral others who had been concerned in 
 the murders of Spaniards. Twenty cavalry and twelve crofsbow-men, 
 made part of the force fent againfl them, the whole of which confifted 
 of two hundred of the veterans of the army of Cortes, and a body of 
 Tlafcalans, commanded by Gonzalo de Sandoval. Our detachment 
 received intelligence that the enemy were in arms, fortified, and rein- 
 forced by Mexican troops. Sandoval therefore arranged his plan of at- 
 tack, firft fending to inform them,, that he would pardon the deaths of 
 the Spaniards, provided they fubmitted, and returned the treafure. The 
 anfwer they fent back was, that they would eat him, and all thofe with 
 him, in the fame manner that they had done the others. Sandoval 
 then proceeded to attack them, which he did in two places at the fame 
 inftant, and notwithflanding that both the natives and the Mexicans 
 fought with great fpirit, they had no better fuccefs than on former oc- 
 cations, being defeated and purfued with a confiderable lofs. Our peo- 
 ple after the action going into fome of their temples, found cloaths, 
 arms, bridles and faddles, prefented as offerings to their gods. Sando- 
 val declared his intention of halting three days there, and he alfo now 
 again demanded from them the treafure which had been taken. They 
 readily fubmitted themfelves to his Majefty, but in regard to the trea- 
 fure, they faid, that it was no longer in their power, having been tranf- 
 mitted to Mexico. Sandoval referred them to the general for their par- 
 dons, and returned with his troops, having made a confiderable number 
 of women and boys prifoners, all of whom were immediately marked 
 with the iron. I was not on the expedition, being ill of a fever, and 
 throwing Up blood at the mouth ; but I was bled plentifully, and thanks 
 to God recovered. In confequence of the directions given by Sandoval, the 
 chiefs of thefe nations, and alfo of many others in their neighbourhood, 
 
 I i came 
 
( 242 ) 
 
 came in and made their fubmiffions to Cortes. This expedition was 
 productive of the very beft effects. The fame of Cortes extended 
 through all their countries, for valor and for juftice, and he was much 
 more dreaded and reflected than Guatimotzin, the new fovereign of 
 Mexico; infomuch that his decifion was requefted in the molt important 
 litigations. The fmall pox was now fo prevalent in New Spain, that 
 many of the great lords of the natives died of it. In fuch cafes the 
 claimants to the fucceflion called on Cortes for, and abided by his deci- 
 fion, as fovereign lord of the country. There were at this period great 
 difputes relative to the lordfhips of Ozucar and Guacachula, which be- 
 ing referred to Cortes he decided the caufe in, favor of a nephew of 
 Montezuma, whofe fifter had married the cacique of that diftrict. 
 
 At this time Cortes fent Sandoval to punim the people of the dif- 
 trict called Cocotlan, where they had put to death nine Spaniards. San- 
 doval took with him thirty cavalry and one hundred infantry, with a 
 ftrong body of Tlafcalans. On his entry into the diftrict he fummoned 
 thefe people, holding out as ufual threats on the one hand, and invita- 
 tions on the other, to which the Indians replied, that they acknow- 
 ledged no other government than that of Mexico, .and that they were 
 very well able to defend themfelves. They had here a considerable force 
 of Mexican auxiliaries, who encouraged them to refiftance. As foon as 
 Sandoval received this meffage he put his troops in order, and caution- 
 ed his allies not to advance to the attack at firft, on account of their dis- 
 ordering the cavalry, but to wait until the enemy were broken by our 
 troops, and then to fall on the Mexicans. Two large bodies of the ene- 
 my were met by our army, in a ftrong fituation; they made a firm re- 
 fiflance, and before Sandoval could extricate his cavalry from the diffi- 
 cult and rocky ground, they had killed one and wounded nine of his 
 horfes and four foldiers. At length having driven them from this poft, 
 he advanced to their town, and there affaulting them and the reinforce- 
 ments which had joined them, at their poll: in the temples, and large 
 walled inclofures, with the good afliftance of his Indian allies, whofe 
 keer^nefs was mcreafed by the abundance of plunder, he totally defeat- 
 ed 
 
( M3 ) 
 
 ed, and put them to flight. Sandoval halted here for two days, during 
 which the chiefs came in and made their fubmiflions. He demanded 
 of them the property and effects of the Spaniards whom they had put 
 to death, but they replied that it was out of their power to return them, 
 they having already burned the whole. They alfo faid that moil of the 
 Spaniards they had killed were eaten, five of them having been fent to 
 their monarch Guatimotzin. They promifed a plentiful fupply of pro- 
 visions, apologized for what was palled, and Sandoval being able to do 
 no more was fain to accept their fubmiflions. 
 
 As all this country* was now brought under fubjedlion, Cortes de- 
 termined, with the approbation of his Majefty's officers to mark the 
 prifoners and flaves, previous to the taking out the royal fifth, and his 
 own. An order was in confequence given out, that the foldiers fhould 
 bring all their prifoners tq an appointed place, which was a large houfe 
 in the town, for this purpofe. It was accordingly done; they confided 
 of women, boys, and girls of the Indians, for as to the men they were 
 too troublefome to keep, and our Tlafcalan friends did us all the fervicc 
 we could defire from them. The prifoners remained in confinement du- 
 ring the night, and* in the morning the repartition took place. Firfl 
 the royal fifth was felected, and then that of Cortes ; and thus far all 
 went on very well, but when the foldiers fhares came to be allotted, be- 
 hold ! we found that fome one had been there in the night, and taken 
 every handfome and good Indian that was there, leaving us nothing but 
 a herd of old, ugly, and miferable jades. This of courfe made a great 
 murmur amongft the foldiers, who loudly charged Cortes with having 
 conveyed away and concealed all the valuable flaves, and the foldiers of 
 Narvaez fwore they never heard of fuch a thing as two kings, and two 
 fifths, in his Majefly's dominions ! among the reft one Juan de Quexo 
 faid he would make it known in Caftille how they were treated, and 
 another plainly told Cortes how he had abufed them in regard to the 
 gold in Mexico, for that when the divifion was made there appeared 
 only three hundred thoufand crowns in value, and when our flight took 
 place he produced above feven hundred thoufand ; all which had been 
 
 Ii a regularly 
 

 
 ( 244 ) 
 t 
 
 regularly attefted. And now the poor foldier, who had worn himfclf 
 
 to nothing with fatigue, and was full of wounds, when he had gotten 
 
 a good female Indian prifoner, and given her cloathing and ornaments, 
 
 found that (he was taken from him! "When the order was given," 
 
 faid the foldier, •' Every one thought that the flaves were only put in 
 
 \* to be marked and valued, and that each would get his own back, pay- 
 
 11 ing the fifth of the value which fhe was rated at to his Majefty, and 
 
 " that Cortes was to have no farther claim on them whatever. " He 
 
 added a great deal more to the fame purpofe, but worfe than what I have 
 
 mentioned. When Cortes heard thefe exclamations againft. him, he 
 
 made anfwer, fwearing by his confeience! his ufual oath, that it never 
 
 fhould happen fo again, and he protefted that in future better regulations 
 
 mould be adopted. Thus with fmooth words, and fair promifes on his 
 
 part, the affair palled over. 
 
 But I have now fomething to mention worfe than this ; it has 
 been already related how in the fatal night of the retreat from Mexico, 
 the treafure was produced and all the foldiers given liberty to take as 
 much as they chofe of it ; many of thofe of Narvaez loaded themfelves 
 with gold, fome alfo of ours did the fame; to a great many this coir, 
 their lives, and none who efcaped with life and what they had carried 
 off, but were feverely wounded. After all this however Cortes came to 
 know that in our garrifon here at La Frontera, a quantity of gold in 
 bars was in circulation, and that deep gaming was going on amongfl 
 our foldiers; wherein our companions had forgot the old proverb which 
 fays, that "wealth and amours fhould be kept concealed." He iffued 
 an order for all the gold to be brought in within a given time, under the 
 feverefl penalty in cafe of difobedience, promifing, on a fair delivery, to 
 return the third part, but threatening in cafe of failure or evafion, that 
 the whole fhould be forfeited. Many of the foldiers refufed, and from 
 fome Cortes took it by way of loan; but indeed rather by main force 
 than free will. As many of the captains and alfo of thofe who had 
 offices under his Majefty were pofTeffed of gold, a compromife took 
 
 place 
 
( 245 ) 
 
 place whereby no more was faid about the order; but it was a very bad 
 tranfaclion on the part of Cortes. 
 
 The officers of Narvaez thought this a good juncture to renew 
 their folicitations to Cortes for permiflion to return to Cuba. After 
 much trouble and many efforts on their part, Cortes aflented, promif- 
 ing that on the conquefl of Mexico, he would give his friend Andres 
 de Duero much more wealth than he had ever poffeffed. He made fi- 
 milar offers alfo to the other captains, efpecially to Auguflin Bermudez. 
 Thofe who were determined to return he ordered to be provided with 
 whatever was neceffary for their voyage, fuch as maiz, dogs faked, 
 fowls, &c, and giving them one of the belt, (hips in the harbour, he 
 wrote letters by them to his wife Donna Catalina Xuarez Marcayda, 
 and to his brother in law Juan Xuarez, informing them of all that had 
 happened ; and he alfo tranfmitted to them by the fame opportunity 
 fome bars and ornaments of gold. The following perfons were among 
 thofe who returned to Cuba at this time, with their pockets well lined 
 after all their difaflers. Andres de Duero, Auguflin Bermudez, Juan 
 Buono de Quexo, Bernardino de Quefada, Francifco Velafquez the 
 hump backed, a relation of the governor of Cuba, Gonzalo Carrafco 
 who returned afterwards to this country and lives in La Puebla, Melchor 
 Velafco, and one Ximenes who lives in Guaxaca : he went for his fons ; 
 alfo the comimendador Leon de Cervantes who went to bring over his 
 daughters ; after the conquefl of Mexico he married them to very ho- 
 nourable connexions; one Maldonado alfo of Medellin, an invalid; not 
 he who married Donna Maria del Rincon, nor the big Maldonado, nor 
 the other of that name whom we called Alvaro Maldonado "the fierce," 
 who was married to a lady named Maria Arias ; there was alfo one 
 Vargas whom we nicknamed "the gallant;" I do not mean the Vargas 
 who was father in law to Chrifloval Lobo; Cardenas the pilot alfo went;, 
 it was he who talked of the two kings ; Cortes gave him three hundred 
 crowns for his wife and children ; with many others whom it would, , 
 be too prolix to enumerate. When Cortes was remonflrated with on 
 letting fo many quit us in our weak flate he, replied, that he did it partly 
 
 to* 
 
( 2 4 6 ) 
 
 to get rid of their importunities, and partly becaufe they were not fit for 
 war, and that it was better to be alone than badly accompanied. He 
 fent Alvarado with them in order to fee them fhipped, and at this time 
 he alfo difpatched De Ordas and Alonzo de Mendoza to Caftille, with 
 certain inltructions, the tenor of which we were ignorant of; as we alfo 
 were of what was going "on in that country relative to us, except that 
 the Bifhop of Burgos declared us all traitors, and that Diego de Ordas 
 anfwered very well for us, and got for himfelf the order of St. Jago, 
 and for his coat of arms the volcano which is between Guaxocingo and 
 Cholula. But thefe affairs (hall be related in their proper time. Cortes 
 alfo fent Captain Alonzo de Avila contador of New Spain, and Francif- 
 co Alvarez, a man of bufinefs, to make a report to the royal court of 
 audience and the brothers of the order of Jerony mites in St. Domingo, 
 of all that had happened, more particularly relative to Narvaez; and 
 alfo to inform them, how he had punifhed by flavery, thofe guilty of 
 revolt and murders, and meant to purfue the fame meafures with all 
 thofe people who adhered to the alliance of the Mexicans. He alfo fup- 
 plicated their interefts in reprefenting our faithful fervices to the Empe- 
 ror, and their fupport againft the mifreprefentations and enmity of the 
 Bifhop of Burgos. 
 
 Cortes likewife at this time fent a vefTel to Jamaica for horfes, 
 commanded by one De Solis, whom we afterwards called De Solis de la 
 Huerta. Some will afk how he was able to fend agents to Caflille, to 
 St. Domingo, and Jamaica, without money. To this I reply, that on 
 the night of our retreat from Mexico, though many of our foldiers were 
 killed, yet a confiderablc quantity of gold was faved, as the firft who 
 patted the bridge were, the eighty loaded Tlafcalans ; fo that though 
 much was loft in the ditches of Mexico, yet all was not left there, and 
 the gold which was brought off by the Tlafcalans, was by them deli- 
 vered to Cortes. But as to us poor foldiers who had no command, but 
 were commanded, it was enough for us to efcape with our lives, and all 
 badly wounded too, without troubling ourfelves what was done with 
 the gold, nor how much of it was brought off; and it was alfo (hrewd- 
 
( 247 ) 
 
 ly fufpected, that the treafure which fell to the (hare of the garrifon of 
 Villa Rica, and of which thofe who were entrufted with the conveyance 
 were robbed, went after all to Old CafHlle, Jamaica and elfewhere. 
 But the ingots of gold in the captains pockets Hopped all inquiry upon 
 that head. 
 
 The fiege of Mexico being now determined on, Cortes left a gar- 
 rifon of twenty men moilly rick and wounded, under the command of 
 Francifco de Orozco in the town of Frontera, and proceeded with the 
 reft of his force to the country of Tlafcala, where he ordered timber to 
 be cut for the conftruction of the veffels to command the lake of Mex- 
 ico. The fhips were to be conftructed under the directions of Martin 
 Lopez, an excellent fhipwright, and one who was moil highly fervi- 
 ceable to his Majefty's interefts here in other refpects, befides being a 
 valiant foldier. When we arrived at Tlafcala, we found that our good 
 friend and the faithful ally of our Monarch, Maxicatzin, had fallen a 
 victim to the fmall pox. Cortes lamented him as if he had been his 
 father, and put on mourning in refpect to him, as did many of our 
 captains and foldiers. As there was fome difpute in regard to the fuc- 
 ceflion, Cortes fettled that it (hould be with the legitimate fon of our 
 friend, as he had defired at his death; a fhort time previous to which, 
 having fummoned his family into his prefence, he had ftrictly enjoined 
 them never to quit our alliance, as we were undoubtedly thofe who were 
 deftined to rule that country. The other chiefs of that nation offered 
 their afliftance in providing timber, and alfo to aid us in the war againfl 
 the Mexicans. Cortes received their propofals with every mark of at- 
 tention and gratitude, and at that time propofed to one of them, the el- 
 der Xicotenga, to turn chriftian; to which he readily aflented, and 
 was baptized in great ceremony by the name of Don Lorenzo, de Var- 
 gas. 
 
 Our fhipwright Lopez managed his bufinefs fo well,, that in a few 
 days he had all his timber cut, (haped, and marked for each particular 
 part of the veffels. He was afMed by a good foldier named Andres 
 
 Nunez, 
 
( * 4 8 ) 
 
 Nunez, and by old Ramirez the carpenter, who was lame with a wound. 
 Cortes obtained from the port of Villa Rica the iron work, fails, and 
 other necefTaries to equip the vefTcls; and he alfo ordered to be fent to 
 him what fmiths were there, amongfl others, Aguilar, of which name 
 there were three amongfl us, but this was the man we called "the iron- 
 mauler." As pitch was wanting, and was unknown to the natives of 
 thofe countries, he fent four failors to the pine woods of Guaxacingo, 
 which are very considerable, to obtain a fupply of that article. Some 
 curious perfons have afked me, why Cortes fent Alonzo de Avila who 
 was {o valiant a captain on an affair of negociation, when he had men 
 of bufinefs fuch as Alonzo de Grado, and Juande Caccres the rich, and 
 others whom they have named to me. To this I reply, that Cortes 
 fent Avila .becaufe he was a brave man, and would not be afraid to fpeak 
 out on any neceffary occafion in order to obtain juflice; and therefore, 
 to avoid being oppofed and thwarted by him, and to give his 
 company to Andres de Tapia, and his office of contador to Alonzo de 
 Grado, Cortes chofe to fend him upon bufinefs to St. Domingo. 
 
 Now that the timber of the vefTels was all ready for the dock yard, 
 and that thofe who came with Narvaez no longer molefled us with their 
 fears and furmifes, there was great difference of opinion amongfl us on 
 the fubjecl of eflablifhing our poft, in order to prepare for the invert- 
 ment of Mexico. Some ftrongly recommended Ayotcingo as moil: con- 
 venient on account of the canals, others, amongfl whom was Cortes, 
 as flrongly infifled on the elegibility of Tezcuco as moil advantageous 
 for making incurfions upon the Mexican territory. The de<cifion being 
 at length for Tezcuco, jufl as we were ready to march we were inter- 
 rupted in our movements for an inflant, by intelligence that a veffel had 
 arrived at Villa Rica from Europe and the Canary Iflands, loaded with 
 military flores, merchandife, and horfes. It was commanded by one 
 Francifco Medel, but the owner of the property, who came with it, 
 was one Juan de Burgos. There were alfo on . board thirteen foldiers. 
 We were in high fpirits on receiving this intelligence, and Cortes hav- 
 ing fent orders to purchafe the whole cargo, we loft not a moment in 
 
 fetting 
 
{ *49 ) 
 
 letting forward on our route for Tezcuco, after wc were joined by the 
 people who came on board the velTel. Amongft thefe were one Juan 
 del Efpinar, afterwards a very rich man, one Sagredo uncle to the wo- 
 man called LaSagreda, in the Ifland of Cuba, and a Bifcayan named Mon- 
 jaraz-, uncle to two of that name who were foldiers with us, and father 
 to the handfome woman who afterwards came to Mexico called La 
 Monjaraza. This man never was in any expedition or engagement with 
 us, always pretending to be fick, though he miffed no opportunity of 
 boafting of his valour. When we befieged Mexico, he faid he would 
 fee how the natives fought, for he had no opinion of their bravery. 
 He accordingly went to the top of a very high temple like a turret, and 
 no one ever could tell how it was, but certain Indians killed him on 
 that very day. Thofe who had known him in the Ifland of St. Do- 
 mingo faid, that it was God's judgment on him for having had his wife, 
 a good, honourable, and beautiful woman, put to death, by the perjury 
 of falfc witneffes. 
 
 Kk 
 
( *5° ) 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 March of the Spaniards to befiege Mexico, December o,$th. 
 1520. Invejlment of Mexico, May 30th. 1521. Siege of 
 that city, and final conquefl Augufi 16th, 1521. 
 
 o 
 
 N the day after the feaft of the nativity, we fet forward towards 
 Tezcuco with our full force, and accompanied by ten thoufand of our 
 Tlafcalan allies. On the fame night we halted in a part of the territory 
 of Tezcuco, the inhabitants of the place fupplying us with provifions. 
 The next night we halted at the foot of the ridge of mountains, having 
 made a march of about three leagues; we found here a very fevere cold. 
 Early the next day we afcended the mountains, the bad roads through 
 which were made more difficult by cuts, or dikes, abbatis of trees, and 
 the like, which required the utmofl exertions of our allies to remove. 
 Proceeding thus however with much regularity and precaution, we 
 reached the fummit, a company of mufqueteers and crofsbow-men being 
 in our front, and our allies clearing the way for the cavalry. Defend- 
 ing a little, we came to that part from whence we difcover the whole 
 extent of the city, lake, and plain of Mexico, with all its towns riling 
 as it were out of the water, and here we returned thanks to God for per- 
 mitting us again to behold this city. 
 
 We now obferved fignals made by fmoke in the different places 
 towards Mexico, and a little farther on we fell in with a body of the 
 enemy who were polled at a bad pafs, where a broken wooden bridge 
 crofled a deep water cut. We foon drove them from thence, and paf- 
 fed over without difficulty, the enemy contenting themfelves with fhout- 
 . ing at us ixom a diltance. Our allies pillaged as they went along, con- 
 trary 
 
( *# ) 
 
 trary to the inclination of Cortes, who was not able to reflrain them. 
 We halted for this night at a town in the territory of Tezcuco, which 
 the inhabitants had abandoned. We had got intelligence by fome Mex- 
 icans we made prifoners in the laft fkirmifh, that large bodies of the 
 enemy waited for us in front; but it afterwards appeared that they had 
 fcparated, in confequence of feuds, and indeed a civil war which exift- 
 ed between the Mexicans and thofe of Tezcuco. The fmall pox alfo, 
 which was at the fame time very deftructive in the country, contributed 
 in a confiderable degree to prevent their armies from afTembling. 
 
 On the next morning we again fet forward on our march for Tez- 
 cuco, which was diflant about two leagues ; but we had proceeded a 
 very fliort diftance, before one of our patroles came to us with intelli- 
 gence that ten Indians were on the road, with figns of peace. The 
 whole of the country alfo through which we marched exhibited every 
 fign of moft perfect tranquillity. When thefe Indians arrived, we found 
 that they compofed an embaily, confirming of feven chieftains of Tezcu- 
 co. A golden banner borne upon a long lance was carried before them, 
 and when they came near us the banner was lowered, and they bowed 
 their bodies. Addreffing Cortes in the name of their lord Cocoivacin, 
 the prince of Tezcuco, they then requefled to be received under our 
 protection, inviting us to their city, and prefenting to us, as a token of 
 peace, their golden banner. They utterly denied having any part in the 
 attacks with which we had been threatened, and requefled that no injury 
 might be done to their city by us or our allies. Three of thefe embaf- 
 fadors were perfonally known to moft of us, for they were relations of 
 the good Montezuma, and captains of his guards. Cortes earneflly re- 
 queued the Tlafcalan chiefs to prevent their people from pillaging, 
 and his wifhes were flrictly attended to, excepting only in the article 
 of provi lions. 
 
 It clearly appeared that this embafly was a mere pretence; never- 
 thelefs the embafTadors were allured that every protection mould be af- 
 forded to the country,' but were at the fame time told, that it could not 
 
 Kks be 
 
C 25* ) 
 
 be unknown to them, how, above forty of the Spaniards and two hun- 
 dred of our allies were put to death within their territories, when we 
 retreated from Mexico. For the lofs of lives Cortes {aid no reffitution 
 could be made, but the gold and other property they might return. 
 They in reply threw the blame upon the prince who had fucceeded Mon- 
 tezuma, and who they faid received the fpoil, and facrificed the prifo- 
 ners. Cortes therefore found that little was to be got from them, and 
 we proceeded to a village in the outlkirts of Tezcuco, named Guatinchan, 
 or Huaxutlan, where we halted for the night. On the enfuing morn- 
 ing we arrived at Tezcuco, and immediately remarked that neither wo- 
 men or children were to be feen, and the men appeared as if they were 
 meditating fome mifchief againft us. We took up our quarters in fomc 
 buildings which confifted of large halls and enclofed courts, and receiv- 
 ed orders not to quit them, and to be very alert. Alvarado, De Oli, 
 and fome foldiers whereof I was one, then afcended to .the fop of the 
 great temple, which was very lofty, in order to notice what was going 
 on in the neighbourhood. We obferved that all the people were in 
 movement, carrying offtheir children and effects to the woods, the reedy 
 borders of the lake, and to a number of canoes collected for the pur- 
 pofe. Cortes now wiihed to feize the chief who had fent him the em- 
 baiTy, but found that he had fled to Mexico, with many other perfons 
 of rank. We polled ftrong guards for the night, and as in fo large a 
 city there are many different parties and factions, and thofe perfons who 
 were adverfe to the prefent chief having remained, Cortes on the next 
 morning fent for them, and enquired into the itate of their Government. 
 They affured him that their prefent chief, Cocoivatzin, was an ufurper, 
 having murdered his elder brother Cufcuxca, and was fupported only by 
 the prince then on the throne of Mexico, and whofe name was Guati- 
 motzin. They pointed out the youth who was the right heir, and who 
 was immediately conducted into the prefence of Cortes, by whofe order 
 he was baptized with much folemnity, being called after his godfather, 
 Don Hernando Cortes ; after which he was appointed lord of Tezcuco. 
 Cortes in order to retain him in our holy faith and in the interefts of 
 Spain, and alfo to inftruct him in our language, ordered three perfons to 
 
 attend 
 
( -53 ') 
 
 attend upon him j Anthonio de Villaroel married to the handfome Ifahel 
 de Ojeda, a batchellor named Eicobar captain of Tezcuco, and Pedro 
 Sanches Farfan, a good foldier, married to the worthy and honorable 
 lady Maria de Eftrada. Cortes then required of him a number of Indi- 
 an labourers to open the canals, in order to bring his vefTels to the lake. 
 He alfo explained* to him his plan of attacking Mexico, to which the 
 young prince offered afTiftance to the utmofr. of his power. 
 
 Our captains were at this time afiigned their different pofts, in cafe 
 of a fudden attack upon our quarters, the reigning prince in Mexico 
 frequently fending out his troops upon the lake, in expectation of tak- 
 ing us unprepared. Some neighbouring people, whofe diflricl is called 
 Cuatinchan, and who had been guilty of offences in the murders of our 
 countrymen, now petitioned for, and obtained pardon. The work up- 
 on the canals went on moft rapidly, as we never had lefs than from {even 
 to eight thoufand Indians employed. 
 
 Guatimotzin now upon the throne of Mexico, was lord of Izta- 
 palapa, the people whereof were bitter enemies to us, and our declared 
 allies of Chalco, Talmalanco, Mecameca, and Chimaloacan. As we 
 had been twelve days in Tezcuco, fo large a force caufed fome fcarcity 
 of provisions; idlenefs had alfo made our allies grow impatient, and for 
 thofe reafons it became necefTary to take the field. Cortes therefore pro- 
 ceeded towards Iztapalapa at the head of thirteen cavalry, two hundred 
 and twenty infantry, and the whole body of our Indian confederates. 
 The inhabitants had received a reinforcement of eight thoufand Mexi- 
 cans, and as we approached, they fell back into the town. But this 
 was all a concerted plan; they then fled into their canoes, the reeds by 
 the fide of the lake, and alfo to thofe houfes which were in. the water,, 
 where they remained quietly, leaving us in poiTeflion of that part of the 
 town which was on the firm land. As it was now night we ported our 
 guards, and were repofing contentedly in our quarters, when all on a 
 fudden there came on us fuch a body of water by the ftreets and into 
 the houfes, that if our friends from Tezcuco had not called -to us at that 
 
 moment 
 

 ( *54 ) 
 
 moment, we fhould have been all drowned; for the enemy had cut the 
 hanks of the canals, and alfo a caufeway, whereby the place was laid 
 under water as it were inftantaneoufly. As it happened two of our al- 
 lies only, loft their lives, but all our powder was deftroyed. and we 
 were glad to efcape with a good wetting. We parted the night badly 
 enough, being fupperlefs, and very cold; but what provoked us mofl 
 was the laughter and mockings of the Indians upon the lake. Worfe 
 than this however happened to us, for large bodies from the garrifon of" 
 Mexico, who knew of the plan, crofTed the water and fell on us at day 
 break with fuch violence that it was with difficulty we could fuftain 
 their attacks. They killed two foldiers and one of our horfes, and 
 wounded a great many. Our allies alfo fuffered a confiderable lofs on 
 this occafion. The enemy being at length beaten off we returned to 
 Tezcuco, in very bad humour, having acquired little fame or advan- 
 tage by our expedition. 
 
 Two days after our return from our laft expedition, the people of 
 three neighbouring diftricts, viz Tepetezcuco, Obtumba, and another 
 which I do not recollect, fent to follicit pardon for the offences they had 
 committed, excufing themfclvcs, by aliedging the commands of Coad- 
 lavaca. Cortes making a merit of neceiTity gave them a free pardon, 
 knowing very well that he was not in a fituation to do otherwife. The 
 people alfo of that place called Venezuela, or Little Venice, who had al- 
 ways been at enmity with the Mexicans, now follicited our alliance; a cir- 
 cumftance highly ufeful, from the fituation of that town within the lake ; 
 and they promifed alfo to bring over their neighbours to us. 
 
 Intelligence was foon received, that large bodies of Mexican troops 
 liad fallen upon the diftricts in alliance with us, the inhabitants of which 
 being afraid to remain at home, were flying to the woods or to our 
 quarters for protection. Cortes ordered out twenty cavalry and two 
 hundred infantry, twenty three mufqueteers and crofsbow-men included, 
 and taking Alvarado and De Oli with him, proceeded to the towns of 
 Guatinchan, and Huaxutlan. The reports appeared to have foundation, 
 
 but 
 
( *55 ) 
 
 but the real caufe of contention was, the crop of Indian corn on the bor- 
 ders of the lake, which was now fit to reap, and from which the peo- 
 ple of Tezcuco and the others fupplied our provifions; but the Mexicans 
 alfo laid claim to it, and it appeared that the produce of thefe fields went 
 to the priefls of Mexico. Cortes told them to inform him when they 
 thought it necefTary to cut the corn, and accordingly, at that time, a 
 body of one hundred or upwards of our foldiers, attended by the allies 
 went out to cover the reapers. I was twice on that duty, and had one 
 fmart fkirmifh. The Mexicans croffed over in upwards of a thoufand 
 canoes, and attacked us in the maize fields, but we and our allies, drove 
 them back to their boats, with the lofs of one foldier of our's killed, 
 and many wounded. They fought like men, and left behind them 
 twenty dead, and we alfo took five prifoners. At this time other neighs 
 bouring diftricts folicited our alliance. 
 
 There were two places, named Chalco and Talmalanco, of fomc 
 confequence, as being between our army and Tlafcala. They were now 
 poffeffed by the Mexican troops, and though Cortes had leveral peti- 
 tions for protection, he thought it neceflary above all things, immedi- 
 ately to diflodge thefe Mexicans, that fuch of his allies as wifhed it 
 might return* home, and alfo in order to obtain his fhip timber from 
 Tlafcala. He therefore fent a force for this purpofe under Sandoval and 
 De Lugo, confifling of fifteen cavalry and two hundred infantry, and 
 he gave thefe officers orders to break completely the Mexican force, where- 
 by we mould obtain a clear communication with Villa Rica. Our allies 
 of Chalco were fecretly informed of our intention, in order that they 
 fhould be ready to fupport us. Sandoval had put ten of his party in the 
 rear as a guard, and to protect the allies who were returning home with 
 his detachment, and who were loaded with plunder. The Mexicans 
 fell upon them on their march with confiderable imprelTion, owing to 
 the weaknefs of the rear guard, of which they killed two, and wound- 
 ed the reft; and although Sandoval inftantly flew to their relief, the 
 Mexicans contrived to reach the lake. Sandoval cenfured the people in 
 the rear for this,, throwing the whole blame on them; he then put the 
 
 Tlafcalans 
 

 ( 25<> ) 
 
 Tla-fcalans in fecurity, and haying fent the letters with which he was 
 intruded to the commandant of Villa Rica, in which Cortes ordered 
 him to fend what reinforcements he could to Tlafcala, there to wait un- 
 til it mould be afcertained that the route from thence to Tezcuco was 
 clear, he difmiffed the allies to their province, and returned to Chalco, 
 which diftrict he had reafon to apprehend was filled with the troops of 
 he Mexicans. 
 
 On his road he was attacked in a plain covered with maize and 
 maguey, by a body of the enemy who wounded feveral of his party; 
 the cavalry drove them to a diftance, after which he purfued his route 
 to Chalco. Having informed the principal people of this place of his 
 intention to march to Tezcuco on the enfuing day, they informed him 
 of their determination to go with him, and for the following reafon. 
 Their lord was lately dead of the fmall pox. He had on his death- 
 bed recommended his fons to the protection of Cortes, being convinced 
 that we were thofe of whom their anceftors had prophefied, when they 
 faid that men with beards mould come to govern them; and he there- 
 fore enjoined his fons to receive their dominions from the hands of our 
 chief. Sandoval accordingly marched for our head quarters, bringing 
 with him the young lords of Chalco, who experienced a moll: gracious 
 reception from Cortes, and they prefented him with ornaments of gold 
 amounting in value to about two hundred thoufand crowns. Cortes 
 divided the diflrict between them, giving Chalco and the larger part 
 to the elder brother, ^md Talmalanco, Ayocingo, and Chimalcan, with 
 other places, to the younger. By fome Mexican prifoners Cortes fent 
 a meflage to the reigning prince in that city, couched in the moft in- 
 viting and amicable terms, in order to induce him to come to an accom- 
 modation j but Guatimotzin would not hear them, and perfifted in the 
 moft act ive hoftility againft us. Frequent complaints came to us at 
 ♦his time of the incurfions made by the enemy upon our allies of Gua- 
 tinchan and Huaxutlan, in the neighbourhood of the lake, upon the 
 old caufe of the fields fown for the fervice of the Mexican temples; in 
 consequence of which, Cortes being determined to put a Hop to thefe 
 
 inroads 
 
( Hf ) , 
 
 inroads, and marching with a ftrong party for that purpofe, came up 
 with the enemy at the diftance of about two leagues from Tezcuco, and 
 fo completely broke and defeated them, though with no very confidera- 
 ble lofs on their fide, that they did not (how themfelves there again. 
 
 As it was refolved to lofe no time in the grand object of our enter- 
 prife, Sandoval attended by twenty of the principal people of Tezcuco, 
 marched with a detachment of two hundred foldiers of the infantry, 
 twenty mufqueteers and crofsbow-men included, and fifteen cavalry, 
 from Tezcuco, in order to bring the timber to conftruct our (hips on the 
 lake of Mexico. Before they fet out, Cortes effected a reconciliation be- 
 tween the Tlafcalans and the Indians of Chalco, who had long been 
 hoflile. He gave directions to Sandoval, after he had left the chieftains 
 of Chalco in their own town, to proceed by a place named by us Puebla 
 Morefca, the inhabitants of which had robbed and put to death up- 
 wards of forty of our foldiers, who were on their march from Vera 
 Cruz to Mexico, when we went to the relief of Alvarado. Sandoval 
 had orders to inflict an exemplary punifhment on them, not that their 
 guilt was more than that of the people of Tezcuco, who were the lead- 
 ers of the bufinefs, but becaufe they could be punifhed with lefs incon- 
 venience. The place was put under military execution. Some few of 
 the inhabitants were made prifoners, and when Sandoval enquired of 
 them in what manner they had deftroyed the Spaniards, they informed 
 him that they were fallen on by the troops of Mexico and Tezcuco, by 
 furprize, in a narrow pafs where they could only go in fingle file, and 
 that it was done in revenge for the death of Cacamatzin. Not more 
 than three or four of thefe people loft their lives, as Sandoval had pity 
 on them. In the temples were found many traces of the blood of our 
 countrymen upon the walls, their idols were befmeared with it, and we 
 found the (kins of two of their faces with their beards, drafted like lea- 
 ther, and hung upon the altars, as were alfo the fhoes of four horfes, 
 together with their fkins very well dreffed. The following words were 
 found written upon a piece of marble fixed in the wall of one of the 
 houfes. " Here was taken the unfortunate Juan Jufte, with many 
 
 k 1 others 
 

 ( * S 8 ) 
 
 " others of his companions." This Jufte was a gentleman who camfc 
 with Narvaez, and ferved in the cavalry. Thefe fad remains filled the 
 minds of Sandoval and his party with rage and grief, but there was no 
 poffibility of obeying the dictates of their feelings, for the men were all 
 fled, and the women and children bewailed their fate in the moil: affect- 
 ing terms. Sandoval therefore fent them to their hufbands and fathers, 
 whom they induced to come in and fubmit. In anfwer to the queftions 
 put to them relative to the gold, they declared that it had all been claim- 
 ed by the Mexicans. Sandoval now continued his march to Tlafcala, 
 and when he came near the capital of that country, he fell in with a 
 vaft body of Indians employed in tranfporting the timber, and conduct- 
 ed by Chichimecatecle, and our fhipwright Martin Lopez. The order 
 thefe people came in was as follows. Eight thoufand men carried the 
 timber ready fhaped for every part of the thirteen veffels, eight thoufand 
 more followed as a guard with their enfigns and arms, and a third bo- 
 dy of two thoufand, as a relief, and with provifions for the whole. 
 Several Spaniards joined us with this efcort, and alfo two great Tlafcalan 
 chiefs named Teuleticle, and Teatical. The enemy appeared only in 
 fmall bodies at a diftance, but it was thought neceflary to ufe much 
 precaution, considering the extent of the line of march, and the danger 
 of a furprife. Sandoval fent fome of his troops in front, and pofled 
 others on the flanks, while he remained at the rear guard with the Tlaf- 
 calans, to whom he afligned that poft. This arrangement gave their 
 chief, Chichimecatecle, great offence, but when he was informed that 
 it was there the Mexicans were moft. likely to attack, his pride became 
 pacified. In two days more the whole body arrived at Tezcuco, in 
 great triumph and pomp, the allies wearing their finefl: habits and great 
 plumes of feathers, with drums, horns, and trumpets, founding. Thus 
 they continued marching into our quarters, without breaking a file, for 
 the fpace of full half the day, fhouting out, "Caftilla! Caftilla! Tlafca- 
 " la! Tlafcala! live his Majefty the Emperor.*' 
 
 Our timber being all now laid ready at the docks, in a very fhort 
 tune, by the great exertions of Lopez, the hulls were completely finish- 
 ed; 
 
( 259 ) 
 
 ed; but we were obliged to keep the ftricteft guard, as the Mexicans 
 fent three parties to endeavour to fet them on fire. 
 
 The Tlafcalans were anxious to be fent on fome enterprife, and 
 Cortes indulged them by declaring his intention to march on the enfu- 
 ing day to Saltocan, a town which had neglected our fummons to a 
 fubmifTion. For this purpofe he ordered two hundred and fifty infan- 
 try and thirty cavalry, the whole of the Tlafcalans, and a body of the 
 warriors of Tezcuco. He appointed the captains Alvarado and De Oli 
 to act under him, and having left the poll of Tezcuco, where it was 
 always neceffary " to have the beard upon the moulders," under the care 
 of Sandoval, and ordered Lopez to have the veffels ready to launch with- 
 in the fpace of fifteen days, he fet out with the above force upon his 
 expedition. When he approached Saltocan, he was met by large bodies 
 of the Mexican troops, whom the cavalry drove to the woods. The 
 troops halted for the night in fome villages, in a country thickly inha- 
 bited. They were kept very alert, for it was known that the enemy 
 had a confiderable force in Saltocan; and a body of Mexicans had been 
 fent thither in large boats, and was at this time concealed in the deep 
 canals of the neighbourhood. 
 
 On the enfuing day, at the commencement of the march, our 
 troops were aifTailed by the enemy, and feveral were wounded, without 
 our cavalry having it in their power to retaliate, on account of the num- 
 ber of canals. The only caufeway which led to the town on the land 
 fide, they had completely inundated, and our mufquetry was of no ef- 
 fect againft the enemy in their canoes, being fo well guarded by ftrong 
 fcreens of timber. All this contributed to give our people a difguft to 
 the expedition. Some Indians of Tezcuco who had joined our army, 
 at this time pointed out a pafs to one of our foldiers; upon which, our 
 people put themfelves into march, and under the direction of their guide 
 croffed the canals and waters, and at length reached the road which led 
 to the town, Cortes with the cavalry remaining on the other fide. Our 
 troops advanced againft the town, and made a confiderable flaughter of 
 
 LI 2 the 
 

 
 ( z6o ) 
 
 the Mexicans, driving the remainder, and the natives of the place, to 
 their boats. They then returned to Cortes, with a conflderable booty 
 offlaves, mantles, fait, and gold. We loft one foldier by this expe- 
 dition. 
 
 On the enfuing day Cortes marched againft a large town called 
 Culvatitlan, through a very populous country. We found the place to 
 which we marched totally deferted, and here we halted for the night. 
 On the enfuing day we proceeded to another large town called Tenayuco, 
 but which we named the town of the ferpents, on account of the enor- 
 mous figures of thefe animals which we found in their temples, and 
 which they worfhipped as gods. This place we alfo found deferted, 
 and we proceeded a league farther to that which we called the town of 
 the gold-fmiths. This place was alfo deferted, and our. troops march- 
 ed half a league farther, to Tacuba, our foldiers being obliged to cut 
 their way through conflderable numbers of the natives. In this town 
 our troops halted for the night, and on the next day they were alTailed 
 by bodies of the enemy, who had fettled a plan to retreat by their caufe- 
 ways, in order to draw us into an ambufcade. This in part fucceeded; 
 Cortes and our troops purfued them acrofs a bridge, and were immedi- 
 ately furrounded by vaft numbers on land and in the water. The en- 
 %n was thrown over the bridge, and the Mexicans were dragging him 
 to their canoes, yet he efcaped from them with his colours in his hand. 
 In this attack they killed five of our foldiers, and wounded many. Cor- 
 tes perceived his imprudence, and ordered a retreat, which was effected 
 with regularity, our people fronting the enemy, and only giving ground 
 inch by inch. Juan Volante, the enfign who fell into the lake, had a 
 jealoufy with one of our foldiers, Pedro de Ircio, about a certain woman. 
 The latter in order to affront him ufed fome abufive language, which 
 Volante did not deferve, being a very valiant gentleman, as he had 
 mown on that and many other occaiions. -Cortes halted here for five 
 days, and then returned to Tezcuco, the Mexicans harraffing his march; 
 but having been once defeated in an ambufcade which Cortes laid for 
 them, they deufted. When our troops arrived at head quarters, the 
 
 Tlafcalans, 
 
( »<*« ) 
 
 Tlafcalans, who had enriched themfelves by plunder, were anxious to 
 go home, which Cortes readily gave than permifiion to do. 
 
 During four days after this expedition, the Indians of feveral neigh- 
 bouring diftricts came in with prefents and declarations of fubmiiTion. 
 Cortes received all in good part, although he knew very well that they 
 had been concerned in murders, difmiiling them with promifes of pro- 
 tection. Other applications of a mere embarrafiing nature were alfo 
 made at this time, for the nations in our alliance came with painted re- 
 prefentations of the outrages committed on them by the Mexicans, and 
 requefling fuccour. Cortes was hardly able to grant them affiftance, 
 from the itate of our army, which, exclusive of our lofs by killed and 
 wounded was grown very unhealthy. He however promifed them his 
 fupport, bnt told them to rely more on their own exertions, and that 
 they (hould be alTiited by the neighbouring people of our alliance. For 
 this purpofe he gave them letters of fummons to the refpective diftricts, 
 to afTemble againff, the common enemy. The different diftricts having 
 afTembled their forces, met the Mexicans in the field, and had an action 
 with them, in which they exerted themfelves with fuccefs. The pro- 
 vince of Chalco however was an object of more importance; the poflef- 
 iion of that country was requilite for our communication with Villa Ri- 
 ca and Tlafcala, and for the fubfiftence of our troops, as it was a corn 
 country, ft was much harrafTed, and therefore Cortes fent Sandoval 
 with about two hundred and fifty of our troops, cavalry and infantry, 
 accompanied by what few of our Tlafcalan allies remained with us, and 
 a company of thofe of Tezcuco, to clear it of the enemy. 
 
 On the twelfth day of March, one thoufand five hundred and twenty 
 one, after hearing mafs, Sandoval fet out, and arrived in the diftrict of 
 Chalco. On the enming morning he reached Talmanalco, where he 
 received information that the Mexican force was potted at a large town 
 called Guaztepeque. The warriors of Chalco accompanied our troops, 
 who halted for the night at the town of Chimalcan. On the next morn- 
 ing Sandoval ordered the crofsbow-men and mufqueteers to attack the 
 
 enemy 
 

 ( 262 ) 
 
 enemy in the broken ground, and forming the cavalry into imall divi- 
 sions of three in front, directed them to charge as foon as the firing had 
 made any impreflion; thofe who were armed with fword and buckler 
 he formed in a compact body as a referve. Advancing in this order, he 
 fhortly perceived the Mexicans in three large battalians or columns, and 
 founding their warlike mufic. As foon as Sandoval perceived their dif- 
 pofition he thought proper to give up his original plan, and to break 
 the enemy by a charge of cavalry. Putting himfelf therefore at the head 
 of this body of troops, he attacked them, crying out "St. Jago for us! 
 comrades fall on!" The main body of the Mexicans was partly broken 
 by the charge, but they immediately clofed and fronted again. The 
 ground was much in their favor, fo that Sandoval faw it was abfolutely 
 neceilary to drive them from this poll:, into the open ground in their 
 rear. For this purpofe he ordered the mufqueteers ana 1 crofsbow-men 
 to engage them in the front, and the troops armed with fword and tar- 
 get to turn their flanks, and he gave directions, that at the proper time, 
 the cavalry fliould fall on the enemy by a fignal. He alfo now ordered 
 our allies to come forward to the attack. Our troops at laft forced them 
 to retreat; they fell back however no farther than to a fecond ftrong po- 
 rtion, nor could Sandoval with his cavalry do any confiderable execution 
 among them. Here we loft Gonzalo Dominguez, whofe horfe fell 
 with him, whereby he died in a few days. He was much regretted, 
 for we efteemed him to be as brave a foldier as De Oli or Sandoval. 
 Our army having broken the enemy again, purfued them to the town, 
 where they were fuddenly attacked by at leaft fifteen thouiand freih war- 
 riors, who attempted to f unround them; but our troops falling on both 
 their flanks, the whole faced about and fled, endeavoring to rally behind 
 fome works which they had conftructed. They were however fo clofe- 
 ly followed that they had not time to do fo, and were driven compleatly 
 withiniide the town. Sandoval then thought it neceflary to give his 
 foldiers fome repofe, and as a conliderable fpoil of provifions had fallen 
 in the wa) of the troops, they began to prepare their dinners, during 
 which time the patroles came galloping in, crying "To arms! the ene- 
 
 There was hardly a moments interval until they 
 
 were 
 
 my are coming ! 
 
( 2<5 3 ) 
 
 were prepared, and advancing againft the enemy, they met them in an 
 open fpace, and had a fevere fkirmifh, after which the enemy fell back 
 behind their works ; but Sandoval attacked them with fuch impetuofity 
 that he drove them completely away, forcing them to evacuate the 
 town. 
 
 In this place was a very magnificent and extenfive garden, in 
 which Sandoval took his quarters for the night, and certainly it was a 
 beautiful one to behold; it contained a number of large and handfome 
 buildings, and fuch varieties that it was truly admirable, and fit for the 
 refidence of a great prince ; nor had our foldiers time to fee the whole of 
 it, for it was above a quarter of a league in length. I was not in this 
 action, being very ill by the wound of a lance, which I received in my 
 throat at the affair of Iztapalapa, the marks of which I carry to this day; 
 but I faw the garden about twenty days afterwards, when 1 accompa- 
 nied Cortes. Not having been on this expedition for the reafon I have 
 before afligned, as I was then almoft at deaths door, I do not in my 
 narrative fay we, and us, but they, and them; but notwithftanding 
 that, all is true to the letter as I have related it, for the tranfictions of 
 an expedition are immediately known in quarters, nor is there any op- 
 portunity of adding to, or diminifhing the truth, as is fometimcs the 
 cafe elfewhere. 
 
 Sandoval thought it a good time to fummon all the neighbouring 
 diftricts to fubmiiTion, which he accordingly did, but with very little 
 effect, thofe of Acapiftlan, especially, anfwering by a defiance. This 
 made our allies of Chalco uneafy, as well knowing that they and the 
 Mexicans were only waiting until the return of the Spaniards, in order 
 to fall upon them. For feveral reafons it was neceflary therefore to hum- 
 ble thefe people, but a great difference of opinion exifted on the fubject. 
 Sandoval was adverfe to any new expedition on account of the number 
 of his wounded, and the foldiers of Narvaez were adverfe, becaufe they 
 difliked rifques of any kind ; but our allies were for it, and Captain 
 ,Luis Marin, a wife and valiant officer, ffrongly fupported them. As 
 
 the 
 

 ( 264 ) 
 
 the diftance was but two leagues Sandoval acquiefced. When he advan- 
 ced, the enemy attacked him with their miflile weapons, and after 
 wounding fome of his men, returned to their ftrong port in the town. 
 Our allies did not exhibit much alacrity in going to the attack, in which 
 the Spaniards were obliged to mew them the way, and diimounting 
 fome of the cavalry, and leaving the reft in the plain to guard the rear, 
 thev advanced againft the place, which they entered, having a number 
 wounded in the afcent, and amongft others Sandoval himfelf. But if 
 the Indians were tardy before, they made up for it now ; the Spaniards 
 not having the trouble of putting the enemy to death, it being entirely 
 faved them by their allies. Indeed our countrymen thought their time 
 employed to much better purpofe in fearching for gold, or making good 
 female prifoners, than in cutting to pieces a parcel of poor wretches 
 who did not any longer. defend themfelves. They frequently blamed 
 the cruelty of their allies, and faved many Indians from them. Gomara 
 fays that the Spaniards fuffered thirft here becaufe the water was not to 
 be drank, on account of the quantity of blood with which it was dif- 
 coloured; the fact is, that many of the wounded Mexicans did come 
 from the rocks and ridges down to the water in making their efcape, 
 and it was difcoloured the length of time that it would take to fay an 
 Ave Maria, but as to our people fufTering thirft on that account, that 
 muft be untrue, for there were feveral fountains of the fineft water, in 
 the town. 
 
 After this fuccefs Sandoval returned to Tezcuco, with a number of 
 Haves and confiderable fpoils. Guatimotzin the reigning prince of Mex- 
 ico was enraged when he heard of the hoftilities committed againft him 
 by his own people of Chalco, and determined to inflict immediate pu- 
 nifhment. He now fent acrofs the lake twenty thoufand of his warri- 
 ors in two thoufand canoes, to wafte the province with fire and fword, 
 f o that at the very moment when the brave Sandoval had arrived at head 
 quarters, and before he could make the report of his expedition to the 
 general, there arrived expreffes from Chalco ftating their being in a more 
 defperate fituation than ever. This put Cortes in a violent pafTion with 
 
 Sandoval, 
 
C 265 ) 
 
 Sandoval, thinking that he had been the caufe of this misfortune; and 
 thus, without hearing him out, when he came to wait upon him, he 
 commanded his inftant return. This gave Sandoval pain, thinking that 
 he was unworthily treated by Cortes. However he was obliged to re- 
 turn to Chalco. On his arrival he found the bufinefs entirely over, 
 for the people of that province had fummoned their allies, and repulfed 
 the Mexicans, fo that our countrymen returned with the prifoners to 
 head quarters. Cortes was delighted when he heard the event, but San- 
 doval would not fpeak to him. The general made every apology, and 
 protefted that the whole was owing to a miftake, however, it is unne- 
 ceffary to fay any more upon the fubjeel:, as they fhortly after became as 
 good friends as ever. 
 
 At this time, according to a general proclamation, the Indian flaves 
 were brought together in order to be marked. The reader is already 
 acquainted with the tranfaclions at Tepeaca. It was if pofhble worfe 
 now at Tezcuco. Firft there was a fifth for his Majefty, then another 
 fifth for Cortes, and then the (hares of the captains. What was worft, 
 moft of the good female (laves had difappeared during the night ! it had 
 been promifed that they (hould be rated, and the proprietor charged ac- 
 cording to the value; but the royal officers or commiiTaries valued them 
 as they thought proper, fo that the poor foldier fell from bad to worfe. 
 The confequence of this was, that in future, to avoid lofing them thus, 
 the foldiers concealed their (laves or palled them as fervants and not pri- 
 foners of war, and thofe who were in favor with Cortes brought them 
 to be marked privately and paid the value to him. Thofe (laves who 
 fell to the lot of fuch matters as treated them ill, or had the name of do- 
 ing fo, immediately deferted and were no more to be found; but the 
 owners always remained debtors for fo much upon their value in his 
 Majefty's books, fo that many were in debt more than their (hare of 
 prifage of gold could pay off. 
 
 At this time arrived a (hip, with arms and gunpowder, from Old 
 Caftille, in which came Julian de Aldercte treafurer for the crown; he 
 
 M m was 
 
( 266 ) 
 
 was from Tordefillas, as was alfo Orduna the elder, who, after the con- 
 quest, brought over five daughters whom he married very honorably. 
 A brother of the order of St. Francis alfo came; he was named Fra Pe- 
 dro Malgarejo de Urrea. He brought with him a -number of bulls of 
 our lord St. Peter, in order to compofe our confciences if we had any 
 thing to lay to our charge on account of the wars. The reverend father 
 made a fortune in a few months, and returned to Caftille. Anthonio 
 Carajaval who now lives in Mexico, though very old, Geronymo Ru- 
 iz de la Mora, one Briones, who was about four years afterwards hang- 
 ed in Guatimala for fedition, Alonzo Diaz de la Reguera now living in 
 Valladolid, and many others came by this vefTel. We now learned that 
 the Bifhop of Burgos had no longer any power, his Majefty having 
 been difpleafed with his conduct ever fince he knew of our eminent fer- 
 vices. Another meflage arrived at this moment from Chalco for aftif- 
 tance againft: the Mexicans, upon which Cortes gave his promife that 
 he would immediately march thither, although the brigantines were 
 now ready to launch, and the foldiers were anxious to begin the fiege 
 of Mexico. 
 
 Cortes, leaving the town of Tezcuco to the care of Sandoval, fet 
 out after mafs, upon his expedition, to clear the diflricfl of Chalco, and 
 reconnoitre the country adjacent to the lake, on friday the fifth of April, 
 one thoufand five hundred and twenty one, at the head of three hundred 
 infantry, twenty crofsbow-men and fifteen mufqueteers included, and thir- 
 ty cavalry, with a large body of the auxiliaries of Tezcuco and Tlafcala. 
 The general was accompanied by the treafurer Alderete, Fray Pedro 
 Melgarejo, the captains Alvarado, De Oli, and Tap ia, and in this ex- 
 pedition I alfo went. The firfl night we halted at Talmanalco, and on 
 the next day reached Chalco, whither Cortes fummoned all the chiefs, 
 and informed them of his intention immediately to attack Mexico, re- 
 quiring their aiTiftance, which they moft readily promifed. On the 
 next day, Cortes continuing his march, arrived at the town of Chimal- 
 acoan, in the fame province, where above twenty thoufand warriors 
 had afTembled to meet us. From the time of my firft. arrival in this 
 
 country. 
 
( 26; ) 
 
 country, I never had feen fo many of our allies in one body. They were 
 thofe of Chalco, Guaxocingo, Tlafcala, Tezcuco, and other places, 
 and they certainly were attracted by the hope of fpoil, and a voracious 
 appetite for human flefli, juft as the fcald crows and other birds of prey 
 follow our armies in Italy, in order to feed on the dead bodies after a 
 battle. 
 
 We here received intelligence, that the Mexican forces and their al- 
 lies of that neighbourhood, were ready and in the field. Cortes there- 
 fore warned us to be alert, and early the next morning after mafs, as we 
 proceeded on our march, our route being between two ridges of rocks 
 the fummits of which were fortified and garrifoned, the enemy endea- 
 vored by outcries and reproaches to draw us to an attack; but we purfu- 
 ed our march, by a large town named Guaztepeque, which we found 
 abandoned, and palling through, we arrived at a plain where were fome 
 very fcanty fountains of water, and hard by was a great rock with a for- 
 trefs on the fummit. We obferved it to be filled with troops, who fa- 
 luted us on our approach with fhouts, fhowers of ftones, and arrows, 
 by the firit difcharge of which they wounded three of our foldiers. Cor^ 
 tes then ordered us to halt, and obferving that the Mexicans feemed to 
 defpife us for not attacking them, he fent a party of cavalry to examine 
 the rock. On their return they told the general, that no part feemed to 
 them fo accefiible as that where we then were. Cortes then ordered us 
 to afcend, Enfign Chriftoval del Corral with the colours leading us, and 
 Cortes with the cavalry remaining in the plain to protect the rear. 
 
 When we began to afcend the mountain, the Indians threw down 
 large mafles of rock, and it was dreadful to fee them roll among us, and 
 a wonder how any of us efcaped, as they bounded over us. The order 
 was a very inconfiderate one, and very unlike a wife captain. One fol- 
 dier though he wore a helmet was killed at my foot; he never uttered a 
 word ; his name was Martin Valenciano. As we continued to afcend, 
 the ftones itill came rolling down upon us, and two more foldiers, one 
 named Gafpar Sanches, nephew to the treafurer of Cuba, and the other 
 
 Mm 2 named 
 
( 263 ) 
 
 named Bravo, were the next who loft their lives, and immediately after, 
 Alonzo Rodriguez was killed, and two more knocked down. Moftof 
 the reft received wounds, but ftill we afcended. I was at that time an 
 active young man, and followed clofe to our enlign, taking advantage 
 of the concavities that we found from time to time in the rock. Corral 
 was wounded in the head, his face covered with blood, and the colours 
 tattered to pieces. " Oh fignor Bernal Diaz del Caftillo " faid he to me, 
 M here is no advancing; remain under cover, for it is as much as I can 
 " do to keep my hold, and preferve myfelf from falling." Looking 
 downward I at this time perceived Pedro Barba captain of the crofsbow- 
 men, with two foldiers, climbing up as we had done under the cover 
 of the projections in the face of the rock. I called to him not to ad- 
 vance, for that it was impoftible to climb much farther. He replied 
 in lofty terms, that I mould dcfift from talking, and proceed on. I 
 was a little piqued at this, and exerting my utmoft activity, mounted to 
 a confiderable diftance higher, telling him I mould fee how he would 
 do. At this moment a mower of large rocks came down, and crufhed 
 one of the foldiers who were with Barba to death ; after having feen 
 which he did not ftir a ftep. Corral called out to thofe below defiring 
 them to report to the general the impoflibility of proceeding, and that 
 even the defcent was full of danger. When Cortes was informed of this, 
 for he could not fee us on account of the inequalities of the rocks, and 
 underftood that moft of us were wounded and many killed, a circum- 
 ftance which he could the readier believe from having had three of the 
 cavalry killed on the plain by the rolling down of the mafles of rocks, 
 feven alfo being wounded in the fame manner, he gave ilgnals for us to 
 defcend, which we accordingly did, in a very bloody and bruifed con- 
 dition, leaving eight of our party dead. 
 
 Bodies of the Mexicans were watching us during this time, con- 
 cealed in different places, in order to fall upon us when we were enga- 
 ged in the attack, for it was a concerted plan. They now (hewed 
 themfelves, and advanced againft us ,• we attacked them in the plain and 
 drove them to fome other ridges of rocks, and advancing through nar- 
 row 
 
( *69 ) 
 
 row pafTes like roads between them, we found another very (hong for- 
 trefs iimilar to that we had juit been rep ul fed from. We now defiiled 
 for the prefent, and returned to our former pofition, in order to procure 
 water, the men and horfes not having drank during the whole day. 
 We found fome fprings at the foot of the rock, but the numbers of the 
 enemy had drained them, and left nothing but mud. We then pro- 
 ceeded to the other fortrefs which we had obferved; there was a dif- 
 tance of about a league and a half between the two. Here, in a grove 
 of mulberry trees we found a fountain, but very fcanty of water, and 
 under thefe trees we halted for fome time. At the foot of the rock 
 whereon the fort was, flood a fmall village. The people above began 
 at our approach to (hoot at us, and appeared in much more confiderable 
 numbers than in the former place, and their fituation was fuch that no 
 (hot from us could take effect upon them. For fome diftance from the 
 level ground, there was an appearance of paths up the rock, but it al- 
 together prefented extreme difficulties. 
 
 On the enfuing day we attacked, our principal body climbing the 
 rock very (lowly and with great fatigue, nor could we have ever afcend- 
 ed to the works, for they were wounding and deftroying us by rolling 
 down maiTes of rock on our heads, but that fortunately for us there was 
 within (hot of the pod another rock which commanded it, and to this 
 all our fire arms and crofsbow-men were detached; and although they 
 were rather too far off to have much effect, yet having killed feveral of 
 the enemy over their ramparts, it threw them off their defence, and they 
 offered to fubmit. Cortes called for five of their chiefs to defcend, and 
 reprehending them for having been the aggreifors, he told them that he 
 would pardon them on condition that they induced thofe who were in 
 the other fortrefs to give thcmfelves up, which they undertook to do. 
 Cortes then ordered the two captains Juan Xaramillo and Pedro de Ircio, 
 and the enfign, Corral, to afcend to the fort which had been furrendered, 
 bidding me accompany them, and he at the fame time warned us not to 
 touch a (ingle grain of maiz. This exprefiion I confidercd as implying 
 that we (hould do ourfelves what good we had in our power. We 
 
 found 
 

 ( 270 ) 
 
 found it to confifi: of an extenfive plain on the fummit of a perpendicu- 
 lar rock ; the entrance was by an aperture not much larger than twice 
 the fize of the mouth of an oven. It was completely filled with men, 
 women, and children, but they had not a fingle drop of water, and about 
 twenty of their warriors were killed, and many wounded. Their pro- 
 perty was all packed up in bales, and here was alfo a considerable tri- 
 bute, collected in order to be fent to Mexico. I had brought four of 
 my Indian fervants with me, and began to load them, and alfo four of 
 the natives ; upon which Captain De Ircio came and told me to lay down 
 the packs immediately, or he would report me to the general, afking if 
 I had not heard his orders not to touch a grain of maize. I replied that 
 I had heard the orders that the maize fhould not be taken, and that was 
 the reafon why I took the packages ; but he would not fuffer any of it 
 to go, and on our return reported me to Cortes, expecting that I fhould 
 receive blame; but Cortes was not fo difpofed, faying on the contrary, 
 that he was forry I had not got the fpoil, and that the dogs mould keep 
 their property, and laugh at us, after all the mifchief which they had 
 done. De Ircio on this wifhed to return thither; but Cortes told him 
 that the time did not then admit of it. By this, the chiefs had arrived 
 from the firft fortrefs, the garrifon of which agreed to fubmit, and we 
 returned, being compelled by want of water, to the town of Guaztepe- 
 que, where was the noble garden I have before mentioned. In this 
 garden our whole force lodged for the night ; I certainly never had {ecn 
 one of fuch magnificence, and Cortes and the treafurer Alderete, after 
 they had walked through and examined it, declared that it was admira- 
 ble, and equal to any that they had ever feen in Caftille. 
 
 On the enfuing day we marched for Cuernabaca. The Mexicans 
 who were in that town came out and attacked us, but we defeated and 
 drove them to a town named Tepuztlan, which we took by furprife, 
 making a great booty of Indian women, and other fpoils. Cortes fum- 
 moned the chiefs three or four times, to fubmit, and on their refufal to 
 come in, and in order to ftrike terror into others, fet fire to about one 
 half of the houfes. At this time the chiefs of a diftrict named Yauh- 
 
 tepeque 
 
( *v ) 
 
 fepeque came to wait on Cortes and make their fubmiffion. On the 
 next day we arrived at the large town of Cuernabaca, or Coadlavaca, in 
 a very ftrong lituation, on account of a deep ravine caufed by a rivulet 
 which runs at the depth of at leaft forty feet, although there is not 
 much water, and which precluded all accefs to the town except by two 
 bridges, which the inhabitants had broken upon our approach. Cortes 
 however being informed that about half a league higher up was a 
 palTage practicable for the cavalry, went thither with them, and 
 we all fearched for paries, and at length difcovered a very dangerous 
 one, over fome trees which hung acrofs from the two oppofite fides of 
 the ravine. About thirty of us, and many Tlafcalans, made our way 
 over, by the help of thofe trees, with great difficulty, three fell into the 
 water, and one broke his leg. It was indeed a truly frightful attempt; 
 I for a time entirely loft my light, from the depth and danger. We 
 who got over, falling on the flank and rear of the enemy unexpectedly, 
 and being juft then joined by part of our cavalry who had crofted a 
 bridge which was not entirely deftroyed, now drove the enemy from 
 this poft, to the neighbouring woods and rocks. In the town we found 
 confiderable property, and here we were again lodged in a large garden, 
 belonging to the lord of the diftrict. A deputation of twenty of the 
 principal Indians waited on Cortes, apologizing for the hoftilities com- 
 mitted, the blame of which they threw on the Mexicans, offering to 
 fubmit themfelves and obferving, as I recollect, that their gods had 
 been permitted by ours to punifh them. 
 
 Suchimileco, the object of our march, is a large city on the freili 
 water lake, in which moft of the houfes are built. As it was late when 
 we fet out from Coadlavaca, and the weather excefiively fultry, our troops 
 fuffered dreadfully from the want of water, not a drop whereof was to 
 be met with on our route. Our allies fainted on the road in numbers; 
 one of them died, and alfo one of our foldiers. Cortes feeing the dif- 
 trefTes of the army, halted under fome pine trees, and fent a party for- 
 ward to feek for relief. When I faw them about to fet off, my friend 
 Chriitoval de Oli being one of them, I brought three of my Indian fer~ 
 
 vants. 
 

 
 ( W ) 
 
 vants with me, and followed the party, which they obferving, 
 halted in order to make me return, but I was reiblved, and De Oli at 
 laft affented, telling me I muft expect to fight my way. About half a 
 league in front were fome villages on the fide of a ridge. The cavalry 
 went thither and found water in the houfes, and one of my fervants 
 brought me from thence a large jar, which they ufe in that country, full 
 of water. I then determined to return, for the inhabitants of the village 
 had begun to take the alarm. I found Cortes juft fetting forward on 
 his march, and gave him and the captains a hearty draught each out of 
 the jar, w r hich my fervants carried very well concealed, for thirft con- 
 fiders itfelf before any one. We arrived at the villages and found water, 
 though not much ; the fun was then near fetting, and our cavalry came 
 in and reported that the whole country was in movement againft us ; we 
 therefore halted here. I was on the night guard, and recollect that it 
 was very windy and rainy. Several of our foldiers were taken ill with 
 inflamations in the mouth and throat, from eating a fpecies of thiftle or 
 artichoke, to quench their thirft. 
 
 Early the next morning we purfued our route, and about eight 
 o'clock arrived at Suchimikco. I can give no idea of the number of the 
 enemies troops which were gathered here, they were infuch vaft bodies. 
 They had broken down the bridge which was in front, and fortified 
 themfelves w r ith parapets and pallifades; their leaders were armed with 
 f words which they had taken from us in the fatal night of Mexico, and 
 which they had polifhed and made very bright. The attack lafted for 
 half an hour at the bridge. Some of our people patted the water by 
 fwimming, and fome loft their lives in it. What was worft, feveral 
 bodies fell on our flanks and rear. When our cavalry had got on firm 
 ground, with the lofs of two more of our foldiers killed, we drove them 
 before us, but a reinforcement of at leaft ten thoufand Mexicans juft then 
 arrived, and received the charge of our cavalry, four of whom they 
 w f ounded. Here the good chefnut horfe which our Cortes rode tired 
 under him amongft a croud of the enemy, who pulled or knocked the 
 general down, with the intention of taking him alive ; more crouds now 
 
 gathered 
 
( 273 ) 
 
 gathered about him, and were hurrying him off, but a body of our 
 Tlafcalan allies headed by the brave Chriftoval de Olea came to his ref- 
 cue, and remounted him, though he was feverely wounded in the head. 
 Olea alfo received three defperate wounds from the fwords of the 
 enemy. 
 
 As all the ftreets of the town were full of Mexican troops, we 
 were obliged to divide into bodies and fight feparately; but thofe who 
 were neareft, knowing by the outcry and noife that it was very ferious 
 in that part where Cortes commanded, hurried thither, and found him 
 with about fifteen of the cavalry in a very embarrafled fituation, among 
 the canals and parapets. We then forced the enemy to give ground, 
 and brought off our Cortes and Olea. On firfl patting the bridge, 
 Cortes had ordered the cavalry in two divifions, to clear our flanks. 
 At this time they returned to us, every one of them wounded, and re- 
 ported that the numbers were fuch that their efforts were unavailir.g. 
 
 We were in an enclofed court, drelTing our wounds with 3iirnt 
 oil, and tearing cloth to bind them, when the cavalry came in; and in 
 a fhort time after, fuch a volley of arrows came among us that very- few 
 efcaped unhurt. We now, together with the cavalry, fallied out among 
 the enemy , and ufed our fwords to fuch effecl: that they left a confide- 
 rable number behind them on the ground; our lofs being, one man and 
 two horfes; killed. Having now a little breathing time, for the enemy 
 defifted from their attempt to ftorm our poll:, Cortes brought his troops 
 to the large enclosures where were the temples of the Indians, andfome 
 of our party going to the top, which commanded Mexico and the whole 
 lake, perceived above two thoufand canoes coming from the city againft 
 us full of troops. A body often thoufand men alfo marched or. the 
 land fide, to attack us on that night, and another body of ten thoufand 
 was in readinefs as a relief. All this we learned from five of the chiefs 
 whom we made prifoners. We polled ftrong guards at thofe places 
 where the enemy were to difembark, the cavalry were in readinefs to 
 act upon the roads and firm ground, and confiant patroles were kept 
 
 N n going 
 

 ■ 
 
 ■ 
 
 Sal 
 
 ( *& ) 
 
 going during the night. I and ten more foldiers were polled as a'guatcfr 
 upon a wall of lime and ftone, which commanded one of the landing- 
 places. While we were on the watch, we heard a noife which we knew 
 to be occafioned by the approach of a party of the enemy. We were 
 prepared, and beat them off, fending one of our foldiers to make a re- 
 port to Cortes. The enemy returned in a very fhort time, and attack- 
 ing us again, knocked down two of our party, and then draw off to 
 attempt a landing at another place, which was a fmall gate upon a deep 
 canal. The night was very dark, and as thefe people are not accuftom- 
 ed to fight during that feafon, it appeared that their two armies fell into 
 confufion, and contrary to the orders they received, formed in one body, 
 making at leafr, fifteen thoufand men. v 
 
 I mufr. now fpeak of my {elf, not meaning it however in the way 
 of boaft. When our report reached Cortes, he came to us with ten of 
 the cavalry, and as he approached without fpeaking, I challenged, 
 " who goes there?" and getting no anfwer, I and my comrade, one 
 Gonzalo Sanchez a Portuguefe of Algarve, fent three or four (hots at 
 them. Cortes knowing our voices obferved to thofe with him, that 
 this pod required no vifiting, for we were two of his veterans. He 
 then remarked to us that our ftation was a dangerous one, and turning 
 about without faying any more, he continued his rounds. I afterwards 
 heard that one of Narvaez's foldiers was whipped for negligence on this 
 tii 
 
 Our powder being all exhaufted, Cortes ordered us to prepare a 
 good {lore of arrows, which we were employed during the night in 
 heading and feathering, under the directions of Pedro Barba the captain 
 of the crofsbow-men. At day break the enemy attacked us, but with- 
 out much fuccefs ; for we killed feveral of their leaders, and took many 
 of them prifoners, with the lofs of but one Spaniard killed. Our ca- 
 valry who had advanced, fell in with the Mexicans, and not being 
 frrong enough to attack them, fent back for aiTiftance; on which the 
 whole of our force fallied out. Wc charged and defeated the enemy, 
 
 and 
 
( *75 ) 
 
 and made feveral prifoners, who informed us of the plan of the Mexi- 
 cans to wear us out by inceffant attacks. We therefore determined to 
 quit that place on the enfuing day. In the interim, our troops and 
 allies having intelligence of the wealth which was in the town, got 
 fome of the prifoners to point out to them the houfes that contained it, 
 the approach to which was by a caufeway with fmall bridges over the 
 canals, for they flood on the frefli water lake. From thefe they return- 
 ed loaded with cotton cloths and other valuables, and this example in- 
 duced others to follow it. Unfortunately, while thus employed, a body 
 of Mexicans in canoes came upon them, and wounding many, feized 
 four foldiers of the company of Captain De Monjaraz, alive, and hur- 
 rying them into their veffels, carried them to Mexico in triumph. From 
 thefe men Guatimotzin, the King of Mexico was informed of the fmall- 
 nefs of our numbers, and our great lofs in killed and wounded. After 
 having queftioned them as much as he thought proper, he commanded 
 their hands and feet to be cut off, and in this lamentable condition fent 
 them through many diftricts of the neighbourhood, as a fample of what 
 he expected to do by us all, and after having thus exhibited them 
 through the country they weie put to death. The enfuing morning 
 afforded opportunity for frefli attacks upon us, as had been regularly 
 the cafe for the four days during which we ffaid in Suchimelco. 
 
 Previous to our march, Cortes drew his troops to an open place a 
 little out of the town, where the market was held. Here he formed us, 
 and then made a fpeech, wherein he dwelt upon the dangers we had to 
 go through in our retreat, and the great bodies of the enemy that waited 
 us on the road; for which reafon, he ftrongly infilled on the necefTity 
 of leaving all the luggage behind; but we replied that we were men 
 able to defend our properties, our perfons, and his alfo; and that it 
 would be very paltry in us to abandon what we had acquired. When 
 he faw our determination, he put us in order for the march, the bag- 
 gage in the center, and the cavalry forming the advanced and rear guard ; 
 and it was protected alio by our crofsbow-men, for as to our mufquctry 
 it was ufelefs from want of powder. The enemy attacked us upon our 
 
 Nn 2 retreat) 
 

 ( 2? 6 ) 
 
 retreat, purfuing us as far as Cuyocan. There were in this neighbour- 
 hood clutters of towns, each of confiderable magnitude, built in the 
 water, at the diftance of two leagues from Mexico, and about a league 
 and an half from each other. They amounted to above ten in number. 
 It was the inhabitants of all thofe who had joined together at this time 
 to attack us ; their names were Suchimelco, Cuyoacan, Chohuilobufco, 
 Iztapalapa, Coadlavaca, Mefquique, and others. We halted for two 
 days at Cuyoacan, which we found abandoned, attending the wounded, 
 and making arrows for our crofsbow r s. On the third morning we 
 fet out upon our march for Tacuba, and were attacked as ufual, but 
 our cavalry drove the enemy to their ditches and canals. 
 
 Cortes at this time determined to lay an ambufcade, and accordingly 
 fet out with ten of the cavalry and four fervants. He foon fell in with 
 a party of Mexicans who fled before him, and imprudently prelTing 
 them too far, a large body of their warriors ftarted out upon him, and 
 in their firfl attack wounded all the horfes, and getting two of the at- 
 tendants of Cortes in their hands, carried them to Mexico to be facrifi- 
 ced, the reft having a moft narrow efcape. Our main body reached the 
 head quarters at Tacuba with the bap-p/ap-e in fafetv. and not hearing 
 any thing of Cortes or his party of cavalry, we fufpected fome misfor- 
 tune. Alvarado, De Oli, Tapia, I, and fome more therefore went in 
 fearch of him, towards that part whither we faw them go, and we 
 foon met two of his fervants, who informed us of what had happen- 
 ed. In a fhort time Cortes came up to us; he was very fad, and 
 weepi ng. 
 
 When we arrived at our quarters at Tacuba it rained heavily, and 
 we remained under it for two hours in fome large enclofed courts. The 
 general, with his captains, the treafurer, our reverend father, and ma- 
 ny others of us, mounted to the top of the temple which commanded 
 all the lake, and afforded a moft furprifmg and pleafing fpectacle, from 
 the.multitude of cities rifing as it were out of the water, and the innu- 
 merable quantity of boats employed in fifhing, or rapidly patting to and 
 
 fro* 
 
( *77 ) 
 
 fro. All of us agreed in giving glory to God, for making us the in- 
 flruments of rendering fuch fervices : the reverend father alfo confoled 
 Cortes, who was very fad on account of his late lofs. When we con- 
 templated the fcenes of what had happened to us in Mexico, and which 
 we could well trace from where we flood, it made Cortes much more 
 fad than before. It was on this that the romance was written which 
 begins, 
 
 " In Tacuba was Cortes, with many a gallant chief, 
 
 " He thought upon his lolTes, and bowed his head with grief 
 
 One of our foldiers, the bachelor Alonzo Perez, who was afterwards 
 fifcal near Mexico, in order to confole him, obferved, that thofe things 
 wepe the common fortune of war, and that they could not at prefent 
 compare him to Nero viewing Rome on fire. Cortes anfwered that he 
 was only fad from the reflection of the dangers and fatigues that we 
 fhould have to go through, but that he would fhortly put his hand to 
 the bufinefs. Our captains and foldiers now confulted, whether it would 
 not be eligible to take a view of the caufeway, but it was thought not 
 prudent, and we continued our march by Efcapuzalco, which was 
 abandoned, to Tenayuca, where, in the great temple, they worfhipped 
 three ferpents. From this place, which was alfo abandoned, we pro- 
 ceeded to Guatitlan, and during the whole days march it never ceafed 
 raining; whereby, together with the weight of our arms, we came in. 
 dreadfully fatigued, 
 
 The enemy gave us fome alarms in the night, during which it 
 rained heavily, no watch being kept by us on account of the feverity of 
 the weather, as I can teftify, my poft not having been vifited either by 
 rounds or corporal. Marching through four or five towns which, were 
 abandoned, by a road deep in mud, we arrived in two days more at 
 Aculman in the diftrict of Tezcuco, where we found^ that a reinforce- 
 ment to our army had newly arrived from Caftille., On the next day 
 
 we 
 
( 2 7 S ) 
 
 we proceeded to Tezcueo, and arrived fatigued, worn out, and dimi- 
 nifhed in numbers. 
 
 A confpiracy againit the life of Cortes was at this time formed, by 
 an adherent of the governor of Cuba, one Anthonio de Villafma, na- 
 tive of Zamora or of Toro, and fome of the other foldiers of Narvaez, 
 whofe names I will not mention. The aiTaffination was to have been 
 executed in the following manner. A velTel having lately arrived from 
 Caftille, a letter was to be brought to the general, as from his father, 
 and as if it had come by that opportunity ; which letter was to be de- 
 livered as he fat at table with his officers and foldiers, and when he had 
 opened, and was in the act of reading it, the confpirators were to fall 
 on and alTalTinate him with their poinards, together with all of us who 
 were in his company. When every thing was arranged, the confpira- 
 tors communicated their intentions to two principal perfons whom I will 
 not name, but who had been on the expedition with us, one of whom 
 on the death of Cortes they meant to have appointed captain general. 
 The offices of alguazil major, enfign, alcaldes, regidor, contador, 
 treafurcr, veedor, and others of this kind were to have been filled up 
 
 from anions! the foldiers 
 
 ^c v. 
 
 Ci IN a 
 
 rvaez, and they had divided amongit 
 
 them our properties and horfes. The bufinefs was difcovered two days 
 after our arrival at Tezcuco, by God's mercy, who did not chufe that 
 New Spain mould have been fo loll; for if we had been put to death, 
 all would have fallen into confufion and faction. 
 
 It fecms a faithful fold ier made the difcovery to Cortes, who im- 
 mediately took proper fteps to prevent the mifchief from fpreading, for 
 he underftood it to be conducted by perfons of quality. As foon as it 
 was made clear to him, he gave large rewards for the information. 
 He then communicated it to all our captains, namely, alvarado, De 
 Lugo, De Oh, Sandoval, and Tapia, alfo to me, and to the two Al- 
 caldes of that year, Luis Marin, and Pedro de Ircio; in fhort to all of 
 his party.' As foon as we knew of it we prepared ourfelves, and attend- 
 ed Cortes to the quarters of Vilkfana, where we found him and many 
 
 others 
 
C 279 ) 
 
 others of the confpirators. The four alguazils feized Villafana; the 
 others attempted to efcape by flight, but Cortes ordered them to be de- 
 tained, and fome of them he committed to prifon. Cortes then took 
 from the bofom of Villafana a paper, with the fignatures of thofe who 
 were concerned with him, in confideration for whom however, he cau- 
 fed the report to be circulated, that it had been fwallowed by Villafana, 
 without his having feen it. He was immediately put upon his trial, but 
 voluntarily made a eonfeffion, according to which, and to the teftimony 
 of many witnefles, he was condemned by his judges, the two alcaldes, 
 conjointly with Cortes, and De Oli who fat by virtue of his office. 
 Shortly after his condemnation, having confefTcd himfelf to the reve- 
 rend Father Juan Diaz, he was hanged from a window of the apart- 
 ment. 
 
 Of the feveral others who were arretted, no more were proceeded 
 againft; enough having been done for example and intimidation. Cor- 
 tes however to prevent fuch attempts in future thought it prudent to ap- 
 point a guard for his perfon, compofed of valiant and faithful foldicrs. 
 They were felected from thofe who had been with him from the fnfr, 
 and were commanded by a gentleman named Anthonio de Quinones. 
 Henceforward, although he mowed great attention to thofe who had 
 been in the confpiracy, and treated them in the befl manner, he took 
 care to be on his guard with them, 
 
 At this time came out an order for all the prifoners to be brought 
 to an appointed place, in order to be marked. Not to take up time with, 
 repetitions of the ftory I will fum up all in one obfervation which is, that 
 if what was ill done the firft time, was worfe done the fecond, this 
 third was worft of all; for after the royal fifth had been drawn out, 
 Cortes took his own, and then came no lefs than thirty fucceflive drafts 
 for the captains. Befides, thofe handfome and good female prifoners 
 which we put in to be marked were ftolen out of the crowd, and were 
 kept concealed until it was no longer inconvenient to produce them. 
 
 The 
 
■E9 
 
 ( 280 ) 
 
 The brigantines were now finifhed, and the canal brought to a 
 fufficient width and depth to float them to the lake, Cortes therefore 
 iffued a circular notice to all the diftricts of our alliance in the neigh- 
 bourhood of Tezcuco, to fend him each within the fpace of the next 
 eight days, eight thoufand arrow heads made of copper; alfo an equal 
 number of fhafts, of a particular wood. By the expiration of the given 
 time the whole number was brought, executed to a degree of perfection 
 which exceeded the pattern. Captain P. Barba who commanded the 
 crofsbow-men ordered each of his foldiers to provide themfelves with 
 two cords and nuts, and to prove the range of their bows, for one of 
 the laft mips which came from Caftille had brought out a fupply of the 
 materials to make cords, and alfo of powder. Cortes ordered the caval- 
 ry to have their lances well pointed, and to ufe their horfes to daily ex- 
 ercife; and he at this time fent an exprefs to Xicotenga the elder, other- 
 wife Don Lorenzo de Vargas, for twenty thoufand of the warriors of 
 his nation, and thofe of Guaxocingo and Cholula; and he fent fimilar 
 notices to Chalco and Talmalanco, fummoning them to a general ren- 
 dezvous, on the day after the feaft of the Holy Ghoft, at which time 
 Don Hernando our ally of Tezcuco was alfo to join us with all his 
 forces. 
 
 On the day after the feftival of the Holy Ghoft, Cortes infpecled 
 his army in the large quadrangles of Tezcuco. They amounted to eigh- 
 ty four cavalry, fix hundred and fifty infantry with fword and buckler 
 or lances, and one hundred and ninety four mufqueteers and crofsbow- 
 men. Out of this number he took for the fervice of his fleet twelve of 
 the mufqueteers or crofsbow-men, and twelve of the other infantry for 
 rowers, under the command of a captain, to each velTel; he alfo diftri- 
 buted twenty cannoniers through the whole fleet, which he armed with 
 what guns fit for this fervice we had in our flores. 
 
 Having thus diftributed his force, Cortes gave the following or- 
 ders-. Firft, no perfon to utter any blafphemy againft our Lord Jefus 
 Chrift, the Holy Virgin his mother, the Holv Apoftles, nor any other 
 
 of 
 
( a&i ) 
 
 of the faints, under heavy penalties. Second, no foldier to ill treat our 
 allies in their perfons or properties. Third, no foldier to abfent him- 
 fclf from his quarters on any pretence. Fourth, every foldier to be ful- 
 ly provided with arms offenfive and defenfive* Fifth, no foldier to 
 flake his horfe or arms at gaming. Sixth, no foldier to fleep out of 
 armour, or without his weapons befide him, except in cafe of wounds 
 or iicknefs. Laflly, penalty of death for fleeping on, or abfence from 
 a centinels poll, abfence from quarters without leave, quitting the ranks 
 in the field, or flight in battle. 
 
 Although a number of our people had ferved as failors before, there 
 was a great averfenefs on the prefent occafion among them to act as 
 rowers. The general was therefore obliged to make enquiry, and con- 
 fidering all thofe who belonged to, or were natives of Palos, Moguer, 
 Triano, El Puerto, or any other feaport, or who had been known to 
 have been employed in fifhing, as being of the profeflion, he ordered 
 them to the oars, and although many of thefe brought their gentility 
 as an objection, he would not hear of it, but enforced his orders; by 
 which he* obtained one hundred and fifty, who were, as it will appear 
 in the fequel, better fituated than any of us who had to bear the weight 
 and dangers of the field. The crews being embarked, each brigantinc 
 hoifled a royal flandard, and alfo its peculiar one. The general then 
 appointed the captains as follows : Garci Holguin, Pedro Barba, Juan 
 de Limpias Carvajal the deaf, Juan Xaremillo, Gcronymo Ruiz de la 
 Mora, Carvajal his companion who is now very old and lives in the 
 flreetof St. Francis, one Portillo, a good foldier with an handfome 
 wife, Zamora, mafler of a (hip, now living in Guaxaca, Colmenero a 
 mariner and brave foldier, Lerma, Gines Nortes, Briones native of Sal- 
 amanca, another whofe name I have forgotten, and Miguel diaz de Auz. 
 To thefe he gave inflructions how they were to act, and with what of- 
 ficers of the land forces they were to cooperate. 
 
 At this time arrived the army of our allies of Tlafcala under the 
 command of the younger Xicotenga. He brought with him his two 
 
 * O-o brothers'. 
 

 ( 282 ) 
 
 brothers. In this army alfo came fome of the warriors of Cholula, and 
 Guaxocinga, but not in any confiderable number. The alacrity of the 
 whole body appeared in their arrival a day previous to that appointed; 
 they advanced in great parade, each chief having a ftandard with their 
 national device, a white fpread eagle, embroidered upon it. They en- 
 tered the town in high fpirits, fronting " Caftilla! Caftilla ! Tlafcalal 
 " Tlafcala! live the Emperor f" and it was about three hours from the 
 time of the arrival of their advanced party, until the rear had come in. 
 Cortes, with many compliments, difmilTed them to their quarters, and 
 promifing to make them all rich on their return to their native country. 
 We now heard that the Mexicans had put to death three of our foldiers 
 who had been left by Pizarro to fearch for mines, one only, named Bar- 
 rientos, efcaping to Chinanta, where he was protected. 
 
 Our general made his difpofition for the attack upon the city 
 Mexico as follows . 
 
 of 
 
 Pedro de Alvarado, with one hundred and fifty infantry, thirty 
 cavalry, eighteen mufqueteers and crofsbow-men, and eight thoufand 
 Tlafcalans was to take poft at Tacuba. having to aflift him Jorge de Al- 
 varado his brother, Gutierre de Badajos, and Andres de Monjaras, each 
 of whom was captain of a company, confirming of fifty infantry, and a 
 third of the crofsbow-men and mufqueteers, the cavalry being command- 
 ed by Alvarado in perfon. To this detachment I was appointed. 
 
 Chriftoval de Oli, having under him the captains Andres de Tapia, 
 Francifco Verdugo, Francifco de Lugo, thirty cavalry, one hundred 
 and feventy five infantry, twenty mufqueteers and crofsbow-men, and 
 eight thoufand Indians was to take poll at Cuyoacan, and Gonzalo de 
 Sandoval, with captains Luis Marin and P. de Ircio, at the head of 
 twenty four cavalry, one hundred and fifty infantry, fourteen mufque- 
 teers and crofsbow-men, and upwards of eight thoufand Indians was 
 to take his poft at Iztapalapa. The two firft named divifions were to 
 march by the right, the third in the oppofite direction. Sandoval s 
 
 party 
 
( 28 3 ) 
 
 party had alfo orders not to march, until Cortes who commanded the 
 flotilla in perfon mould launch out upon the lake. 
 
 I muft now advert to another affair which happened at this time. 
 The divilions of the two captains in chief Alvarado and De Oli being 
 prepared to fet out, in order not to be incumbered with our Indian allies 
 on the march, we fcnt them off one day before us, with orders to halt 
 and wait for our arrival when they came upon the Mexican territory. 
 The Tlafcalans purfuing their march, Chichimacatecle remarked the 
 abfence of the younger Xicotenga, the commander in chief. On en- 
 quiring it was found that he had fecretly gone away on the preceding 
 night to Tlafcala, there to feize and poffcfs hjmfelf of the property 
 and territory of Chichimacatecle, thinking this a good opportunity, in 
 the abfence of that chief and of the other warriors of his nation, and 
 fearing no oppofition fi nee the death of Maxicatzin. His difinclination 
 to the expedition had alfo been apparent from the firff. Chichimacate- 
 cle, on difcovering the defign againft him, immediately returned to 
 Tezcuco to inform Cortes, who on hearing it difpatched five of the 
 chiefs of Tezcuco and two of Tlafcala after Xicotenga, with a meffage 
 from him to requefr. his return. His anfwer was, that if Maxicatzin 
 and his old father had believed him, they would not be now ridden by 
 Cortes in the manner they were, and he abfolutely refufed to return. 
 This anfwer being fent back to Cortes, he commanded an alguazil at- 
 tended by four of the cavalry and five chiefs of Tezcuco, to fet out im- 
 mediately, giving them orders, wherever they found Xicotenga, to 
 feize and hang him without ceremony. Alvarado interceded ftrongly 
 for him, but ultimately to no purpofe, for although Cortes appeared to 
 liften to him, the party which arretted Xicotenga in a town fubjecT: to 
 Tezcuco, there hung him under private orders of Cortes not to let him 
 go from them alive, and as fome fay with the approbation of his 
 father. 
 
 This affair detained us one day, and on the next, the two detach- 
 ments of Alvarado and De Oli marched by the fame route, and halted 
 
 Oo 2 for 
 

 ( 28 4 ) 
 
 for the night, in a place fubject to Tezcuco named Aculma. Here a 
 difagreeable affair had like to have taken place. It appeared that De 
 Oli had fent forward to take quarters, and had appropriated every houie 
 in the town to his own company, marking them by putting green 
 branches on the terraces, fo that when Alvarado's detachment arrived, 
 we had not a place to lodge in. Our foldiers immediately flood to their 
 arms to fight thofe of De Oli, and the two captains had already chal- 
 lenged each other, but feveral of the more moderate officers interfering, 
 they were pacified for the prefent. An exprefs was immediately fent to 
 Cortes, who wrote to everyone of any influence amongfl our detachments, 
 condemning the fteps which had been taken, and earneflly recommend- 
 ing a reconciliation. After this Alvarado and De Oli never were friends. 
 
 We continued our march for two days more, by Mexican cities 
 which were abandoned, the lafl of which was Guatitlan; and on the 
 third, paffing the towns of Tenayuca and Efcapuzalco where we found 
 our allies * waiting for us, we proceeded to Tacuba. 
 
 The enemy gave notice by their noifes that they were about us in 
 great numbers, and our two detachments > it was fettled, mould on the 
 enfuing day go to cut the aqueduct of Chapultepeque. At the time ap- 
 pointed, we fet out with our allies, and though the enemy attacked us 
 in our march, we fucceeded, defbroying the pipes, fo that from that day, 
 no more frefh water came to Mexico. It was now determined to try 
 our fortune againft the city, and fee if we could not at leaf! get poiTeiTion 
 of a bridge upon the caiifeway of Tacuba. When we arrived there, the 
 immenfe number of boats, and of their troops on the land, was a fub- 
 jecl of aflonifhment. By the firft volley of their arrows they killed three 
 and wounded thirty of our foldiers; neverthelefs we advanced to the 
 bridge, the enemy, as it were by ftratagem, receding, and now we were 
 upon a caufeway twenty feet wide, expofed as a butt to the arrows of 
 thofe on the water on both our flanks. Our mufquetry and crofsbows 
 had no effect whatever on their canoes they were fo well protected; as 
 
 to 
 
 * The whole number of whom amounted to feventy thoufand. 
 
( a«5 ) 
 
 to the cavalry their horfes were all wounded, and if they purfued the 
 enemy a little diftance on the caufeway, they were flopped by the para- 
 pets which they had built acrofs it, and which they defended with long 
 lances ; and when our infantry advanced againft them in front, the ene- 
 my threw themfelves into the water. Thus we were fighting them for 
 upwards of an hour, their numbers increafing from every part of the 
 lake, and our allies only encumbering the caufeway. Being utterly 
 unable to refill: the enemy who were on the water we determined to re-, 
 tire, which we did, leaving eight dead and having above fifty wounded* 
 the enemy purfuing us clofely. 
 
 On the enfuing day, Captain De Oli proceeded with his detach- 
 ment for Cuyoacan; he talked in terms of difapprobation of the pre- 
 ceding expedition, laying the blame on the rafhnefs of Alvarado. We 
 all were folicitous that the two captains fhould remain together, and cer- 
 tainly their feparation was very imprudent, for had the enemy known 
 the fmallnefs of our number, they would have fallen on and deflroyed 
 either detachment, during the four or five days that we were feparated, 
 and before the arrival of Cortes with the flotilla. In thefe two pofi- 
 tions our detachments remained for the above period, without ventur- 
 ing to pay another vifit to the Mexican caufeway s. During this time 
 the enemy frequently fent bodies of their troops to the main land, and 
 annoyed us with attacks in our quarters. 
 
 Sandoval with his detachment left Tezcuco on the fourth day after 
 the feafl: of Corpus Chrifli, and marching through a friendly country, 
 arrived in front of the town of Iztapalapa. On his arrival he immedi- 
 ately attacked the enemy in that place, and burned many of the houfes 
 which were built on the firm ground; but frefh bodies of Mexicans 
 came both by land and water to their relief, and while thus occupied, 
 our troops obferved a fmoke to rife from the top of a hill above the town, 
 which was anfwered in the fame manner at other points round the lake, 
 and this we found to be a fignal^for the information of the enemy, that 
 our flotilla was launched; a circumftance which occafioned them tQ 
 
 relax. 
 
( 286 ) 
 
 relax in their hoftilities againft Sandoval. He now remained unmoleft- 
 ed in his militated fituation, in apart of the town of Iztapalapa, between 
 which and Cuyoacan there were no means of communication but by a 
 caufeway which croffes the lake, and the paflage of which was imprac- 
 ticable in the face of the enemy. 
 
 ■ Cortes when he brought his flotilla upon the lake, firft went to 
 attack a rock which forms a fmall ifland juft by Mexico, and on which 
 many of the natives as well of that neighbourhood as of other parts had 
 taken refuge. As foon as the enemy difcovercd his intention, their 
 whole force from every part of the lake proceeded againft him. When 
 our general perceived the immenfe number of large boats full of fight- 
 ing men, for it exceeded four thoufand, he drew his flotilla into an 
 open part of the lake, and ordered his captains to wait patiently for a 
 breeze of Wind which was juft then begining to fpring up. The ene- 
 my thinking this was owing to fear, began to clofe round him with 
 great triumph, and juft at this moment the wind riling in his favor, 
 the whole fleet fet fail, plying their oars at the fame time; bearing down 
 upon the Mexican canoes in this manner, they funk a number of them, 
 and compelled the reft to take fhelter in the recedes on the fides of the 
 lake. 
 
 After this Cortes failed for Cuyoacan. Here he had another at- 
 tack by the Mexicans, who aflailed his veflels from the temples on the 
 land, as well as with their canoes; but he brought four guns to bear 
 upon them, and did conliderable execution; although, by fome mif- 
 management of the gunners, his powder magazine blew up, wounding 
 many of his people. This misfortune obliged him to detach his light- 
 eft veftll to Sandoval for a fupply. At Cuyoacan he remained with the 
 flotilla for two days, and here I will leave him to relate what pafled in 
 the detachment of Alvarado. When we perceived that the flotilla was 
 upon the lake, we marched out upon the caufeway as far as the bridge, 
 where we pafled our time in a repetition of engagements with the ene- 
 my, but to little effect, farther than repairing the paries in our rear as 
 
 we 
 
t *S 7 ) 
 
 we advanced, nor did we now furVer the cavalry to come to the caufe- 
 way. 
 
 Sandoval had found that in his prefent pofition he could not fuffi- 
 ciently annoy the enemy, who were eftablifhed in the houfes built in 
 the water; he therefore advanced by a caufeway to a place which com- 
 manded them better. This being perceived from Mexico, a large de- 
 tachment was fent in canoes, with directions to cut the caufeway behind 
 our troops. Cortes obferving this fet fail with his veffels for their re- 
 lief, ordering De Oli to go thither with a body of troops by the caufe- 
 way. Having relieved Sandoval, the general ordered this detachment 
 to a place named Tepcaquilla, where is now built the church of Nueftra 
 Senora dc Guadelupe, in which many wonderful miracles have been, 
 and are, performed. 
 
 As it was impoiliblc for our troops to advance upon the caufeways 
 without their flanks being fecured on the water, the flotilla was form- 
 ed into three divifions, and one of them attached to each of the three 
 corps of our army; that is to fay, four mips to Alvarado, fix to De Oli, 
 and two to Sandoval, making in all twelve, for the thirteenth, named 
 41 Bufca Ruido, or follow the noife," being found to be too fmall, was 
 ordered to be laid up, and her crew divided among the reft, as we had 
 twenty very badly wounded already on board the (hips. Alvarado now 
 ordered us out upon the caufeway, and placing two of the (hips on each 
 fide, he thereby protected the flanks. We drove the enemy from feve- 
 ral bridges and barricades, but after fighting during the whole day, we 
 were obliged at night to retreat to our quarters, almoft every man of 
 us wounded by the fhowers of arrows and ftones, which exceeded ima- 
 gination; for we were attacked conftantly by frefh troops bearing differ- 
 ent devices, by land, while from the terraces of the houfes, the enemy 
 commanded our (hips. As we could not leave a party to fecure what 
 we got in the day, at night the enemy repoflefled themfelves of the 
 bridges, and put better defences on them. - They deepened the water in 
 fome places, and in the (hallow part they dug pits, and placed canoes 
 
 in 
 
n 
 
 H 
 
 C 288 ) 
 
 in ambufcade, which they fecured from the attacks of our veffels by 
 pallifades under the water. This was the manner in which they oppo- 
 fed us every day. The cavalry as I before obferved could do nothing; 
 the enemy had built parapets acrofs the caufeways which they defended 
 with long lances, and even had an attack been practicable, the foldiers. 
 would not rifk their horfes, which at this time coft eight hundred crowns, 
 and fome more than one thoufand ; nor indeed were they to be had at 
 any price. 
 
 When we arrived at night, we were employed in curing our 
 wounds, and a foldier named Juan Catalan alfo healed them by charms 
 and prayers, which, with the mercy of our Lord Jefus, recovered us 
 very fail. But wounded or not, we were obliged to go againft the ene- 
 my every day, as otherwife our companies would not have been twenty 
 men ftrong. When our allies faw that the before mentioned foldier 
 cured us by charms and prayers, all their wounded came to him, fo 
 that he had more bufinefs on his hands than he knew what to do with. 
 Every day our enfign was difabled, not having it in his power to carry 
 the colours, and defend himfelf. Corn we had fufficiency of, but we 
 wanted refrefhments for the wounded. What preferved us was the plant 
 called *' quilites," cherries while in feafon, and "tunas " or Indian figs. 
 The fituation of our other parties round the lake was fimilar to what I 
 have here defcribed. 
 
 ■* The enemy in the city rumed out on the fignal being made from 
 the top of the great temple of Taltelulco; and thefe attacks were made 
 every day,- and repeated by frefh troops, who were formed and marched 
 out in fuccefTion. Finding that we gained fo little and loft fo much, we 
 refolved to change our plan of operations. There was on our caufeway 
 a fmall open place, where were fome buildings for religious worfhip; 
 here we eftablifhed a poft, and lodged ourfelves, though very badly, as 
 every fhower of rain came in upon us, leaving our cavalry and Indian 
 allies to fecure our rear in Tacuba, from which place we were fupplied 
 with bread. From this time, as we advanced, we filled the water cuts 
 
 which 
 
( **9 ) 
 
 which interfered the caufeway, and proftrated the boufes which were 
 on each fide of it; for it was exceeding difficult to fet them on fire, nor 
 could the flames communicate from one to another, on account of the 
 water which was between them, and if we threw ourfelves into the 
 water to fwim to a houfe, the enemy deftroyed us from their terraffes. 
 We guarded every pafs day and night as we gained it, and our method 
 of keeping guard was as follows. 
 
 The company which was firft for duty took it from fun fet to 
 midnight with forty men; the fecond company with the fame number 
 came on at midnight, and remained until two hours before day break, 
 the firft guard not quitting the poft, but fleeping on the ground ; this 
 fecond guard watched the hours of lethargy, and after them came on 
 the third company for the two hours until day, at which time, as thofe 
 who were relieved did not quit the poft, there were an hundred and 
 twenty men at the guard. Sometimes our whole detachment remained 
 under arms during the night, for our prifoners had informed us that it 
 was the intention of the Mexicans, by a great effort, to force our poft, 
 as they knew that by fo doing they would entirely difconcert the plans 
 of the other two; and it was intended that the nine towns in and about 
 the lake, including ours of Tacuba, together with Ezcapuzalco and 
 Tenayuca„ fhould make a joint effort, and attack us in the rear while 
 the Mexicans attacked us in front. It was at the fame time intended to 
 carry off our luggage and bakery in Tacuba. This intelligence we im- 
 mediately communicated to our cavalry, warning them and our allies to 
 be well on their guard. 
 
 As we had been informed, fo it happened; we were attacked for 
 feveral nights in fucceflion, from midnight to the break of day. The 
 enemy fometimes came on with great noife, at others ftole upon us in 
 filence, but during the night their attacks were never made with fo much 
 refolution as in the day. We were however harrafted to death with 
 wounds, fatigues, wind, rain, and cold. The place where we were 
 ported was now mud and water, and our miferable food of maize, and 
 
 P p herbs 
 

 
 ( 19° ) 
 
 herbs withall ! but, as our officers faid, fuch is the fortune of war! 'with 
 all our fufferings nothing effectual was gained : the parapets we threw 
 down, or the ditches we rilled up during the day, the enemy replaced 
 in the enfuing night. What ufe was our cutting off their water, or 
 doling their caufeways againit them, when they were fupplied by ca- 
 noes with whatever they wanted from the neighbouring towns on the 
 lake? In order to prevent this, it was determined that two of our veflels 
 mould cruife during the night, to intercept them. This was found to 
 a-nfwer in a confiderable degree, but ftill fome efcaped into the city. 
 
 The Mexicans had the boldnefs at this time to form a plan for the 
 furprife of thefe veffels. For this purpofe they prepared thirty of their 
 largeft piraguas, and concealed them among reeds, fending two or three 
 canoes along the lake, as if conveying provifions, by way of a bait for 
 our veffels. The Mexicans had alfo fixed piles of large timber below the 
 water, in the direction which our mips were to be drawn in. The ca- 
 noes being perceived by our people, two veffels fallied out upon them; 
 the others appeared, to take fright, and rowed towards the ambufcade, 
 followed by our veffels, which as foon as they arrived near enough, 
 were furrounded by the thirty piraguas. By the firft difcharge they 
 wounded every officer, foldier, and rower, on board; and the veffels 
 could not ftir on account of the piles of timber. The enemy continu- 
 ing their attacks, killed a captain named Portilla; he was a gentleman 
 who had ferved in Italy. Captain Pedro Barba alfo of the crofsbow- 
 men died of his wounds, and the veffels fell into their hands. Thefe 
 belonged to the principal divifion, which Cortes commanded; he was 
 much exafperated, but in the courfe of a fhort time repayed them well 
 in their own way. 
 
 Cortes as alfo our other chiefs, by his order, purfued their plan of 
 advancing againft the city. As they gained ground, they threw down 
 the houfes, and with the materials filled up the ditches or canals which 
 croffed the caufeways ; and our brave Tlafcalan allies rendered us the 
 greater!: fcrvices, during the whole war. The Mexicans oppofed our 
 
 progrefs 
 
( *9* ) 
 
 progrefs by breaking a bridge in the rear of their parapets and barricades, 
 where the water was very deep, leaving one obvious pafs as a decoy, 
 and in other parts, pit falls under the water; they alfo made parapets 
 on both fides of the breach, they placed palifades in the deep water- 
 where our vefTels could approach, and they had canoes manned ready to 
 fally out upon the fignal given. When they had made thefe prepara- 
 tions they advanced againft us in three bodies, one by the fide of Tacu- 
 ba, the other by the ruins of the houfes which had been deftroyed, and 
 the third by the caufeway, where they had made the works. Alvarado 
 had brought part of his cavalry to our poft, fince the houfes were de- 
 ftroyed. We repulfed the enemy on all fides, and one party of us hav- 
 ing forced them from the work I have mentioned, crofTed the water, 
 up to our necks, at the pafs they had left open, and followed them, un- 
 til we came to a place where were large temples and towers of idols. 
 Here we were affailed by frefh troops from the houfes and roofs, and 
 thofe whom we purfued faced about and came againft us. We were 
 obliged to retreat, which we did with regularity, but when we came 
 to the water, we found that the enemy in their canoes had got pofTefiion 
 of the pafs where we had crofTed. We were therefore obliged to look 
 for other places, but as they came pretfing on us, we were at length 
 compelled to throw ourfelves into the lake and get over as we could. 
 Thofe who were not able to fwim fell into the pits; the enemy clofed in 
 upon them , wounded mod, and took five of our foldiers alive. The 
 vefTels which came to our relief could not approach, being embarrafTed 
 among the palifades, and here they loft two foldiers. It was a wonder 
 that we were not all deftroyed in the pit falls ; a number of the enemy 
 laid hands on me, but our Lord Jefus Chrift gave me force to difengage 
 my arm, and by dint of a good fword, I got free from them, though 
 wounded, and arrived on the dry ground, where I fainted away, and 
 remained fenfelefs for a time. This was owing to my great exertions, 
 and lofs of blood. When this mob had their claws on me, I recom- 
 mended myfelf to our Lord and his blefTed mother, and' tfiey heard my 
 prayer, glorified be they for all their mercies ! one of our cavalry crofT- 
 ed the water with us this day; he and his horfe were killed. Fortu- 
 
 Pp % nately, 
 

 C 292 ) 
 
 nately, the reft were with Alvarado in Tacuba; had they been with us 
 they muir. have been all deftroyed from the tops of the buildings, for 
 the action took place as it were within the very city. After this fuccefs 
 the enemy kept, us conftantly employed during the day and night, by 
 attacks upon our pofts. Cortes was much diifatisfied at hearing of our 
 defeat, which, he confidercd as owing to our neglect of his directions 
 that the cuts acrofs the caufeways mould be filled with timber and fbds 
 as we advanced. 
 
 In the fpace of four days, and with the lofs of fix foldiers, we 
 completely filled up this great aperture, and here we eftablifhed our ad- 
 vanced poft, the enemy having on$ oppofite to us. Their method of 
 keeping guard was this; they made a great fire in their front, which 
 concealed them from our view, except when they came to renew the 
 fire, as it was fometimes extinguished by the rains, which were at that 
 feafon frequent and heavy. They kept profound filence on guard, nor 
 was it ever interrupted except by their fignals, which were given by a 
 whiftle. Our fhot did no execution among them, for they fortified 
 their poll: by a parapet and a new ditch. Having defcribed the manner 
 in which guard was kept on each fide, I will now give an account of 
 our daily employment. In the morning we marched againft the enemy ; 
 after engaging them during the whole day we retreated, towards even- 
 ing, covered with wounds, firft clearing the caufeway of our allies 
 whofe numbers embarraifed us, a circumftance the enemy were watch- 
 ful to take advantage of; after which we fell back ftep by flep, firing 
 at the enemy as they advanced, and being flanked by the armed vellels, 
 until we reached our poft. When we arrived in our quarters we fat 
 down to our mifery of maize cakes, herbs, and tunas, curing our 
 wounds with oil, and remaining all ni^ht fubjecr. to conftant alarms. 
 
 Cortes and his party were employed in the fame manner, and his 
 lofs in killed and wounded was by this time become very considerable. 
 He conftantly fent out veiTels at night to fcour the lake, and one night 
 they brought in to him fome prifoners of confequence; from them he 
 
 learned 
 
t 2 93 ) 
 
 jearncd that the enemy had formed an ambufcade fimilar to their former 
 one, of forty piraguas and the fame number of canoes. Cortes then 
 prepared fix veiTels, and fent them during the night, and with muffled 
 oars, to a place of concealment within a quarter of a leagues diftance of 
 that of the enemy. It muft be obferved that the bullies and till reeds, 
 and the water cuts at the edges of the lake, favored thofe deceptions. 
 Early in the morning one of our veffels was fent as if in feareh of the 
 Mexican canoes which went with provifions to the city, the prisoners 
 being put on board it in order to point out the place where their flotilla 
 was concealed. The enemy alfo played off the deception of loaded ca- 
 noes to draw us thither, and thefe canoes pretending to endeavor to es- 
 cape, rowed towards the ambufcade laid by their party; our veflel pur- 
 fued them very near it, and then brought to, as if from apprehenfion.. 
 The enemy's flotilla perceiving that (he did not advance, fallied out on 
 her, thofe on board of her rowing towards that part where our fhips 
 were concealed. When they found^that the enemy were brought to, that 
 point where we wifhed them to be, the crew fired two (hots as a fignal 
 to our ambufcade, immediately on which the veffels pu(hed out, and 
 falling on the enemy ran down feveral, and difperfed the reft, making 
 a number of prifoners., This gave them enough of ambufcades, nor 
 did, they from that time run acrofs to Mexico fo openly as before.. 
 
 The people of the cities in the lake growing tired of this warfare^ 
 waited on Cortes at this time in order to make fubmiilion, declaring 
 that they had been forced into hoftility by the Mexicans. Cortes re- 
 ceived them with affability, gave them affuranees of protection accord- 
 ing to their behaviour, and at the fame time told them that he expected 
 their affiftance in the fupply of boats and provifions, and in erecting 
 barracks for the troops. This they promifed readily, but performed 
 very badly. Cortes had huts built for his detachment, but the reit re- 
 mained expofed to the weather, a very fevere duty in itfelf in that 
 climate, where during the months of June, July, and Augufl, ; it rains 
 continually. 
 
( 294 ) 
 
 Our detachment perfevered in filling up every ditch and canal as. 
 we proceeded with the materials of the houfes which we deftroyed; and 
 conftantly gained temples, bridges, or houfes which flood ieparate from 
 each other, and were acceftible by draw-bridges only. To prevent jea- 
 loufy, the companies took the working and covering parties alternately, 
 and towards evening, when we drew off, the whole flood to their arms, 
 and retreated, fending our Indian allies before us. The latter rendered 
 us moll: important affiftance in the working duty, both in pulling down 
 the houfes, and filling the apertures. Sandoval during this time was 
 obliged to fuftain conftant attacks, and Cortes on his fide attacked one 
 of the out pofts of the city, where the canal which crolTed the caufeway 
 was too deep to be forded. The enemy had fortified it ftrongly, and 
 defended it both by land and water. Cortes commanded the attack in 
 perfon, and with fuccefs; but at night he was obliged to retire without 
 filling the ditch, and with the lofs of four Spaniards killed and abov* 
 thirty wounded, for the pafs was commanded from the terraces, and 
 the pallifades made in the water prevented the approach of the vef- 
 fels. 
 
 Guatimotzin now determined to wear us out by continual efforts. 
 Accordingly, on the twenty firft of June, the anniverfary of the day of 
 our entry into Mexico, the enemy attacked us at every point with their 
 whole force by land and water, at the hour of the fecond fleep, or of 
 lethargy, that is two hours before day. The number fit for duty at our 
 poft was one hundred and twenty; our allies we had fent entirely off 
 the caufeway, and it was with our utmoft efforts that we could refill: 
 the enemy; we at length however repulfed them from all our pofts, but 
 with the lofs of many killed and wounded. Alvarado's detachment 
 loft two foldiers on this occafion. v The enemies attacks were continued 
 for two nights fucceftively upon the different pofts, and they afterwards 
 concentrated their whole force in an affault upon ours, which took place 
 at day break. This was the moft defperate of all; if our allies had been 
 with us we (hould have been loft. Our cavalry on this occafion faved 
 our flanks, and we had considerable fupport from our fhips. Eight of 
 
 our 
 
( *95 ) 
 
 our foldiers were killed in this attack, and Alvarado was wounded ; but 
 we ultimately, beat the enemy off, and alfo made four of their chiefs pri- 
 foners. I fear to tire my readers with this repetition of battles. For 
 ninety three days together were we employed in the fiege of this great 
 and ftrong city, and every day and every night we were engaged with 
 the enemy. Of courfe they muft pardon what my duty as an hiitorian 
 compels me to relate; ftill were I to extend my narrative to include eve- 
 ry action which took place, it would be almoit endlefs, x and my hif- 
 tory would refemble that of Amadis, and the other books of chi- 
 valry. 
 
 Cortes growing weary of delay, called a council of war, relative 
 to a general aflault upon the city. His plan was, to march by the three 
 caufeways, and to endeavour to gain the great fquare, where, uniting 
 our whole force, we mould command all the ftreets leading to it. 
 Upon this propofal there was a great difference of opinion, for many 
 thought our prefent method of proceeding by filling the canals as we 
 advanced, deftroying the houfes, and making a road with the materials, 
 was preferable to that recommended by Cortes, whereby, in going into 
 the heart of the city, we fhould become the befieged inftead of being 
 the befiegejrs, and fall exactly into the fituation in which we were when 
 obliged to jfly from Mexico. We fhould alfo they faid be involved in 
 greater difficulties than formerly, for the enemy would now bring their 
 whole power by land and water upon us, fo that we fhould have to con- 
 tend with them in the city, on the lake, and all round it, without the 
 poflibility of retreat, which they could preclude by cutting the caufeways. 
 When Cortes had heard the opinions of all, and the good reafon6 upon 
 which they were founded, the refult was, that he gave orders for our 
 whole force, together with our allies, to attack the city on the enfuing 
 day, and to get poffeflion of the great fquare, 
 
 On the next morning therefore, having heard mafs, and recom- 
 mending ourfelves to God, our three detachments marched againft the 
 enemy's pofls in their front. Thofe commanded by Cortes and Sando- 
 val 
 

 ( 2 9 6 ) 
 
 val met with lefs violent opposition than that which fell to the lot of the 
 divifion of Alvarado, to which I belonged. In our attack upon the 
 firft dike, moft of the Spaniards received wounds, one was killed, and 
 above one thoufand of our allies killed or wounded. Cortes at firft bore 
 down all before him, and having driven the enemy from a poft where 
 the water was very deep and the caufeway very narrow, he was induced 
 to purfue them in their retreat to the city, his Indian allies crouding 
 clofe after the Spaniards. The enemy induced him by frequent halts 
 and feigned attacks to continue the purfuit, and the caufeway had been 
 narrowed, to anfwer their defign. It was the will of our Lord that 
 Cortes and his captains mould be fo negligent as to omit filling the 
 ditch, which they had pafted. The caufeway was alfo in fome parts 
 covered with water, and deep in mud. When the enemy faw our Cor- 
 tes thus run into the trap which they had laid, multitudes in canoes fal- 
 lied out againft him and took him on his flanks and rear, his own 
 vefTels not being able to approach on account of the pallifadoes. It be- 
 came now necefTary for the troops to retreat, which they did at firft with 
 great regularity, but when they came to the narrow pafs I have before 
 mentioned, the difficulty of the ground, with the fury of the attack, 
 from a retreat turned it into a race, our people flying before the enemy 
 without attempting to defend themfelves. Our Cortes ufed every exer- 
 tion to rally them but in vain ; he received a wound in the leg from th& 
 enemy on board the canoes at the pafs, where they killed fix of our hor- 
 fes, and carried offfcventy two Spaniards alive. Six chiefs feized upon 
 Cortes, but it was the will of God that he mould efcape, for that vali- 
 ant foldier Chriftoval de Olea, feeing his general's danger, flew to his 
 afliftance, as did another brave man named Lerma. . Olea with his own 
 hand killed four of the fix Mexican chiefs, gallantly lofing his own life 
 in defence of his general, and Lerma efcaped with the greateft difficulty. 
 Other foldiers now arrived to the afTiftance of our Cortes ; amongft the 
 number was Quinones captain of his guards. They took him out of 
 the water in their arms, and placing him on a horfe, hurried him off 
 from the crowd of enemies, and fhortly after, his major domo named 
 Chriftoval de Guzman brought one of his own horles for him. The 
 
 enemy 
 
( 297 ) 
 
 enemy followed up their attack with ardour, and the unfortunate Guz- 
 man being feized by them was carried alive to Mexico. Cortes and the 
 mattered remains of his troops, purfued to the laft, arrived with great 
 difficulty at their quarters, where I will leave them for the prefent, to 
 relate what happened in the divifion commanded by Alvarado. 
 
 After our firft attack, wherein we defeated the enemy, as we were, 
 advancing, we were met by frefh troops in great parade, bearing plumes 
 of feathers, and devices on their ftandards. When we came near them 
 they threw down before us five bleeding heads, crying out to us that 
 they were thofe of Cortes and his officers, and that we mould meet the 
 fame fate with our companions; they then marched up, and fighting 
 us foot to foot, compelled us to retreat. We as ufual called to our allies 
 to clear the way for us, but in the prefent cafe there was no oceafion; 
 the fight of the bloody heads had done it effectually, nor did one of 
 them remain on the caufeWay to impede our retreat. Before we arrived 
 at our quarters, and while the enemy were purfuing us, we heard their 
 (hrill timbals, and the difmal found of the great drum, from the top of 
 the principal temple of the god of war, which overlooked the whole 
 city. Its mournful noife was fuch as may be imagined the mufic of the 
 infernal gods, and it might be heard at the diflance of almoft three 
 leagues. They were then facrificing the hearts of ten of our compani- 
 ons to their idols. Shortly after this the king of Mexico's horn was 
 blown, giving notice to his captains that they were then to take their 
 enemies prifoners, or die in the attempt. It is impoffible to defcribe 
 the fury with which they clofed upon us when they heard this fignal. 
 Though all is as perfect to my recollection as if paffing before my eyes, 
 it is utterly beyond my power to defcribe; all I can fay is, it was God's 
 will that we mould efcape from their hands, and get back in fafety to 
 our pofl. Praifed be he for his mercies, now, and at all other times ! 
 
 Our cavalry made feveral charges this day, but our great fupport 
 was in two guns which raked the caufeway, and were commanded by 
 a gentleman named Pedro Moreno de Medrano, who always bore a 
 
 high 
 

 high reputation as an officer, but whofe fervices on this day were moft 
 important, for the whole caufeway was crouded with the enemy. We 
 were as yet ignorant of the fate of our other detachments. Sandoval was 
 above half a league diftant, and Cortes mil farther. The melancholy 
 fight of the remains of our countrymen, and the lofs of one of our vef- 
 fels, three of the foldiers of which the enemy had killed, imprefled our 
 minds with defpair, and we thought this the laft hour of our lives. 
 The veflel was afterwards recovered by that commanded by Captain Juan 
 Xaramillo. Captain Juan de Limpias Caravajal, who now lives in La 
 Puebla, a moil gallant officer, had the honor of being the firfk who with 
 his veflel broke through the enemies pallifades, totally loling his hear- 
 ing, from this day, by excefs of courage. 
 
 Cortes, moil: of whofe foldiers had been killed, and what remain- 
 ed alive, wounded, was attacked in his quarters by a great body of the 
 enemy, who threw over to him the heads of four of our companions, 
 alledging them to be thofe of Alvarado, Sandoval, and others, in order 
 to imprefs the foldiers of Cortes and our allies with the idea, that they 
 had been equally fuccefsful againft the other detachments. When Cortes 
 beheld the horrid fpe&acle his heart funk within him, but he kept up 
 appearances, and ordering all to ftand to their arms, made a front to the 
 enemy. He then fent Andres de Tapia with three more mounted men 
 to our quarters, in order to afcertain what the ftate of affairs was. In 
 their way thither they were attacked by many bodies of the enemy, 
 whom the king of Mexico had placed upon a plan of intercepting our 
 communications. On their arrival they found us engaged with the Mex- 
 ican forces. They at that time concealed the lofs of Cortes, ilating it 
 at no more than five and twenty. 
 
 It is now necefTary to advert to Sandoval, who had gone on victo- 
 rious until the defeat of Cortes ; after which the enemy turned on him, 
 and in their firft attack killed two foldiers and wounded all the reft, giv- 
 ing Sandoval himfelf three wounds, one of which was in the head. 
 As they had done elfewhere> they threw before his troops fix heads of 
 
 their 
 
( ^99 ) 
 
 their companions, recently taken off, threatening them with the like 
 fate. Sandoval was not to be terrified ; he warned his foldiers to pre- 
 ferve a good countenance, and feeing no hopes of fuccefs brought his 
 divifion back to their quarters, with many wounds it is true, but with 
 the lofs of only two of their number. Sandoval then, wounded as he 
 was, leaving the command of his port, to Captain Luis Marin, iet out 
 on horfeback to have an interview with Cortes. As he went he was 
 affailed by the enemy, but he arrived at the general's quarters, and ad- 
 dreffing him in terms of furprife and condolanee, afked him how this 
 ill fuccefs had happened. "Son Sandoval" faid Cortes, with tears in 
 his eyes, "it is for my fins that this misfortune has befallen me; but 
 " the fault is with the treafurer Alderete, who was ordered by me to 
 " fill up the bad pafs w r here the enemy threw us into confufion." The 
 treafurer then exclaimed, that it was with Cortes himfelf the fault lay, 
 he having never given any fuch orders, but hurrying on his men after 
 the enemy in their feigned retreat, crying, "forward! gentlemen for- 
 M ward!" Cortes was alfo very much blamed for not having fent his 
 allies out of the way early enough ; however I will omit to detail any 
 more of the converfation which paffed at this time between Cortes and 
 the treafurer, as it happened in the heat of anger and difappointment. 
 Cortes was agreeably furprifed by the arrival of two of his veffels which 
 he had given up for loft, although he did not exprefs himfelf fo. Cor- 
 tes defiredt Sandoval to go to our quarters at Tacuba, as he apprehended 
 that the weight of the enemy's attack would fall upon this poft, and 
 recommended that he fh.o'uld pay attention to our affairs, as he himfelf 
 was at prefent unable to do fo. Sandoval fctting out, arrived at Tacuba 
 about the hour of vefpers . He alfo found us as Tapia had done, occu- 
 pied in repelling the enemy, fome of whom were attacking us by the 
 caufeway, others by that of the ruined houfes. I was at this time to- 
 gether with others of our foldiers up to my waift in the water defend- 
 ing a veffel which was aground, and engaged with the enemy who 
 were endeavouring to get poffeffion of her. Juft as Sandoval arrived 
 however, by a great effort we got the veffel afloat, but with the lofs of 
 two of the crew killed, and every man on board wounded. The enemy 
 
 Q q 2 now 
 

 ( 300 ) 
 
 now attacked us with more violence. SaYidoval received a blow on the 
 face with a ftone, and called to us loudly to retreat; we not falling back 
 as faft as he wifhed, he called again to us, afking if we wanted to have 
 all the cavalry deftroyed. We then retreated until we reached our poll:, 
 during the time of which, our two guns, under the direction of Me- 
 drano, though they frequently fwept the caufeway, could not prevent 
 the enemy from following us clofely. 
 
 Here we were for a time at reft, and engaged in relating the events 
 which had happened at each poft, when on a fudden our ears were 
 ftruck by the horrific found of the great drum, the timbals, horns, and 
 trumpets, in the temple of the war god. We all directed our eyes thi- 
 ther, and fhocking to relate ! faw our unfortunate countrymen driven by 
 force, cuffs, and baftinades, to the place where they were to be facrifi- 
 ced, which bloody ceremony was accompanied by the mournful found 
 of all the inftruments of the temple. We perceived that when they had 
 brought the unfortunate victims to the flat fummit of the body of the 
 temple, where were the adoratorics, they put plumes upon their heads, 
 and with a kind of fan in the hand of each, made them dance before 
 their accurfed idols. When they had done this, they laid them upon 
 their backs, on the ftone ufed for the purpofe, where they cut out their 
 hearts, alive, and having prefented them, yet palpitating, to their gods, 
 they drew the bodies down the fteps by the feet, where they were taken 
 by others of their priefts. Let the reader think what were our fenfa- 
 tions on this occafion. Oh heavenly God ! faid we to ourfelves, do 
 not fuffer us to be facrificed by thefe wretches ! do not fufrer us to die 
 fo cruel a death! and then how fhocking a reflection, that we were un- 
 able to relieve our poor friends who were thus murdered before our eyes ! 
 at this moment the enemy affailed our poft in great force, reviling us 
 and faying their gods had promifed us all to them. Our Indian allies 
 funk under the dreadful ideas they exprefled, when they threw among 
 them alio fome of the mangled remains of their horrid feafts, other parts 
 being fent round all the neighbouring diftricts, as a triumphant me- 
 morial 
 
( 30i ) 
 
 morial. We ftill however maintained poffeflion of our poft, one half 
 of our cavalry being on the caufeway and the other half in the town. 
 
 Our new allies on the lake had fuffered confiderably by the enemy, 
 having loft half their canoes, but they continued firm to us, from ani- 
 mofity to them, or contented themfelves with being mere lookers on, and 
 did not moleft us. Cortes in confequence of our loiTes ordered a ceiTa- 
 tion of attacks, which lafted for the fpace of four days, during which 
 we did not quit our pofts, having loft near eighty men, and feven hor- 
 fes, in the laft engagement. The enemy alfo gained ground on us, and 
 made new ditches and water cuts, but we had a very deep and defen- 
 flble one in front of our quarters. Sandoval and Tapia on their return 
 to the general, reported to him the valiant manner in which our foldiers 
 were behaving when they arrived at our poft ; Sandoval alfo mentioned 
 me particularly, and faid thofe things in my commendation, which, 
 exclusive of the facts being known to our whole army, would not be 
 proper to repeat of myfelf. 
 
 During this ceflation, our whole force of infantry kept guard on 
 the caufeway at night, flanked by the brigantines, one half of the ca- 
 valry patroling in Tacuba, the other half on the caufeway. In the morn- 
 ing we prepared to receive the enemy, who every day continued facri- 
 ficing our poor companions, and when they attacked, reviled us faying, 
 that our fleih was too bitter to be eaten, and truly it feems that fuch a 
 miracle was wrought. For five days together the enemy continued 
 their aflaults, being promifed, as they faid, our deftruction, by their 
 gods, within the fpace of eight days; but their gods as it appears to me, 
 were perverfe and treacherous to them, not permitting them to think of 
 peace, and thus leading them to ruin. This language however, and 
 the laft menace in particular, had fuch an efTed upon our allies, toge- 
 ther with the bad appearance of our affairs, that they almoft entirely 
 deferted us in the courfe of a night. The only one who remained with 
 Cortes, was, Suchel, otherwife Don Carlos, brother of Fernando lord 
 of Tezcuco. He was a man of great bravery. His friends who ftaid 
 
 by 
 

 ( 3°* ) 
 
 by him amounted to about forty. With Sandoval remained the chief 
 of Guaxocingo, with about fifty, and in ours the brave Chichimecate- 
 cle, the two fons of our friend D. Lorenzo de Vargas, and about eighty 
 Tlafcalans. Being questioned as to the flight of their countrymen they 
 faid, that the gods of the Mexicans had predicted our deftruction ; that 
 they faw us all wounded, and many killed, that their own lofs was 
 above one thoufand two hundred killed, and that the younger Xicoten- 
 ga had from the firft foretold that we fliould be all put to death ; and 
 therefore, confidering us as loft, their countrymen had quitted us. Cor- 
 tes though he thought what they faid much too true, put on a chear- 
 ful appearance, ridiculed the predictions of the enemy, and affured them 
 that all would do well. He thereby was fortunate enough to induce 
 the few who yet remained to ftay with us to the laft. The Indian Don 
 Carlos, a brave and wife man now reprefented to Cortes the erroneous 
 fyftem on which he had acted, and alfo that which the iituation of the 
 enemy pointed out, advifing him not to fuffer his troops to fight. "Cut 
 " off" faid he "their provifions and water; there are in Mexico fo ma- 
 " ny Xiquipils of warriors, how can they fubfift? their provifions muft 
 ••' at fome time be expended, the water which they get from the wells 
 " is fait, and they have no refource but from the frequent rains ; fight 
 " them by hunger and thirft, and do not throw away your own force. 
 Cortes embraced D. Carlos for his advice; not that the fame had not 
 occurred to many of us before, but wc were too impatient. 
 
 Cortes began upon his new fyftem, by fending orders to all the 
 detachments to remain in their quarters for the next three days. As 
 the enemy were fo ftrong upon the lake, we always fent out two veflels 
 in company ; they had now acquired the method of breaking through 
 the pallifadoes by the force of oars and fails, when there was a good 
 wind. Thus we were mafters of the lake, and alfo of all the houfes 
 which were at any little diftance from the city. This flackened the 
 triumphs of the Mexicans. As our veflels broke through the enemy's 
 pallifadoes, they could flank us while we carried on our work, filling 
 
 the 
 
( 3<>3 ) 
 
 the ditches in our front. This we effected at all our ports in the fpacc 
 of four days, Cortes hi mfclf carrying the beams and earth. 
 
 During each night of this period the enemy continued beating their 
 accurfed drum in the great temple; nothing can equal the difmal im- 
 preflion its found conveyed. They were then in the execution of their 
 infernal ceremonies; the whole place was illuminated, and their (Tirieks 
 at certain intervals pierced the air. For ten nights together were they 
 thus employed in putting to death our unfortunate companions; Chrif- 
 toval de Guzman was the laft facrificed; he was in their hands eighteen 
 days; this we were informed by fome of our prifoners, and for every 
 facrifice, we were told that their war god renewed to them the promife 
 of victory. The enemy at times during the foregoing period brought 
 our own crofsbows againft us, and made the unfortunate prifoners fhoot 
 them; but our poll: derived its fafety from the excellent management of 
 the two guns under P. M. Medrano, and we ftill advanced, gaining 
 every day a bridge or a parapet. Our veiTels alfo continually intercept- 
 ed their canoes loaded with provifion and water, alfo thofe which were 
 employed in procuring that nutritive fubflance which when dry refem- 
 bles cheefe, and is found at the bottom of the lake. In this manner of 
 proceeding twelve or thirteen days had now pailed, our lives therefore 
 exceeded the date allowed them by the prediction of the Mexican priefts.. 
 This gave our allies courage, and in compliance with the requifition of 
 our fteady friend Suchel, two thoufand warriors from Tezcuco returned 
 to us. There came with them Captain Pedro Sanchez Farfan, and An- 
 thonio de Villaroel, afterwards married to La Ojeda, who had been left 
 behind in Tezcuco. Many bodies alfo of our Tlafcalan and other allies 
 arrived about the fame time. Cortes having fummoned their chiefs, 
 made them a fpeech, partly of reprimand and partly of hopes and pro- 
 mifes, concluding it with an admonition to them not to put to death any 
 of the Mexicans, as it was his wifh to negociate for peace. 
 
 The heavy rains at this feafon of the year were much in our, favor^ 
 the enemy always relaxing in their exertions when they came on. We 
 
 had. 
 
( 304 ) 
 
 had now advanced confiderably into the city at each of the three attacks ; 
 we had alfo reached the fountain's of brackifh water, which we totally 
 deftroyed, and the cavalry could act through the whole fpace which 
 we had gained, as it was our care to make it level for them. 
 
 Our general thought the prefent a good juncture to offer peace to 
 the Mexicans ; he therefore propofed to three of his principal prifoners 
 to go with his meffage to their king, Guatimotzin, but they declined 
 it, alledging that he would certainly put them to death. At length 
 however he prevailed with them to carry his propofal, which was to 
 this purport. That from the affection he bore to ail the family of the 
 great Montezuma, in order alfo to prevent the deffruction of that great 
 city, and the lofs of lives, he was willing to treat of peace, calling to 
 the recollection of Guatimotzin, that his troops and people were cut off 
 from provifions and water, and that all thofe nations which had former- 
 ly been the vaffals of Mexico were now the allies of the Spaniards; with 
 many more ftrong arguments to the fame purpofe, which the embafla- 
 dors very well underftood. Previous to their going they defired that 
 the general would provide them with a letter, under which authority 
 they waited on the monarch, fobbing and wailing bitterly, as knowing 
 the danger which attended their bufinefs. At firfl Guatimotzin and his 
 chiefs appeared enraged, but the moderation of his difpofition prevailed, 
 and he refolvedto call a council compofed of the princes, chiefs, and 
 prieffs of the city. Guatimotzin opened the bufinefs by cxpremng his 
 own inclination to come into terms, expofing the inemcacy of their re- 
 fiftance, the defertion of their allies, and the diftreffes of the people. 
 The priefts took the oppofite opinion. They reprefented the conduct of 
 the Spaniards from the firft, their treatment of his uncle the great Mon- 
 tezuma; of Cacamatzin, and of various other princes as foon as they 
 had got them in their power; alfo the death of the two fons of Mon- 
 tezuma, which they laid to their charge, the deftruction and wafte of 
 the wealth of Mexico, and the marks of flavery with which they had 
 branded other nations. They reminded him of his own martial fame 
 and conduct, of the infidioufnefs of Cortes and his offers, and the 
 
 promifes 
 
( 3°S ) 
 
 promifes of victory they had obtained from their gods. Guatimotzin 
 then exprefTed his determination to fight to the lafl man and gave orders 
 to fpare the provifions as much as pofhble, to (ink wells in various pla- 
 ces, and to endeavour to obtain fupplies by night. 
 
 Our army remained at their ports for two days quietly, expecting 
 the anfwer from Mexico. We were then attacked at all points by great 
 bodies of the enemy, who fell on us like lions, doling upon and endea- 
 vouring to feize us in their hands, whenever the horn of Guatimotzin 
 was founded. For feven days were we thus engaged, w r atching in a 
 body during the night, at day break going into action, fighting during 
 the day, and in the evening retiring to confole ourfelves with our mifery 
 of maize cakes, agi or pepper, tunas, and herbs. Our offer of peace 
 only ferved for new matter for the enemy to revile us on, reproaching 
 us as cowards, and faying, that peace was for women and arms for 
 men. 
 
 It has been mentioned that the wretched remains of our country- 
 men were fent round to different provinces, to fummon and encourage 
 them to come to the aid of the Mexicans. In confequence, a force af- 
 fembled from Matalzingo, Malinalco, and other places at the diftance 
 of eight leagues from Mexico, to fall on our rear, while the 
 enemy from the city attacked us in front. When they had afTembled 
 as above mentioned 1 -, they began to commit outrages upon the country- 
 bet ween them and ius, feizing the children in order to facrifice. Com- 
 plaints of this comiing to Cortes, he detached Andres de Tapia with 
 twenty cavalry and one hundred infantry againft the enemy. This 
 officer executed his million completely, driving them back to their own 
 country with lofs. 
 
 Cortes then fent Sandoval to aflift the people of the diftrict called 
 by us Cuernabaca, who were attacked in the fame manner. There is 
 much to fay in refpect to this expedition; too much indeed to be able 
 to do juftice to it without going into the details; fuffice it that it was 
 
 R r more 
 

 ■I H 
 
 ( 306 ) 
 
 more peaceable than warlike, and of the happiefl effect for us, Sandoval 
 returning accompanied by two chiefs of the nation he had marched 
 againft. His return was very fudden, in order to protect our potts, 
 which were in a moll: perilous way; for this draft had difmantled them, 
 as he had with him every man really fit for duty, being twenty cavalry 
 and eighty infantry. However he by his expedition faved both our al- 
 lies and us. 
 
 Cortes now again fent an embafly to Guatimotzin, faying he had 
 his Monarchy orders to fave if poflible that fine city ; he reminded Gu- 
 atimotzin of the diftrefs of the wretched people, and to convince him 
 that he had no hope from his allies, he fent the meffage by the two 
 chiefs who accompanied Sandoval. The Mexican monarch returned no 
 anfwer, except ordering the ambalTadors immediately to quit the city. 
 The enemy now increafed every day the fury of their attacks ; their ex- 
 pressions were, "Tenitoz re de CafHlla! Tenitoz Axaca?" which means, 
 " what fays the king of Caftille? what does he now?" We ftill con- 
 tinued advancing towards the heart of the city , and obferved that not- 
 withftanding the rage with which they afTailed us, for it feemed as if 
 they wifhed to meet their deaths, there was not fo much movement 
 among them as formerly, nor did they fo bufiiy employ themfeives in 
 opening the ditches. We alfo had caufe for reflection of a lefs pleafant 
 nature which was, that our powder was almofl reduced to nothing. 
 At this moment molt fortunately, arrived at the port of Villa Rica, a 
 vefTel with foldiers and ordnance ftores, one of an armament fitted out 
 by the Licentiate Lucas Vafquez de Aillon, which had been deftroyed 
 or difperfed near the Iflands of Florida. The relief and reinforcement 
 were immediately forwarded to Cortes, by his lieutenant, Rangel. 
 It was now determined by Cortes and all the army to pufh for the great 
 place or Taltelulco of the city, on account of the principal temples and 
 itrong buildings being there. Each of our detachments therefore ad- 
 vanced for the purpofe. Cortes got pofTeflion of a fmall fquare at which" 
 were fome temples ; in thofe temples were beams whereon were placed 
 the heads of many of our foldiers ; their hair and beards had much 
 
 grown s 
 
( 307 ) 
 
 grown; I could not have believed it had I not feen it with my own eyes 
 in three days after, when our party had advanced near enough to get a 
 view of them, after having filled two canals. I recognifed the features 
 of three of our friends, and the tears came into my eyes at the fight. 
 In twelve days they were all buried by us in that which is now name4 
 the church of the martyrs. 
 
 The detachment of Alvarado continued to advance, and after an 
 engagement of two hours forced the enemy from their barricades in the 
 great fquare. The cavalry now rendered good fervice in the open fpace, 
 and the enemy were driven before us into the temple of the war god. 
 Alvarado divided his forces into three bodies, and while he occupied the 
 attention of the enemy with two, he ordered the third, commanded by 
 Gutierre de Badajoz, to drive them from, and take pofTciTion of the 
 great temple. The enemy, headed by their priefts, occupied the ado- 
 ratories or fan<5tuaries of their idols, and repulfed our troops, driving 
 them down the fteps ; which being obferved by Alvarado, he then fent 
 us to fupport them, and on our arrival, having afcended to the top, we 
 completely drove the enemy from that poft; having done which, we 
 fet fire to the images of their falfe gods, and planted our flandard on the 
 fummit of the temple. The view of this fignal of victory rejoiced Cor- 
 tes, who woulld fain have joined us, but he had it not in his power. 
 He was then dliftant a quarter of a league, and had many ditches to fill 
 as he advanced . In four days from this time, both he and Sandoval had 
 worked their way to us, and the communications to the three pofts were 
 opened through the centre of the city of Mexico. This attack upon 
 the temple was truly perilous; the edifice was very lofty, and the ene- 
 my numerous; and they continued to engage us on the flat ground at 
 the fummit, from the time that we had fet fire to the idols and their 
 adoratories, until night. The royal palaces were now levelled to the 
 ground, Guatimotzin and his troops having retired to a quarter of the 
 city more diflant from the centre, and towards the lake. 
 
 Still they attacked us in the day, and at night purlued us to our 
 
 Rr % quarters, 
 

 ( 308 ) 
 
 quarters, and thus time patted over, and no propofition was made con- 
 cerning peace. Our chiefs then propofed a plan of laying ambufcades. 
 Thirty cavalry and one hundred infantry of the prime of our army, to- 
 gether with one thoufand Tlafcalans were ported in concealment, in 
 feme large houfes which had belonged to a nobleman of the city. This 
 was done during the night. Cortes with the reft of his troops, in the 
 morning went to attack a poll: at a bridge, which Guatimotzin had or- 
 dered to be fupported by a large force. Cortes after his firft attack re- 
 treated, drawing the enemy after him, by the buildings where the troops 
 were placed in concealment. At the proper moment he fired two (hots 
 clofe together as a fignal to us ; we fallied out, and the enemy being 
 enclofed between us, our allies, and the party of Cortes which faced 
 about, a dreadful havoc was made of them, and from that time they 
 no more annoyed us in our retreat. Another trap was alfo laid for them 
 by Alvarado, but not with the fame fuccefs; I was not prefent at it, 
 being ordered by Cortes to do duty for that time with his party. 
 
 From our quarters we had to march above half a league to meet 
 the enemy; we now therefore quitted that poft altogether, and lodged 
 ourfelves in the great fquare or Taltelulco. Here we were for three days 
 without doing any thing worth mentioning: we alio abitained from de- 
 flroying any more of the city, in the hopes of peace. 
 
 Cortes at this time fent to Guatimotzin requefting him to furrender, 
 under the ftrongeft alTurances of enjoying the plentitude of power and 
 honors. He accompanied this embaiTy with as handfome a prefent as 
 his fituation permitted, of provifions, bread, fowls, fruit, and game. 
 Guatimotzin as he was advifed to do by thofe whom he confulted, dif- 
 fimulated^ and feemed inclined to a pacification. He fent four of his 
 principal nobility, with a promife to come to an interview with Cortes 
 in three days. But this was all feigned; he employed the time in for- 
 tifying his quarter of the town, and making preparations to attack us. 
 He alfo endeavoured to amufe us by a fecond embafty, but we were 
 now advifed of his fchemes. In fact, from what he was told by thofe 
 
 about 
 
( 309 ) 
 
 about him, and from the example of his uncle Montezuma, he was 
 afraid to truft himfelf in our hands. But the malk was foon thrown 
 off; we were attacked by great bodies of the enemy, with fuch violence 
 that it appeared as if all was beginning anew. Having been rather ta- 
 ken by furprife, they did us at firft fome mifchief, killed one foldier, 
 and two horfes; but in the end we fent them back with very little to 
 boafl of. Cortes ordered his troops now to proceed againil that part of 
 the city where the quarters of Guatimotzin were; accordingly we began 
 upon our former fyftem, and gained ground as we had before done elfe- 
 where. When the king perceived this, he defired an interview with. 
 Cortes, on the fide of a large canal which was to feparate them. Tq 
 this Cortes readily affented, and it was to take place on the enfuing 
 morning. Cortes attended, but Guatimotzin never appeared; inftead. 
 of which he fent feveral of his principal nobility, who laid that the king 
 did not think proper to come, from an apprehenfion that we might 
 fhoot him during the parley. Cortes then engaged by the mod: folemn 
 oaths not to do him any injury whatever, but it was of no effect. A. 
 ridiculous farce was played here : two of the nobility who attended on. 
 the part of Guatimotzin, -took out of a fack, bread, a fowl, and cher- 
 ries, which they began to eat, in order to imprefs the Spaniards with an r 
 idea that they were no>t in want. Cortes feeing the manner in which. 
 he was treated, fent back an hoftile mefTage and retired; after this we 
 were left unmolefted for the fpace of four or five days.. During this- 
 time numbers of wretched Indians, reduced by famine, furrounded our. 
 quarters every night. Cortes pitied their miferable fituation, and hop- 
 ing that it might induce the enemy to come into terms of accommoda-. 
 tion, ordered the ceffation of hoftilities to be ftrictly adhered to; but no 
 overture of the kind was made.. 
 
 There was in the army of Cortes a foldier who boafted of having; 
 ferved in Italy, and of the great battles which he had feen there. His 
 name was Sotelo, and he was a. native of Seville. This man was eter-. 
 nally talking of the wonderful military machines which he knew the 
 »t. of conftrutting, and how he could make a ftone engine which 
 
 fhould 
 

 ■"^ 
 
 C 3^0 ) 
 
 fhould in two days deftroy that whole quarter of the city where Guati- 
 motzin had retreated. He told Cortes fo many fine things of this kind, 
 that he perfuaded him into a trial of his experiments, lime, ftone, and 
 timber being brought, according to his defire; the carpenters were alfo 
 fer to work, two ftrong cables were made, and ftones the fize of a bufhel 
 were prepared. The machinery was now all ready, the ftone which 
 was to be ejected was put in its place, and the whole apparatus was 
 played off* againft the quarters of Guatimotzin. But behold ! inftead of 
 taking that direction, the ftone flew up vertically into the air, and re- 
 turned exactly into the place from whence it had been launched. Cortes 
 was enraged and afhamed: he reproached the foldier, and ordered the 
 machinery to be taken down; but ftill it continued the joke of the 
 army. 
 
 Cortes now gave orders to Sandoval, to go with the flotilla againft 
 that part or nook of the city whither Guatimotzin had retired, caution- 
 ing him at the fame time not to kill or injure any Mexican, unlefs he 
 was attacked, nor even then to do more than was abfolutely necelTary 
 for his own defence ; but to level all the houfes, and the many advan- 
 ced works which the enemy had made in the lake. Cortes afcended 
 then into the great temple, with feveral of his officers and foldiers, to 
 obferve the movements of his fleet. When Sandoval approached the 
 quarters of Guatimotzin, that prince, who had great apprehenfions of 
 being made prifoner, availed himfelf of the preparations which he had 
 made for his efcape, and embarking himfelf, his family, his courtiers, and 
 officers, with their moft valuable effects, on board fifty large piraguas, 
 the whole body fet off for the main land, as did all. his nobility and 
 chiefs in various directions. Sandoval who was at this time occupied 
 in making his way by tearing down the houfes, received immediate no- 
 tice of the flight of Guatimotzin. He inftantly fet out in the purfuit, 
 giving ftrict orders that no injury or infult fhould be offered, but that 
 each fhould keep a fteady eye upon the royal veffel, and do his utmoft 
 to get pofTeiTion of it. He particularly directed however Garci Holguin, 
 his intimate friend, and captain of the quickeft failer of the fleet, to. 
 
 make 
 
 * Fiora the platform of a theatre. 
 
( 3H ) 
 
 make for that part of the more whither Guatimotzin was moft likely 
 to go. Accordingly this officer followed his inflructions, and falling 
 in with the vefTels, from certain particulars in its appearance, ftructure, 
 and awning, he afcertained that which the king was on board of. He 
 made figns to the people in it to bring to, but without effect ; he then 
 ordered his crofsbow-men and mufqueteers to prefent, upon which Gu- 
 atimotzin called out to them not to fhoot, and approaching the veiTel, 
 acknowledged himfelf for what he was, declaring his readinefs to fub- 
 mit, and go with them to their general, but requefling that his queen, 
 his children, and attendants fhould be fuffered to remain unmolefled. 
 Holguin received him with the greateft refpect, together with his queen, 
 and twenty of his nobility. He feated them on the poop of his fhip, 
 and provided refrefliments for them, commanding, that the piraguas 
 which carried the kings effects, mould follow untouched. 
 
 Sandoval at this moment made a fignal for the flotilla to clofe up 
 to him, and perceived that Guatimotzin was prifoner to Holguin, wha 
 was taking him to Cortes, Upon this he ordered his rowers to exert 
 their utmoft to bring him up to Holguin's veiTel, and having arrived by 
 the fide of it, he demanded Guatimotzin to be delivered to him as gene- 
 ral of the whole force; but Holguin refufed, alledging that he had no 
 claim whatever. A veiTel which went to carry the intelligence of the 
 great event, brought alfo to Cortes who was then on the fummit of the 
 great temple in the Talteluleo, very near the part of the lake where Gu- 
 atimotzin was captured, an account of the difpute between his officers. 
 Cortes inftantly difpatched Captain Luis Marin and Francifco de Lugo, 
 to bring the whole party together to his quarters, and thus to flop all 
 litigation; but he enjoined them not to omit treating Guatimotzin and 
 his queen with the greatefr. refpect. During the interval, he employed 
 himfelf in arranging a irate, as well as he could, with cloths and man- 
 tles. He alfo prepared a table with refrefhments, to receive his prifo- 
 ners. As foon as they appeared, he went forward to meet them, and 
 embracing Guatimotzin, treated him and all his attendants with every 
 mark of refpecl;. The unfortunate monarch, with tears in his eyes, 
 
 and 
 

 ( 3** ) 
 
 and finking under affliction, then addrefled him in the following 
 words. " Malintzin ! I have done that which was my duty in the de- 
 " fence of my kingdom and people; my efforts have failed, and being 
 " now brought by force a prifoner in your hands, draw that poinard 
 t* from your fide, and ftab me to the heart." Cortes embraced, and 
 tifed every expreflion to comfort him, by afTurances that he held him 
 in high eftimation for the valour and firmncfs he had fhewn, and that 
 he had required a fubmifTion from him and the people at the time that 
 they could no longer reafonably hope for fuccefs, in order to prevent 
 further deftruction ; but that was all pafl, and no more to be thought 
 of; he fhould continue to reign over the people, as he had done before. 
 Cortes then enquired after his queen, to which Guatimotzin replied, 
 that in confequence of the compliance of Sandoval with his rcqueft, flie 
 and her women remained in the piraguas, until Cortes mould decide as 
 to their fate. The general then caufed them to be fent for, and treated 
 them in the beft manner his fituation afforded. The evening was draw- 
 ing on, and it appeared likely to rain; he therefore fent the whole roy- 
 al family to Cuyoacan, under the care of Sandoval. The reft of the 
 troops then returned to their former quarters ; we to ours of Tacuba, 
 and Cortes, proceeding to Cuyoacan, took the command there, fending 
 Sandoval to refume his ftation at Tepeaquilla. Thus was the fiege of 
 Mexico brought to a conclufion by the capture of Guatimotzin and his 
 chiefs, on the thirteenth of Auguft, at the hour of vefpers, being the 
 day of St. Hyppolitus, in the year of our Lord one thoufand five hun- 
 dred and twenty one. Glorified be our Lord Jefus Chrift, and our la- 
 dy the Holy Virgin Mary his blefTed mother, amen ! 
 
 In the night after Guatimotzin was made prifoner, there was the 
 greateft tempeft of rain, thunder, and lightening, efpecially about mid- 
 night, that ever was known; but all the foldiers were as deaf as if they 
 had been for an hour in a fteeple, with the bells ringing about their 
 ears. This was owing to the continual noife of the enemy for ninety 
 three days ; fome preparing their troops and bringing them on, fhout- 
 ing, calling, and whittling, as fignals to attack us on the caufeway ; 
 
 others 
 
( 3*3 ) 
 
 others in the canoe? coming to attack our veflels ; fome again at work 
 upon their pallifadoes, or opening the ditches and water cuts, and mak- 
 ing flone parapets, or preparing their magazines of darts and arms, and 
 the women fupplying the {lingers with their ammunition. Then from 
 the temples and adoratories of their accurfed idols, the timbals and horns, 
 and the mournful found of their great drum, and other difmal noifes, 
 were inceffantly aflailing our ears, fo that day or night we could hardly 
 hear each other fpeak. But thefe dins immediately ceafed on the cap- 
 ture of Guatimotzin, for which reafon as I have obferved, we felt like 
 fo many men jufl efcaped from a fteeple where all the bells were ringing 
 about our ears. 
 
 Guatimotzin was "of a noble appearance both in perion and counte- 
 nance; his features were rather large, and chearful, with lively eyes. 
 His age was about twenty three or four years, and his complexion ve- 
 ry fair for an Indian. His queen the niece of Montezuma, was young, 
 and very handfome. 
 
 In regard to the difpute between Sandoval and Holguin, Cortes 
 related to them the circumftance from the Roman hiftory, of the capture 
 of Jugurtha, and the difpute of Marius and Sylla, about which of them 
 fhould have the honor of it, and that this difpute was productive of 
 moft fatal civil wars ; but faid that he would lay the whole affair before 
 his Majefty, by whofe arbitration it mould be decided, which of the 
 two (hould have the action emblazoned in his arms. In two years from 
 this time the Emperor's orders upon the fubject arrived ; they were to 
 this purpofe; that Cortes mould bear in his arms the feven kings, re- 
 prefenting Montezuma, Guatimotzin, and the princes of Tczcuco, 
 Iztapalapa, Cuyoacan, Tacuba, and Matalzingo. 
 
 What I am going to mention is truth, and I fwear and fay amen 
 to it. I have read of the deftruction of Jerufalem, but I cannot conceive 
 that the mortality there exceeded this of Mexico; for all the people from 
 the diftant provinces which belonged to this empire had concentrated 
 
 S s themfelves 
 
( 3H ) 
 
 themfelves here, where they moftly died. The ftreets, the fquares, 
 the houfes, and the courts of the Talteiulco were covered with dead bo- 
 dies j we could not ftep without treading on them; the lake and canals 
 were filled with them, and the flench was intolerable. For this reafon, 
 our troops immediately after the capture of the royal family retired to 
 their former quarters. Cortes himfelf was for fome time ill from the 
 effect of it. 
 
 The vefTels were now the beft fituation, thofe on board carrying 
 away all the plunder, for they had accefs to houfes in the water which 
 were not in our reach. They alfo found what the Mexicans had con- 
 cealed in the reeds, and on the borders of the lake, and intercepted that 
 which was carried out of our reach by water. We on land gained no- 
 thing but honor and wounds. The wealth our navy got was much 
 more than we could guefs at ; Guatimotzin and all his chiefs declaring, 
 when enquiry was made as to the public treafure, that it had moftly 
 fallen into their hands. 
 
 To return to the ftate of Mexico. Guatimotzin now requefted of 
 Cortes, that permifiion mould be given to clear the city entirely of the 
 inhabitants, in order to purify it, and reftore its falubrity. Accordingly 
 they were ordered to remove to the neighbouring towns, and for three 
 days, and three nights, all the caufeways were full, from one end to 
 the other, of men, women, and children, fo weak and fickly, fqualid 
 and dirty, and peftilential, that it was mifery to behold them. When 
 all thofe who were able had quitted the city, we went to examine the 
 ftate of it, which was as I have defcribed. The ftreets, courts, and 
 houfes were covered with dead bodies, and fome miferable wretches 
 were creeping about, in the different ftages of the moil offenfive difor_ 
 ders, the confequences of famine and improper food. The ground was 
 all broken, up to get at the roots of fuch vegetation as it afforded, and 
 the very trees were ftripped of their bark ! There was no frefh water in 
 the town. During all their diftrefs however, though their conftant 
 practice was to feaft on fuch as they took prifoners, no inftance occurred 
 
 of 
 
( 3»5 ) 
 
 of their having preyed on each other; and certainly never exifted fince 
 the creation a people which fuffered fo much from hunger, thirft, and 
 warfare. 
 
 After having returned thanks to God, Cortes determined to cele- 
 brate his fuccefs by a feftival in Cuyoacan ; a vefTel had arrived at Villa 
 Rica with a cargo of wine, and hogs had been provided from the Ifland 
 of Cuba. To this entertainment he invited all the officers of his army, 
 and alfo the foldiers of eftimation, and all things being prepared, on 
 the day appointed, we waited on our general. When we came to fit 
 down to dinner there were not tables for one half of us ; this brought 
 on great confufion among the company, and indeed for many reafons it 
 w r ould have been much better let alone. The plant of Noah was the 
 caufe of many fooleries and worfe things ; it made fome leap over the 
 tables who afterwards could not go out at the doors, and many rolled 
 down the fteps. The private foldiers fwore they would buy horfes with 
 golden harnefs; the crofsbow-men would ufe none but golden arrows; 
 all were to have their fortunes made. When the tables were taken away 
 the foldiers danced in their armour, with the ladies, as many of them 
 as there were, but the difproportion in numbers was very great. This 
 fcene was truly ridiculous. I will not mention the names, fuffice it to 
 fay a fair field was opened for fatire. Fray De Olmedo thought what 
 he obferved at the feafl:, and in the dances too fcandalous, and com- 
 plained to Sandoval; and the latter directly told Cortes how the reverend 
 father was fcolding and grumbling. Cortes, difcreet in all his actions, 
 then came to him and affecting to difapprove the whole, rcqucfted that 
 he would order a folemn mafs and thankfgiving, and preach a fermon 
 to the foldiers on the moral and religious duties. Fra Bartholome was 
 highly pleafed at this, thinking it had originated fpontaneoufly from 
 Cortes, and not knowing that the hint had been given him by Sandoval. 
 Accordingly, the crucifixes and the image of our Lady were borne in fo- 
 iemn procefTion, with drums and ftandards; the litany was fung during 
 the ceremony, Fra Bartholome preached and adminiftered the iacrament, 
 and we returned thanks to God for our victory. 
 
 S s % Cortes 
 

 
 ( 316 ) 
 
 Cortes now took leave of his allies, the Tlalcalan chiefs, and alfo 
 of Suchel otherwife Don Carlos, a very brave man, as was another, a 
 captain of fome city near the lake the name of which I forget ; but he 
 did wonders. Many others who had rendered us mod important fervi- 
 ces departed at the fame time. Cortes difmilTed them all to their homes 
 with many embraces, thanks, and compliments, promifing that he 
 would foon make them rich, and great lords, and give them lands and 
 valTals, fo that they took their departure in high fpirits. They had 
 however fecured fomething more fubftantial than promifes, for they 
 were well loaden with the plunder of Mexico, nor were they behind the 
 enemy in their cannibal feafts, carrying with them portions preferved, 
 to fupply their friends on their return home. 
 
 Now that I am paft thefe furious combats, through which, prai- 
 fed be God he was pleafed to conduct me fafe, I have to mention a cer- 
 tain particularity relative to myfelf, and it is this. When I faw the fa- 
 crifice of our feventy two countrymen, and their hearts taken out and 
 offered to the war god of the Mexicans, I had a fenfation of fear. Some 
 may confider this as want of hrmnefs; but if they weigh it duly, they 
 will find that it was in truth the refult of too much courage, which 
 caufed me to run into extreme and uncommon dangers; for in that day 
 I confidered myfelf a moft valiant foldier, , and was fo efteemed by all ; 
 and was ufed to do that which was attempted by the boldeft, and I was 
 always under the eye of my captain.. As I' have before obferved, when 
 I faw my companions facriflced, their hearts taken out palpitating, and 
 their legs and arms cut off and eaten, I feared it might one day or other 
 be my own lot,, for they had me in their hands twice, but it was God's 
 will that I mould efcape ; but I remembered, and thought on what I 
 had feen, and from this time I feared that cruel death; and this I men- 
 tion, becaufe before I went into battle, I felt a great depreilion and un- 
 eafinefs about my heart, and then recommending myfelf to God and his 
 bleffed mother our Lady, the inftant I was engaged with the enemy it 
 left me. Still I am furprifed that it came upon me when I mould have 
 felt more valiant than ever, on account of the many battles in which I 
 
 had 
 
( 3*7 ) 
 
 had been engaged. But I declare I never knew what fear was, until 
 I faw the maflacre of the feventy two foldiers. Let thofe cavaliers who 
 have been in defperate battles and mortal dangers now decide what was 
 the caufe of my fears ; I fay that it was excefs of courage ; and for this 
 reafon; that I knew the greatnefs of the danger into which I was deter- 
 mined to go, and knowingly, and voluntarily, encountered it. Many 
 engagements are related in my hiftory befides thofe I was at; but if my 
 body were of iron, I could not have been at all; and I was much of- 
 tener wounded than whole. 
 
 I mufl obferve, that the Mexicans did not kill our foldiers, but 
 wounded, and carried them off, to facrifke alive, to their gods. 
 

 ^^♦^jWfiyjKjw^^M 1 ; 
 
THE TRUE HISTORY 
 
 OP 
 
 THE CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 
 
 -TsoaGooraooocy* 
 
 PART THE THIRD. 
 
 CHAPTER I, 
 
 Tranfattions and occurrences in New Spain Jubfequent 
 
 to the conquejl. 
 
 A 
 
 .FTER the conqueft, as foon as Cortes had leifure to turn his 
 mind to objects of police and internal regulation, he directed that the 
 aqueducts mould be reftored, and the city cleared of the dead, fo that 
 within two months it might be inhabited as before. The palaces and 
 houfes he ordered to be repaired, and pointed out that part which was 
 to be inhabited by the natives, and that which was to be referved for 
 the Spaniards. 
 
 Guatimotzin now applied in the name of many of his principal 
 nobility to Cortes, requeuing that he would order fuch of their women 
 
 of 
 
( 320 ) 
 
 of rank as had been taken by our foldiers, to be delivered to their huf- 
 bands, and fathers. The general found fome difficulty in this, but 
 agreed to permit them to make fearch, and fuch as wifhed to return, he 
 aflured them that he would caufe to be given up. They fearched 
 through every houfe, and though the women hid themselves they found 
 many, but very few were inclined to return; they declared that they 
 detefted the idolatry of their countrymen, and in addition they were 
 many of them pregnant, fo that of the whole number three only went 
 back to their families. 
 
 One of the flrft public works undertaken was an arfenal in the 
 city, fo fituated as to include our flotijla. Alvarado was to the beft of 
 my knowledge appointed alcalde, until the arrival of Salazar de la Pe- 
 drada. All the gold, filver, and jewels, which were now collected in 
 Mexico, amounted to the paltry fum of three hundred and eighty thou- 
 fand crowns. It was reported that Guatimotzin had thrown great 
 quantities into the lake four days before the furrender of the town, and 
 it was well known that a considerable (hare had fallen to our allies, and 
 to thofe who ferved on board the fleet. Cortes was not forry to think 
 Guatimotzin had it concealed, in hopes of obtaining it all for himfelf. 
 It was then propofed to put both Guatimotzin and his confidential friend 
 the prince of Tacuba to the torture, to extort confeflion from them; this 
 was certainly very contrary to the inclination and difpofition of Cortes, 
 who could not approve of fuch an aft of cruelty being committed on a 
 perfon fo diftinguiftied as Guatimotzin; one who was abfolute monarch 
 of a country three times larger than Caftille. In anfwer to all enquiries 
 the king's officers protefted that there was no more than what had been 
 produced, which when melted and run into bars did not exceed three 
 hundred and eighty thoufand crowns. From this the fifth for the Em- 
 peror and another for Cortes were deducted; what remained did not at 
 all fatisfy thofe of the conquerors of Mexico who were not before friends 
 to Cortes. They fuggefted to the treafurer Alderete that the general 
 objected to Guatimotzin being tortured, in order to get the gold him- 
 felf. Cortes was therefore obliged to leave the unfortunate king at their 
 
 difpoial, 
 
{ .331 ) 
 
 difpofal, as well as the lord of Tacuba. What this inhuman procefs 
 extorted from them was, a confefTion that they had, four days previous 
 to the furrender, thrown treafure into the lake, and alfo the mufquets, 
 bows, and other arms taken from us in our flight, and in the laft defeat 
 of Cortes. The place which Guatimotzin pointed out was fearched by 
 the befl fwimmers, to no effed: whatever. In a deep pond at his pa- 
 lace was found a fun of folid gold, fimilar to that which Montezuma 
 ha^l given us, with many ornaments of fmall value, the private pro- 
 perty of Guatimotzin. On the torture the Prince of Tacuba declared 
 that he had gold at fome large houfes he poiTefled four leagues from the 
 town of Tacuba, and that, if there, he would point out to us where it 
 was buried. Alvarado and fix foldiers whereof I was one accompanied 
 him thither; when we arrived he declared he had faid lb in hopes of 
 dying on the road, for that he had no treafure whatever; fo we remain- 
 ed without any more gold to melt. The fact is that the treafury was 
 diminished to a mere trifle before it came into Guatimotzin's hands ; and 
 1 and many others who faw it at firft knew it appeared to be then worth 
 twice what it was when brought out to have his Majefty's fhare deduct- 
 ed: I obferved many articles of remarkable and curious workman- 
 fhip mifTing at that time; they were taken for the public fervice. 
 
 I and feveral good divers fearched that part of the lake which had 
 been pointed out by Guatimotzin, and we found fome pieces of gold of 
 little value, which were immediately claimed by Cortes and Alderete. 
 They alfo fent down perfons and were themfelves prefent, but all they 
 obtained amounted to lefs than the value of ninety crowns. This made 
 us very penfive and grave, when we found what mere trifles our (hares 
 as they were called came to. For this reafon Fra Bartholome, and 
 other cavaliers and captains, reprefented to Cortes that it would be beft 
 to divide that which fell to the lot of the whole army, among th» 
 wounded, the halt, the blind, the deaf, the fcorched, and the fick; 
 and that thofe who had efcaped found would renounce their claims. 
 This they faid upon an expectation that it might draw out fome of the 
 treafure which they fufpected was concealed. Cortes replied that he 
 
 T t would 
 

 
 C 322 ) 
 
 would enquire, and rectify all. Our captains and foldiers were then 
 curious to know what the (hares came to for each man. On catting it 
 up it appeared, that to each horfeman there came one hundred crowns, 
 and to each infantry foldier I forget how much, but no one would ac- 
 cept it. This did not quiet the foldiers ; they murmured loudly and 
 accufed the treafurer. He to exculpate himfelf faid, that they mould 
 blame Cortes, who had taken out a fecond fifth for himfelf, and alfo a 
 deduction for lofs of horfes, and had retained from the common flock 
 many pieces of wrought gold to fend to his Majefty. The foldiers of 
 Narvaez who never liked Cortes thoroughly, would not take their pal- 
 try (hares, and as Cortes now lodged at Cuyoacan, in large buildings 
 with white walls, very well adapted for fcribbling on, there appeared 
 every morning libels againfr. him in profe or verfe. The idea of one of 
 them was, that as the planets fometimes went a little out of their courfe, 
 but by the order of nature fpeedily reverted to it again, fo it was with 
 Cortes and his ambition. Another faid we were more conquered by 
 Cortes than' Mexico by us, and that we were not the victors of New 
 Spain, but the vanquifhed of Cortes. Some faid that he had taken his 
 fifth as general, and a fecond as king; and others again that Velafquez 
 had incurred all the expence, and Cortes reaped all the profit. I recol- 
 lect the words of one only : they were 
 
 " Que trifle efla el alma mca, 
 " Hafta que la parte vea.* 
 
 Many were written in fuch a ftile as is not fit for me to relate, and 
 fomc had a turn and witty point in them which I am not able to give. 
 Cortes was a poet, and prided himfelf on giving anfwers in that way 
 to fuch complimentary addreffes as he received; he alfo ufed to reply in 
 pointed epigrams to thefe pafquinades which grew every day more in- 
 decent. One day obferving the walls covered with them he wrote, "a 
 white wall is paper for fools." Next morning was found added, "and for 
 truths." At length Fra Bartholome told Cortes the thing was going too 
 
 far 
 
 * How anxious I am for a partition of plunder!! 
 
( 3*3 ) 
 
 far, and advifed him to flop it, which he did by threats of fevcre pu- 
 ni(hmcnt. 
 
 Among the foldiers of our army very heavy dehts were contracted; 
 a crofs-bow was fold for fifty crowns, a mufquet coft one hundred, a 
 horfe eight hundred, one thoufand, and even more; and every thing 
 elfe was in proportion. Then our furgeon Maefhe Juan 'charged high, 
 as did a Doctor Murcia who was an apothecary and barber. There were 
 befides various other money traps, all which were to be fatisfied out of 
 our dividends. This required fome regulation: Cortes accordingly ap- 
 pointed Sancta Clara, a very honorable perfon, and one Lerena, to ap- 
 preciate each claim, which was to be paid according to their award, 
 within two years. The value of the gold was alfo altered by increafing 
 the alloy; this was intended to ferve us in our dealing with the mer- 
 chants from Europe or Cuba, but it had a contrary effect:, as they were 
 prepared, and added twice as much to the price of their goods. The 
 alloy was copper, called here Tepuzque; for which reafon we call any 
 one of an inferior degree to another of the fame name, Don Juan, or 
 Don Alonzo Tepuzque, or the copper Don Juan &c. The abufes re- 
 fulting from this being made known to his Majcfty, he was plcafed to 
 forbid the currency of this bafe metal, ordering it to be taken in duties 
 until it was adl drawn over to Caflille, and that no more of it fhould be 
 made. At tlhis time two gold-fmiths were hanged here for running bafe 
 metal with the legal mark. 
 
 I have digreffed for fome time paft, and will now return to the 
 thread of my narrative. Cortes, as the beft way to get rid of trouble- 
 fome companions and demands, determined now to fend out colonies, 
 and make fettlements at convenient fituations. For this purpofe Sando- 
 val was ordered to Tuflepeque, and Guacacualco. Juan Velaiquez was 
 to go to Colima, one Villa Fuerte to Zacatula, Chriftoval de Oli to 
 Mechoacan, (he was at this time married to a Portugueze lady name,d 
 Donna Phillipa de Aranja,) and Francifco de Orozca to Guaxaca. 
 
 Tt 2 
 
 At 
 

 ( 3*4 ) 
 
 At this time the chiefs of the diftant provinces could not bring 
 themfelves to believe that Mexico was deftroyed : they therefore lent de- 
 putations to afcertain the truth, and alfo to offer themfelves as vaffals to 
 his Majefty the Emperor. All made great prefents of gold to Cortes, 
 and many came in perfon, and brought their children to fee the ftate of 
 that power once fo feared by them, and ufed to exprefs themfelves as 
 we fay, " here Troy town flood." 
 
 Curious readers will be defirous to know how it happened, that the 
 conquerors of Mexico who had gone through fuch dangers to obtain 
 pofTeffion of that city, fhould now quit it to fearch for new fettlements. 
 To this I reply, that the books which contained the accounts of Mon- 
 tezuma's revenues were examined to find from whence the gold, 
 and other valuable articles of tribute, fuch as cacao, and cotton manu- 
 factures, werefent; and it was to thefe productive diftricts that we 
 wifhed to go. Efpecially, we were led by the example of Sandoval, 
 who being known to be the particular friend of Cortes, it was not to be 
 fuppofed would go upon an unprofitable enterprife. We alfo faw that 
 the vicinity of the city of Mexico had neither mines, plantations, nor 
 manufactures, but was intirely occupied by the cultivation of maize, 
 and of maguey. This we thought did not afford us profpects fuffici- 
 ently advantageous, and we went to other places where we were fadly 
 difappointed. I waited upon Cortes to requeff permillionto attend San- 
 doval ; "brother B. Diaz del Caftillo" faid the general to me, "by mycon- 
 • 4 fcience you will find yourfelf miftaken; you had better ftay with me, 
 but if you are determined on going with your friend Sandoval, go in 
 God's name; I will always do my utmofr. to take care of you, but 1 
 " tell you that you will repent of it." All the gold remained with the 
 Emperor's officers, the flaves having been purchafed by the foldiers ac- 
 cording to their valuation at a public fale. The detachments were fent 
 out to colonize the provinces at different periods, for two months after 
 the capture of Mexico ; however I will not any farther particularize 
 them, not to trefpafs unneceffarily on my reader's time. 
 
 At 
 
( 3*5 ) 
 
 At this time arrived at the port of Villa Rica, Chriftoval de Tapia, 
 veeddr of the Ifland of St. Domingo, with a commifhon to take upon 
 him the government of New Spain, by order of his Majefty, and un- 
 der the direction of the Bilhop of Burgos. He brought with him letters 
 from the faid Bifhop of Burgos to Cortes and many others of his army, 
 recommending him, to be honoured by us as governor of New Spain, 
 and befides thofe which were clofed and fealed, he had alfo with him 
 letters filled up and which he was authorifed to addrefs as he faw occa- 
 sion for his own intereft. Great promifes were held out to fuch as 
 would come over to the new governor, and violent threats of punifh- 
 ment to thofe who made any oppofition to him. Tapia nrfr. prefented 
 his commiflion to Alvarado, then commandant in Villa Rica. Alvara- 
 do received it with the higheft refpect, and faid that as he was not able 
 of himfelf to decide any thing, it would be neceffary to affemble the 
 alcaldes and regidors of the town, to have the commiflion verified be- 
 fore them, and alfo to prove the manner in which it had been tranf- 
 mitted, that they might know for a certainty that it came in a proper 
 form: from his Majefty's hand. This did not exactly agree with the 
 views of Tapia. Being advifed to proceed to Mexico and produce his 
 commiflion to Cortes himfelf, he forwarded the letter of the bifhop, 
 and alfo wrote to Cortes upon the fubjecl: of his million. The ftile of 
 the letters was frnooth and perfuafive, but the anfwer of Cortes was ten 
 times more fo. Cortes immediately fent exprefTes to fome of the differ- 
 ent officers he had detached, ordering them to go and meet Tapia who 
 had already fet out for Mexico, but was, in confequence of the direc- 
 tion of Cortes, met on the road by Alvarado, Sandoval, De Soto, Val- 
 denegro, Captain Andres de Tapia, and the reverend father Fra Malga- 
 rejo. Thefe gentlemen with much compliments and ceremony, induced 
 Chriftoval de Tapia to go to Cempoal ; they there requefted to fee his 
 commiflion, which being verified, and acknowledged, they placed it 
 on their heads in token of refpecl: and fubmiflion; but in regard to the 
 admitting him as governor by the virtue of it, that was quite another 
 affair; it was firft necefTary to know what his Majefty's pleafure was 
 touching the affairs of New Spain, the true flate of which had been 
 
 concealed 
 

 ( 3*6 ) 
 
 concealed from him by the Bifhop of Burgos, who did it to ferve his 
 own private views, and to favor Velafquez and Tapia, one of whom 
 he intended mould marry his niece. By ail this it was pretty evident to 
 Tapia, that he would not very fpeedily enter upon his office, and the 
 diilippointment affected him to that degree that he fell lick. Our cap- 
 tains wrote to Cortes letting him know all that had pafTed, and recom- 
 mending him to fend a good quantity of golden ingots, and try their 
 effeel in mollifying the fury of the would-be governor. Thefe arrived 
 by the return of the exprefs, and with them they bought from him 
 fome negroes, three horfes, and one of his mips; in the other Tapia 
 embarked himfelf, and fet fail for the Ifland of St. Domingo, where 
 he was very ill received by the court of royal audience and the brothers 
 of the order of Jeronymites, he having undertaken the bufinefs contrary 
 to their exprefs command ; but they would not exert their power far- 
 ther againft one patronifed by the Bifhop of Burgos, his Majcfty being 
 at that time in Flanders. 
 
 I have formerly made mention of fome particulars relative to an 
 expedition fet on foot by one Garay. It was to colonize and fettle upon 
 the river of Panuco. Cortes had received intelligence of it, and refolv- 
 ed to anticipate hirn by fending thither a party for the fame purpofc. 
 He alfo now again fent Rangel to Villa Rica as commandant, and or- 
 dered Narvaez to be fent to him at Cuyoacan, where he redded until 
 the palace which he was to inhabit in Mexico was compleated. The 
 reafon he fent for Narvaez was this ; he was told that the latter had held 
 a converfation with Tapia, in which he advifed him to quit the country 
 on as good terms as he could get, and go to his patron the Bifhop of 
 Burgos in Caflille, to lay the whole flate of affairs before him; telling 
 him alfo to profit by the example which his misfortunes fet him, as, if 
 he ftaid, he certainly would be put to death, and that fuccefs attended 
 all the meafures of Cortes. When Narvaez was brought before Cortes, 
 he fell on his knees and attempted to kifs his hand, but our general 
 would not permit it; he raifed, and embracing Narvaez, treated him 
 with all refpecl and regard, and made him fit by his fide. 
 
 Cortes 
 
( 3-27 
 
 Cortes now proceeded to take his refidence in the city of Mexico. 
 He divided the ground into lots for the churches in the fhfr. place, then 
 for the monafteries, the public buildings, and fquares. He divided the reft 
 of the ground among the inhabitants that were to be, and not to wafte 
 more time upon the fubject, all thofe who have feen the prefent city of 
 Mexico agree, that there is not in Chriftcndom one more populous, 
 larger, or better built. • 
 
 While Cortes was thus employed, intelligence arrived that the pro- 
 vince of Panuco was in arms. They are a warlike people, very nume- 
 rous, and having rebelled, had killed many foldiers of the party which 
 Cortes had fent to form a colony there. He refolved therefore to go 
 thither in perfon : indeed all his captains were now abfent on different 
 duties. Our numbers had by this time received a considerable rein- 
 forcement as well of thofe who had come with the vcedor Tapia, as of 
 fuch as had been on the expedition to Florida with Yafquez de Aillon, 
 and of many others lately arrived from the iilands. He left a good gar- 
 rifon in Mexico under Diego de Soto, and fet out on his march with 
 one hundred and thirty cavalry, two hundred and fifty infantry, and 
 ten thoufand Mexicans. Jufr. at this time De OH returned from Me- 
 choacan which he had reduced to a ftate of fubmiflion and peace,, bring- 
 ing with him the principal chief and feveral others, and a quantity of 
 gold. This expedition to Panuco was very expenfive; Cortes applied 
 for a reimburfement from the crown, which could not be acceded to; 
 his Majefty's officers objected that it was undertaken on a private ac- 
 count, to prevent the eftablimment of a colony by Garay, and not for 
 the public fervice. When he arrived at Panuco he found the people ve- 
 ry rebellious. In the courfe of a few days he had two battles, in which 
 he loft three foldiers, four horfes, and above one hundred Mexicans., 
 The number of the enemy amounted to above feventy thoufand warri- 
 ors* but it was God's will that we mould obtain the victory, with fuch 
 a'flaughter of the rebels as deprived them of all thoughts of making any 
 head for the prefent. Thefe people are called the Guaftecas, and Na- 
 guatecas. After the laft battle Cortes again fent to fummon them to 
 
 fubmiflion. 
 
( 3*8 ) 
 
 fubmiiTion. He employed for this purpofe fome of the priioners, and 
 fent with them Fra Bartholome, by whofe exhortations they were in- 
 duced to fubmit. 
 
 Cortes then went with one half of his troops to the river Chila, 
 to reduce the Indians on the oppofite fide. He fummoned them, but 
 tliey murdered his meffengers. He«*hen palled over one hundred and 
 fifty infantry, and fifty cavalry, during the night. The enemy on their 
 landing fell on them in great numbers, but they were foon driven from 
 the field, and our troops advancing took their quarters in a town where 
 they found plenty of provilions. In the morning fome of them enter- 
 ing the temple found remains of the bodies and clothes of our country- 
 men ; fome of our foldiers thought they recognifed the features of their 
 friends, and it was a melancholy fight to all; their remains we care- 
 fully collected and buried. 
 
 From this place our detachment marched to another, where an 
 out party reported, that great bodies of the enemy were ported in con- 
 cealment in the houfes to fall upon our people when the cavalry had 
 difmounted; their plan being difcovered failed of fuccefs, but they 
 fought valiantly for half an hour, and three of our foldiers died after- 
 wards of their wounds. Thefe people contrary to the general practice 
 of Indians, rallied no lefs than three times. On the enfuing day our 
 foldiers fcoured the neighbourhood, and entering fome towns which 
 had been abandoned, found a quantity of earthen veffels, full of the 
 wine of the country, in cellars under ground. After a ftay of five days 
 they returned to the river of Chila. Cortes now again fummoned them, 
 to which they returned for anfwer that they would come within four 
 days; which Cortes waited out, but to no effect. He therefore deter- 
 mined to punifh them, and during a dark and rainy night, embarking a 
 large body of Mexicans, he fent them acrofs a lake to one of the enemy's 
 largelt towns, which they totally deftroyed. This brought in moft of 
 that country to fubmit. Cortes founded a town of one hundred and 
 thirty houfes, fixty three of the inhabitants whereof were foldiers. He 
 
 named 
 
( 3^9 ) 
 
 named it Villa de St. Eftevan del Puerto. It is fituated about a league 
 from Chila. He allotted to it all the neighbouring diftricts which had 
 fubmifted, and gave the command to Pedro Valego. Cortes was in- 
 formed that three diftri&s which had been concerned in the murder of 
 many Spaniards, but which had been now received under allegiance, in- 
 tended to fall on this poft as foon as he quitted the country. He in 
 confequence marched againft them and deftroyed their towns, but they 
 foon cftablifhed them again. 
 
 • A veflfel which Cortes had ordered to come to him with provifions 
 and nccefTaries was at this time loft in fome ftrong gales from the north, 
 whereby the new fettlement was much diftrefted. 
 
 Cortes on his return to Mexico was informed of depredations com- 
 mitted on the peaceable diftricts, by fome of the inhabitants of the 
 neighbouring mountains, whom he determined to chaftife in his way, 
 but they anticipated him, by falling upon his rear and robbing the bag- 
 gage in a bad pafs ; our allies the Mexicans made them pay well for 
 this infult, and two of their chiefs were hanged. Cortes then ordered 
 hoftilities to ceafe, and the people, on being fummoned, came in and 
 iubmitted. In the place of the chief, who was executed, Cortes ap- 
 pointed his brother, after which he proceeded to Mexico. In all the 
 provinces of New Spain none was fo bad for favage and evil manners, 
 as that of Panuco. They made human facrifices, and were cruel to an 
 excefs, drunkards, filthy, and wicked, with thirty other turpitudes. 
 They were punifhed with fire and fword two or three times, and greater 
 misfortunes befell them when Nuno de Guzman came to be their go- 
 vernor, for he made them all flaves, and fold them in the iflands. 
 
 Alonzo de Avila whom I have formerly mentioned, was now re- 
 turned with powers from the court of royal audience and the brothers of 
 the order of St. Jeronymo, whereby we were authorifed to purfue our 
 conquefts, to mark flaves, and to make fettlements according ..to the 
 practice in the Iflands of Hifpaniola and Cuba. They alfo lent a report 
 
 Uu of 
 

 
 
 ( 330 ) 
 
 of what fteps they had taken, to Caftille. His Majefty was then in 
 Flanders, where it was laid before him. Had De Avila been here at 
 the time of Tapia's arrival he might have been very troublefome, for he 
 was an adherent of the Bifliop of Burgos, and had been bred up in his 
 houfe. For thefe reafons, and by the advice of Almedo, Cortes to put 
 him in good humour gave him the diftrict of Cuatitlan,, one of the 
 richeft in that country. He alfo prefented him with a confiderable 
 quantity of gold, and a much greater of kind words and promifes, by 
 which he won him fo completely over to his intereft that he afterwards 
 fent him as his agent to Caftille ; at which time feveral gigantic human 
 bones were transmitted, together with a quantity of gold, pearls, and 
 valuable jewels. The bones were found in a temple at Cuyoacan; they 
 were prodigioufly large, and fimilar to thofe which we had procured in 
 Tlafcala and fent to Caftille. The agents alfo brought over with them 
 three tigers, and many other things of a curious nature, which I do 
 not recoiled:. One part of their bufinefs was to tranfmit memorials to 
 his Majefty from the council of Mexico, and from us the conquerors" 
 of New Spain, requefting that he would fend us over holy men of good 
 life and example, as bifhops and clergymen. Alfo praying, that in 
 consideration of our meritorious fervices, all offices of honour and emo- 
 lument mould be given amongft us, and the government to Cortes, as 
 the only fit and proper perfon. Alfo that his Majefty would be pleafed 
 not to fuffer any fcholars, or men of letters to come into this country, 
 to throw us into confufion with their learning, quibbles, and books. 
 We further reprefented the infufficiency of Chriftoval de Tapia, who 
 was only fent by the Bifhop of Burgos to effect a marriage be- 
 tween the faid Tapia, and the bifhop's niece, Donna Petronila de Fon- 
 feca. We alfo deprecated the interference of the bifhop in the affairs of 
 this country as being obftructive of our plans of conquefts for his Ma- 
 jefty 's fervice, adding that we were ready to receive his Majefty's com- 
 mands, proftrate on the ground, but had thought it our duty to inform 
 him of thefe particulars, which had been artfully kept from his know- 
 ledge. All this, and more, was reprefented in the fulleft light, for his 
 Majefty '$ information, and to do away the mifreprefentations of the faid 
 
 Bifhop 
 
( 33* ) 
 
 Bifhop of Burgos, whofc enmity was manifeft in his having prohibi- 
 ted the Cafa de Contractation of Seville from fending us any fupplies. 
 fortes alfo left nothing in his inkftand which could be of fervice to our 
 interefts, for he wrote a memorial of twenty one pages, which I read, 
 and certify to be to the full tenor and effect of what I have related. He 
 alfo farther petitioned, that his Majefty would permit him to go to the 
 ifland of Cuba, to apprehend Velafquez the governor thereof, and fend 
 him as a prifoner to Caftille, for the injuries done by him to the gene- 
 ral fervice, more efpecially in fending an order to put Cortes to 
 death. 
 
 Our agents failed from the port of Vera Cruz, on the twentieth of 
 December one thoufand five hundred and twenty two, without any par- 
 ticular occurrence on the voyage to the Terceras, except the breaking 
 loofe of two tigers, who wounded fome failors, and their being obliged 
 to kill the other on account of his ferocity. At the Ifland of Tercera 
 Captain Anthonio de Quinones loft his life. He was very amorous, 
 and in a quarrel concerning a lady there, as he piqued himfelf upon his 
 valor a duel enfued, in which he received a fword wound on the head, 
 and died in three days. Thus the bufinefs remained in the hands of 
 Alonzo de Avila only. As he purfued his voyage to Europe, he fell in 
 with a French pirivateer commanded by Juan Florin, who made prize 
 of him, his (hip, and all the treafure. This captain took another (hip 
 from St. Domingo with a valuable cargo of fugar, and hides, as alfo 
 twenty thoufand crowns of gold, and a quantity of pearls, fo that he 
 returned to France very rich, and made great prefents to the King, and 
 alfo to the admiral of France, the people whereof were aftonifhed at the 
 magnificence of what we fent to our great Emperor. The King of 
 France faid that the wealth we fupplied was fufficient alone to enable 
 our Monarch to wage war againft him, and yet Peru was not at this 
 time known. It is alfo reported that the King fent to our Emperor, to 
 fay, that he and the King of Portugal had divided the world between 
 them, without giving him a (hare, and that he defired to fee the will 
 of our father Adam, to know if he had made them exclufively his heirs-. 
 
 Uu 2 Florin 
 

 EWBcSiMPMy 
 
 
 ( 33* ) 
 
 Florin in his next expedition fell in with a ftrong Bifcayan (quadron, 
 by which he was defeated and made prifoner, and being tranfhntted to 
 $£>ain, he was hanged at the Ifland of TenerifFe. Thus Was an end of 
 hirn, his mips, and our treafure. 
 
 Avila was confined a clofe prifoner in France, but he fucceeded in 
 gaining the friendmip of the officer in whofe cuftody he was, and ob- 
 tained means of communicating with his friends in Spain, to whom he 
 tranfmitted all the papers and documents with which he had been cn- 
 trufted, and which were laid before his Majefty by the means of the 
 licentiate Nunez, coufin to Cortes and relator of the royal council, 
 Martin Cortes his father, and Diego deOrdaz. The Etnperor was plea- 
 fed on due confideration to order, that all favor fhould be fhewn to 
 Cortes, and that farther proceedings fhould be fufpended until his Ma- 
 jesty's return to Spain. 
 
 The intelligence of the lofs of the treafure was received by us as a 
 moll: ferious difappointment. The diflrid of Guatitlan was honorably 
 referved by Cortes for Avila, notwithstanding his captivity, and his 
 brother fucceeded to it three years after, Alonzo de A.vila being then ap- 
 pointed contador of Yucatan. 
 
 The two captains, Sandoval and Alvarado, after the fcttlement with 
 Tapia, returned to their detachments, and proceeded on their expeditions, 
 of which I will now give an account. 
 
( $33 ) 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 ■=■»&< 
 
 Expeditions of G. de Sandoval and P. de Alvarado-. 
 
 W: 
 
 HEN our party (for I went with Sandoval) arrived at Tufiepe^ 
 que, I took up my lodgings in the fummit of a tower, in a very high 
 temple, partly far the frefh air and to avoid the mufquitos which were 
 very troublefome below, and partly to be near Sandoval's quarters. It 
 was here that feventy two foldiers of thofe who came with Narvaez, 
 and fix Caftillian women had been put to death. The whole province 
 on our arrival came in and fubmitted, except the Mexican chief, who 
 had been the caufe of the deaths of our foldiers. Him Sandoval got ar- 
 retted, and he was fhortly after executed, being burned alive. . There 
 were many more as guilty but this example was judged fufficient. After 
 this was done a mefTage was fent to the Zapotecan mountaineers to come 
 in and fubniit. Their country is about ten leagues diflant from Tufte- 
 peque. Ori their refufal an expedition was ordered againfr. them, under 
 the command of a Captain Briones, who according to his own account 
 had been a great officer in Italy. He marched with one hundred infan- 
 try and about the fame number of Indian allies ; the enemy were pre- 
 pared for him, and laid a plan for a furprife, which they effected fo 
 completely that they drove our party over the rocks, rolling down to the 
 bottom, and above a third of them were wounded, one of whom after- 
 wards died. The diftrict is fo very difficult of accefs, that troops can. 
 only pafs in {ingle file, and the climate is very mifty and humid. The: 
 •natives are armed with large lances with an ell of blade, with two-edges 
 of ftone as fharp as a razor, and pliable fhields which cover the whole 
 body. They are very nimble, and give their iignals by whiftlings 
 which echo among the rocks with inconceivable fhrillnefs. This diftridl 
 

 ( 334 ) 
 
 is called Tiltepeque. After it had been brought to fubmiflion the go- 
 vernment of it was afligned to a foldier named Ojeda, who now lives in 
 St. Ildcfonfo. Sandoval who was a good humoured man began to joke 
 with Briones at his return, upon the bad fuccefs of his expedition, afk- 
 ing him if ever he had feen the like in Italy; for Briones was always 
 giving accounts how he had fevered men in two, and cut their heads 
 off, &c. He was not pleafed with Sandoval's jocularity, and fwore he 
 had rather fight the Turks and Moors, than the Zapotecans. This 
 expedition was of little ufe, but on the contrary injurious. There was 
 another diftricl: of the Zapotecans which was called Xaltepcque, the 
 people of which were at war with their neighbours, and immediately 
 on being fummoned waited on Sandoval with handfome prefents, and a 
 considerable quantity of gold partly formed into toys, and the reft in ten 
 little tubes; their chiefs wore very long robes of cotton reaching to the 
 feet, richly embroidered, and refembling the upper robes of the Moors. 
 They applied to him for fome of his foldiers to affift them againft their 
 enemies named the Minxes. This the ftate of his force did not permit 
 him to comply with, but he promifed to tranfmit an application to Mex- 
 ico for a reinforcement for them, and in the interval would fend fome of 
 his men to fee the country and the nature of the paffes ; but his real ob- 
 jed was to examine their mines. Thus he difmifTed them all except 
 three, fending eight of us upon the bufinefs I have mentioned. 
 
 There were two of the fame name in this party, for we had three 
 Caftillos in our army. I who at that time prided myfelf upon my drefs, 
 was named Caftillo "the gallant." My namefake who went on his ex- 
 pedition was a man of very flow fpeech, not replying to a queftion for 
 a length of time, and then he came out with fome abfurdity ; he was 
 named Caftillo "the thoughtfull." The other who was very fmart and 
 ready in all he faid was called Gaftillo "the prompt." But to have done 
 with our witticifms and proceed with my narrative. On our arrival, 
 the Indians turned over the earth in three different rivers, and in each 
 they found gold, filling four tubes of the fize of the middle finger with 
 it, and with thefe we returned. Sandoval thought that all our fortunes 
 
 were 
 
( 335 ) 
 
 were now made ; he took a diftrict to himfelf from which he immedi- 
 ately procured fifteen thoufand crowns. To Captain Luis Marin he 
 gave Xaltepeque from whence we had obtained the gold. This turned 
 out however very indifferently. He gave me a very profitable diftrict 
 there; would to God I had kept it! it confifted of three places na- 
 med Matallan, Ozotequipa, and Oriaca, where is now the ingenio, of 
 the viceroy : but I thought it more confiflent with my character to go 
 with Sandoval upon his expeditions. Sandoval called his town Medel- 
 lin, after the birth place of Cortes. The river De las Vanderas from 
 which the fifteen thoufand crowns were procured is the port, and it was 
 here that the merchandife from Caftille was difcharged until Vera Cruz 
 became the emporium. 
 
 We now proceeded on our route for Guacacualco. The province 
 of Citla through which we pafTed has the moft pleafant climate, and the 
 greateft plenty of provifions, of any we had feen in this continent; its 
 extent is about twelve leagues, in length and breadth, and it is very po- 
 pulous. The chiefs immediately fubmitted. On our arrival at the ri- 
 ver of Guacacualco, thofe of that diftrict, which is the head one of all 
 the neighbouring people, on being fummoned did not appear, which 
 we confidered as a declaration of hoftility, and fuch in fact was their 
 firft. determination; but after five days had pafTed, they waited on San- 
 doval with a prefent of fome trinkets of fine gold. By his directions 
 they collected one hundred canoes, in which our troops croffed the river,, 
 after we had firft. fent four foldiers to obferve and report the ftate of the 
 people. The town which we founded here we called Del Efpiritu Santo,, 
 which fublime name was given to it becaufe it was on that day we de- 
 feated Narvaez ; it was alfo our word in the battle, and it was on the 
 fame day that we croffed this river. Here the flower of our army was 
 eftablifhed, and it is certain that when we went out to the fquare upon 
 a feflival or review, we muftered eighty cavalry ; a greater number in 
 proportion than five hundred now, horfes were then fo fcarce and dear. 
 Sandoval having examined and confidered the (ituation of the neighs 
 bouring diftrict s, made repartitions of them as moll convenient to the 
 
 different 
 

 
 ( 33* ) 
 
 different fettlements. The diftri&s he allotted to his of Guacacualco 
 were Guazpaltepeque, Tepcca, Chinanta, the Zapotecas, Copilco, 
 Cimatan, Tabafco, Cachula, the Zoques, Techeapa, Cinacatan, 
 the Quilenes and Papanahaufta. We had much trouble afterwards on 
 account of litigation with Vera Cruz concerning three of them, Guaz- 
 paltepeque, Chinanta, and Tepeca; with the town of Tabafco concern- 
 ing two others, Cimatan, and Copilco, alfo with Chiapa concerning 
 two, the Quilenes and Zoques, and with St. Ildefonfo about the Zapo- 
 tecas. I was very forry I fixed myfelf here; the lands were very poor, 
 and it turned out altogether to my difadvantage. Still we fliould have 
 done very well had we been left as we were at firft; but when the new 
 fettlements were formed our pofTefTlons were clipped, to accommodate 
 them; whereby our colony fell to decay, from being the bell, and con- 
 taining the greatefr. number of the generous conquerors of Mexico; but 
 it is at pre fent a place of very few inhabitants. 
 
 Sandoval now received intelligence of the arrival of Donna Catalina 
 lady of our general Hernando Cortes, and her brother, at the river of 
 Aguayalco. La Zambrana alfo and her family arrived with them, and 
 Elvira Lopez " the tall," married to Juan de Palma who was afterwards 
 hanged. We all fet out to pay our refpects to thefe ladies, and I recol- 
 lect the roads were almoft impaiTable from the conftantand heavy rains. 
 Donna Catalina and the reft were efcorted by us to our town of Guaca- 
 cualco, and we fent word to Cortes of their arrival. After a fhort flay 
 with us they fet out for Mexico. Cortes was very forry for their com- 
 ing, but he put the befr. face upon it, and received them with great 
 pomp and rejoicings. In about three months after the arrival of Don- 
 na Catalina, we heard of her having died of an aflhma. 
 
 Villafuerte who had been fent to Zacatula, and Alvarez Chico who 
 had alfo gone to Colima, were unfuccefsful in their endeavours to bring 
 thofe provinces into fubmiffion. Cortes then fent a party thither com- 
 manded by Chriftoval de (Mi; the natives attacked him on his march, 
 killing two of his foldiers; but he reached the ftation of Villafuerte who 
 
 was 
 
( 337 ) 
 
 was afraid to ftir out of it, and the enemy had even killed four of his 
 men in the town. De Oli however before he departed reduced both 
 thefe diftricts to fubmiffion. I do not know what became of Captain 
 Juan Alvarez, but I believe he was killed in fome of the actions with 
 the natives at this time. De Oli returned to Mexico, but had hardly 
 got there when intelligence arrived of three provinces being again in re- 
 bellion. Sandoval had at this time arrived at Mexico with the ladies. 
 Cortes fent him with a fmall party of our veterans to take thefe diitricTs 
 into his hands, which he did, and punifhed, and regulated them in 
 fuch a manner, that we heard no more of their being refractory. 
 
 Several of the diftricts fubject to Guacacualco rebelled on the de- 
 parture of Sandoval, killing the Spaniards employed in the manage- 
 ment of the tribute; amongft others were the Xaltepeque Zapotecas, 
 Cimatan, and Copilco; the firft of which is difficult of accefs on •ac- 
 count of its mountains, the two others on account of lakes and marfhes, 
 and they were not brought to fubjection but with the greateft diffi- 
 culty. 
 
 At this time, and while Captain Luis Marin was employed in 
 fubjugating th^fe diftricts, arrived at our fettlement in a fmall vefTel 
 which came up> to the town, Juan Buono the Bifcayan. He immedi- 
 ately fummone(d us all to a meeting, where, after fome compliments on 
 both fides, he (opened his bufinefs to us, which was, to induce us to 
 accept as governor Chriftoval de Tapia, of whofe return to St. Domin- 
 go Buono was ignorant. Large offers were made by the Bifliop of Bur- 
 gos in unaddreiTed letters, which Buono had a difcretionary power of 
 directing to fuch as would fupport his views. Thefe he accordingly 
 fent to fuch as he found to hold offices ; I was offered a regidor's place. 
 When Buono heard that Tapia was no longer in the country he was very 
 much difappointed. We referred him to Cortes at Mexico, whither he 
 went ; I do not know what palled between them, but I believe Cortes 
 fent him back to Caflille with fome money in his pocket. 
 
 Xx 
 
 Amongft 
 
( 338 ) 
 
 Amongft others who courted the alliance of the Spaniards after the 
 conqueft of Mexico, were the people called the Tutepeque Zapute- 
 cans. They applied very earneftly for our afliftance againft a nation 
 which was in hoftility to them, named likewife the Tutepeques, whom 
 they rep relented as poffefling a very rich country. Accordingly in the 
 year one thoufand five hundred and twenty two, Alvarado, by the or- 
 der of Cortes, marched from Mexico with one hundred and eighty fol- 
 diers, infantry and cavalry, with an order to take twenty more in his 
 march to the province of Guaxaca, and alfo to viflt certain rocky dif- 
 tricls laid to be in rebellion. He was forty days upon his route from 
 Mexico to Tutepeque; on his arrival he was hofpitably received, and 
 lodged in the moft populous part of the city, where the houfes join- 
 ed, and were roofed with ftraw, it not being the cuftom of that 
 country to have terraces on their houfe-tops, as the climate is very ful- 
 try. By the advice of Olmedo it was determined that our troops mould 
 remove to a more open part of the town, left, in cafe of any treachery 
 on the part of the people, their quarters mould be fet fire to. When 
 they were fixed the chief of the town brought them provisions, and 
 every day fome rich prefent of gold. Alvarado defired a pair of ftirrups 
 of this metal, which was done according to the pattern. In a few days 
 after, the chief was made prifoner, on an information from the Indi- 
 ans of Teguantepeque, who were in hoftility to thefe, of his intention 
 to burn the Spaniards in the quarters which they had firft afligned to 
 them in the temples. Some of the Spaniards fay, it was to 
 extort gold from him; however it was, he died in prifon, after Alva- 
 rado had got frQm him to the value of thirty thoufand crowns. Appa- 
 rently his death was owing to vexation, though Fra Bartholome did 
 what he could to confole and encourage him. His fon was permitted 
 to fucceed him in the chieftainry. Alvarado obtained from him more 
 than he had got from the father, and then proceeded to eftablifli a co- 
 lony which he named Segura, as the colonifts were moftly from Tepe- 
 aca, named by us Segura de la Frontera. 
 
 Alvarado then fet out on his return, with all his wealth; for Cortes 
 
 had 
 
( 339 ) 
 
 had written to him to collect what he could, to fend to Caftille. 
 The foldiers being thus excluded from any (hare, fome of them formed 
 a confpiracy to aiTaflinate Alvarado and his brothers. They were prin- 
 cipally mufquetcers and crofsbow-men. A foldier of the name of Tri- 
 bejo gave information to Fra Bartholome, a few hours before it was to 
 be attempted. The reverend father having called Alvarado afide, and 
 informed him of what he had heard, at the hour of vefpers, when the 
 latter was riding out in company with feveral of the confpirators, and 
 palling by fome houfes, he faid to them, " gentlemen I am fuddenly 
 " taken ill with a pain in my fide, let us return, and call a barber to bleed 
 me." On his arrival he immediately fent for his brothers George and 
 Gonzalo, together with the alcaldes and alguazils. He then ordered 
 them to arrefl the aiTafTins, two of whom were hanged; one was na- 
 med Salamanca; he had been a pilot. The other was called Barnardino 
 Levantifco. They both died like good chriftians, the reverend father 
 taking great pains to bring them to a due fenfe of their fituation. 
 
 Alvarado now returned to Mexico, leaving a colony in this place ; 
 but when the colonifts found that the gold had been drawn away, that 
 the climate was hot and unhealthy, and infefted with mufquitos, bugs, 
 and other vermin, and that they and their Haves were dying fait, they 
 determined to abandon it, fome going to Mexico, and fome to other: 
 places. Cortes on hearing of the fettlement being thus renounced, cau- 
 fed an enquiry to be fet on foot, and found that it had been determined 
 by the alcaldes and regidors in council, for which he condemned them 
 to fuffer death, which was afterwards mitigated at the interceflion of 
 Olmedo to banifhment. Thus fell to the ground the colony of Segura. 
 or Tutepeque, a very fertile country, but unhealthy. The cruelty and 
 extortion of Alvarado alienated the minds of the people, and they threw 
 of their allegiance; but that officer returning thither brought them again 
 to fubmiflion, and they afterwards continued peaceable. 
 
 Xx 2 
 

 
 ( 340 ) 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Armament of Francifco de Garay. 
 
 JL HAVE already made mention of F. de Garay, who was governor 
 of the Ifland of Jamaica. When he heard of the riches that had been 
 acquired here by Diego Velafquez, and of the fertile countries which 
 had been difcovered, Simulated by his avarice, and encouraged by the 
 reflection on his wealth and means, Garray was induced to try his 
 fortune. 
 
 Having therefore fent for, and difcourfed with Alaminos our prin- 
 cipal pilot upon the fubject, his account was fo favorable that he de- 
 termined on fending a confidential perfon one Juan de Torralva, to ob- 
 tain from the Bifhop of Burgos the government of the country about 
 the river Panuco. His application having been fuccefsful he fent an 
 armament of three fhips, with two hundred and forty foldiers, under 
 the command of Alonzo Alvarez^ Pincdo or Pineda, which was defeated 
 by the Indians of Panuco, one fhip only efcaping, and joining us at 
 Villa Rica. 
 
 Garay receiving no intelligence of his firfl armament, fent a fecond, 
 which alfo arrived at our port ; and having now expended much trea- 
 fure, and learning the good fortune of Cortes, he was more than ever 
 ftimulated to make exertions. He therefore fitted out a fleet of thirteen 
 mips, and embarked one hundred and thirty fix cavalry, and eight hun- 
 dred and forty foot foldiers, moflly mufqueteers and crofsbow-men. 
 The fleet under his command failed from Jamaica in the year one thou- 
 fand five hundred and twenty three, orj the day of St, John, and arri- 
 ved 
 
( 34< ) 
 
 ved without any particular occurrence at a port called Xagua in the If- 
 iand of Cuba. On his arrival here, he learned the news of Cortes having 
 brought the province of Panuco under fubjection, and that he had fent 
 a petition to his Majefty to be appointed to the government of it. He 
 was alfo told of the heroic actions of Cortes and his companions in 
 arms, and of our having defeated Narvaez with only two hundred and 
 feventy foldiers. He was therefore ftruck with awe at the power of our 
 chief, and the more fo when he was vifited by the Licentiate Zuazo. 
 One day difcourfing with this gentleman on the fortunes of Cortes, he 
 expreffed his apprehenfions of a difference between them relative to the 
 government of Panuco, and requefted that Zuazo would mediate with 
 Cortes in his favor, to which the other aflented. 
 
 Shortly after this, Garay witlx his armament (ct out, and being 
 forced by a ftorm into the river Palmas, he there difembarked and march- 
 ed for Panuco. Knowing alfo that Cortes had made an eftablifhment 
 there, he thought it neceilary to take an oath of fidelity from thofe un- 
 der his command, and he nominated the officers requifite for the efta- 
 hlimment of his colony, which he meant to name the city of Gatray- 
 ana. 
 
 Having advanced for two days march along the fea more through 
 an uninhabited and naarfhy country, he with his troops arrived at' fome 
 villages, whofe inhabitants received and entertained them hofpitably, 
 but, many of the fokdiers flaying behind, robbed and injured the peo- 
 ple. Garay continued his march and at length arrived at Panuco-, which 
 the troops had painted to themfelves as the end of their labours, but 
 were fadly undeceived by finding it almoft a defert, for the war of Cor- 
 tes had wafted it, or what remained was concealed on the approach of- 
 the Spaniards, who found nothing but bare walls, where they were to ■ 
 fuftain the attack of flies, and vermin of every defcriptiom One mif- 
 fortune following another, he could get no intelligence from his fleet, 
 but learned by a Spaniard who having committed fome crime was a 
 fugitive among the Indians, that it had not arrived at the port, The 
 
 fame 
 

 ( 342 ) 
 
 fame, perfon gave a very unfavorable account of the country of Pantico, 
 enhancing that of Mexico, and this making a ftrong impreffion on the 
 minds of Garay's foldiers, they began to difband, and went towards 
 Mexico, robbing the natives in their way. 
 
 All thefe things combined reduced Garay to a bad fituation, and he 
 fent one of his officers named Diego de Ocampo, to found the difpofi- 
 tion of the governor under Cortes in the colony of Santiftevan, to whom 
 he notified the appointment he had obtained from his Majefty. This 
 officer anfwered Garay's meffage politely, and returned a favorable an- 
 fwer as to their reception, requeuing that the foldiers might not out- 
 rage the inhabitants ; Pedro de Vallejo, for that was his name, at the 
 fame time fent an exprefs to Cortes with Garay's letter, and follicited a 
 ftrong reinforcement, or the prefence of Cortes himfelf. 
 
 On the receipt of the intelligence from Vallejo, Cortes difpatched 
 Fra Bartholome, Alvarado, Sandoval, and Gonzalo de Ocampo, bro- 
 ther to the perfon of that name who was with Garay, and cntrufled to 
 them the inftructions he had received, whereby his Majefty's pleafure 
 was fignified, that all his conquefts mould be left under his command, 
 until the matters in diipute between him and Velafquez mould be 
 brought judicially to an iffue. 
 
 I will now return to my relation of the fteps taken by Garay, who 
 advanced with his force into the neighbourhood of St. Eftevan del Pu- 
 erto. On receiving intelligence thereof, Vallejo concerted a plan with 
 the inhabitants of the neighbourhood, and being guided by five defer- 
 ters who told him that Garay's troops were fcattered negligently in a 
 large town called Nacoplan, he came upon them by furprife, and made 
 forty £»f them prifoners, aligning as a reafon, their coming without pro- 
 ducing any commiffion, and the outrages which they committed on the 
 inhabitants. This being .reported to Garay, he demanded the prifoners, 
 threatening Vallejo with the vengeance of government. Vallejo replied, 
 fhat when he faw his Majefty's orders he would obey them with all 
 
 humility, 
 
( 3*3 ) 
 
 humility, and requeuing that they fhould be fent to him. At this mo- 
 ment the perfons deputed by Cortes arrived, and Diego de Ocampo be- 
 ing at that time firfl alcalde under Cortes in Mexico, began to remon- 
 ftrate againft the entrance of Garay's force into that country, and feveral 
 days were paffed in remonftrances and replies. During this time num- 
 bers of Garay's foldiers deferted from him; thus he faw every day his 
 force diminishing, and that of Cortes encreafing. From his fleet he had 
 intelligence, that two of his fhips had been loft in a tempeiT, and that 
 the remainder, which were at the mouth of the river, had received and 
 rejected a friendly invitation from Vallejo to remove higher up to a place 
 of fecurity, threatening at the fame time, that in cafe of refufal he would 
 confider them as pirates. 
 
 Vallejo continued fecretly to negociate with the officers of the fleet, 
 and having fucceeded with two of them, they went to the fhip of the 
 commodore Juan de Grijalva, and informed him that he mould either 
 bring his vefTel into the river, or quit the place entirely. To this Gri- 
 jalva only anfwered by difcharging his artillery, but on the receipt of 
 certain letters from Alvarado -and Fra Bartholome, accompanied with 
 promifes conveyed by a royal notary he was at laft induced to accede to 
 the firft proportion. No footer had he brought his (hip into port than 
 Vallejo declared all on board prifoners to his general Cortes; he was 
 perfuaded however by Fra Bartholome to give them their liberty, from 
 motives of humanity, which as he faid was the method of acting mofl 
 agreeable to God and to Cxfar. 
 
 The unfortunate Garay entreated the officers of Cortes to reftore his 
 (hips, and to compel his troops to return to him, promising to give 
 up his intended eftablifhment, and make the heft of his way to the river 
 Palmas. This propofal was acceded to, and every meafurc taken to 
 deliver up to him his deferters, though with little effect; for thefo-ldiers 
 defpifed Garay, and as to the oath of fervice, they faid that they had 
 complied with it in coming to Panuco. Garay was then in the utmofl 
 defpair, and finally agreed to adopt the meafure advifed by the officers of 
 
 Cortes, 
 

 ( 344 ) 
 
 Cortes, in writing to that general, ftating his filiation, and praying 
 his protection in confideration of their former intimacy. This requeft 
 was acceded to by Cortes, who fent an invitation to him to come to 
 Mexico. Garay fet out upon his journey, and when he approached the 
 city of Mexico, he was met by Cortes at the head of a number of Spa- 
 nifh gentlemen on horfeback, who conducted him to his newly built 
 palace, and having heard the detail of his diflreffes, he promifed him 
 redrefs, and referred the affair to Fra Bartholome, Alvarado, and San- 
 doval. Fra Bartholome, to bind Cortes and Garay in ftronger ties of 
 friendship propofed an alliance between the daughter of Cortes, named 
 Donna Catalina Cortes or Pizarro, and the eldeft fon of Garay, who 
 then held a command in his fleet. Cortes accepting the propofal gave 
 his daughter a liberal fortune, adding an affent to Garay's colonizing 
 on the river of Palmas, and a promife to fupport the undertaking. 
 
 Garay was now induced to intercede with the general, and obtained 
 permiffion for Narvaez to vilit the Illand of Cuba; for which favor Nar- 
 vaez was very thankful, and took his leave of Cortes with many pro- 
 feffions of gratitude and iervice. As to Garay and his expedition, both 
 one and the other approached their end, for he, attending Cortes to 
 early mattins, and having walked about the church, and eaten his 
 breakfaft, was fuddenly feized with a pleurify, which after a courfe of 
 bleeding and purging was declared mortal. This was anounced to him 
 by Fra Bartholome, who accompanied the fatal news with earneft ex- 
 hortations to him, to advert to the Hate of his foul, and not lofe that 
 in the next world, as he had already thrown away his fortune in this. 
 Garay was impreffed by the arguments of the good father, and having 
 confeiTed, and had the rites of the church adminiftered, he made his 
 will, leaving Cortes and Fra Bartholome his executors, and in four days 
 from the time he was firft feized he gave up the ghofr. This we ob- 
 ferve peculiarly to belong to the climate of thefe countries; that in four 
 days pleurilies are fatal, of which we had many inftances amongft our 
 foldiers, both in Tezcuco and in Cuyoacan. However Garay being 
 now dead, God pardon him his iins! amen. He received an honour- 
 able 
 
( 345 ) 
 
 able funeral, and Cortes and the other officers put themfelves into 
 mourning. Thus died Garay in a diftant country, a ftrange houfe, and 
 far from his wife and children. As to his armament, being now left 
 without any head a competition arofe for the command, between Juan 
 de Grigalva, Gonzalo de Figueroa, Alonzo de Mendoza, Lorenzo de 
 Alloa, Juan de Medina, Juan de Villa, Anthonio de la Cerda, and a 
 certain Tobarda the mofl feditious fellow in the whole army. The 
 young Garay however was ultimately made general, contrary to the in- 
 clination of every foldier; the confequence of which was, that they fepa- 
 rated in fmall bodies of fifteen or twenty, and went through the coun- 
 try pillaging as if they had been amongit Moors. This enraging the 
 Indians they laid a plot to cut all the Spaniards off, which they fo ef- 
 fectually executed, that in a few days they had facrificed and eaten more 
 than five hundred of Garay *s foldiers. In fome towns upwards of a 
 hundred Spaniards were facrificed together. In other places they fell on 
 and maffacred thefe wanderers without refiftance, and encouraged there- 
 by, they rofe againft the fettlement of St. Eftevan in fuch numbers, 
 that it was with great difficulty they could be kept out of it, nor would 
 they have been, but for feven or eight of the veterans of Cortes, who 
 fupported Vallejo, a brave man, and experienced officer. Thefe gallant 
 veterans induced many of Garay's Spaniards to abide by them in the 
 open field, being obliged to fight three battles, in one of which Vallejo 
 was killed, and many were wounded. So defperate did the Indians 
 grow, that one night they killed and burned forty Spaniards and fifteen 
 horfes, and among the foldiers who were killed were feveral of thofe 
 of Cortes. 
 
 When the general heard of thefe outrages he was exceedingly dif- 
 pleafed, and determined to go in perfon to fupprefs them; but being at 
 that moment prevented, having broken his arm by accident, he dis- 
 patched Gonzalo de Sandoval, with one hundred infantry, fifty cavalry, 
 two pieces of artillery, and fifteen arcabufiers, to whom he joined eight 
 thoufand Mexicans and Tlafcalans, with orders not to quit thofe dif- 
 
 Y y tri&s 
 

 ■ 
 
 v'STraw? ^afWSf* 
 
 ( 346 ) 
 
 tricts until he had fo completely fubjugated them, as that it mould not 
 be in their power again to make disturbance. Sandoval was a man who 
 did not fleep at night when on any bufinefs of importance; of courfe 
 he made no delay upon his route, towards the enemy, who expected 
 him in two narrow denies, where they had concentrated the whole force 
 of the refractory provinces. Sandoval on learning this divided his force 
 into two bodies, and attacked each of thefe potts. The Indians refifted 
 with their darts and arrows, whereby many of our foldiers were wound- 
 ed, infomuch that he was obliged to halt the body which he command- 
 ed in that bad pofition, and fend orders to his other detachment to do 
 the fame for that night. The Indians retaining their firft pofition, San- 
 doval recalled his detachment, and began his retreat towards Mexico. 
 When the enemy perceived this, they thought themfelves conquerors, 
 and began to follow and furround the Spaniards from all parts, fhout- 
 ing at, and reviling them. This Sandoval feemed not to regard, but 
 continued his retreat, by which having completely deceived them, he 
 made a fudden countermarch at midnight, to gain the pafTes. This he 
 effected, but not without the lofs of three of his horfes, and confidera- 
 ble danger to his whole army, many of whom were wounded. No 
 fooner were his two columns clear of the defiles, than he perceived in 
 front vaft bodies of Indians, who had arrived there that very night, on 
 hearing that he had countermarched. He therefore again brought his 
 whole force into one body, and perceiving the defperation with which the 
 Indians fought, and that they had actually wrefted the lances out of the 
 hands of fix of his foldiers, while his cavalry was compofed of men 
 unufed to fuch fervice, he gave them full instructions how to act, tel- 
 ling them not to halt to give thrufts, becaufe the firft thing 
 that the Indian does when wounded is, to feize the lance. He farther 
 directed, that if fuch a thing happened, the foldier mould put fpurs 
 to his horfe, and with the lance firmly grafped in his hand, and under 
 f his arm, w T reft it from the enemy by the force of the horfe. Having 
 then placed watches, guards, and patroles, he gave orders that the ca- 
 valry (hould remain faddled all night, and the troops went to their re- 
 
 pofe 
 
( 347 ) 
 
 pofe on the bank of a river. The Mexicans and Tlafcalans were ported 
 at a little diftance, for Sandoval knew by experience, that if the enemy- 
 attacked him in the night, he would be little benefited by them. 
 
 As foon as daylight appeared, Sandoval put his army into march, 
 but had hardly advanced half a mile when he heard the found of the 
 drums of the Indians, and he was fhortly after fronted by three large 
 bodies of their warriors, who attempted to furround him. As foon as 
 Sandoval perceived this, he made an attack upon them with his cavalry 
 in two fquadrons with fuch fpirit that he entirely broke and difperfed 
 them. This was not however effected without the lofs of two foldiers 
 and three horfes. Our allies then made confiderable deftrudtion, burn- 
 ing all before them, until the army arrived at St. Eftevan del Puerto. 
 The remains of this colony Sandoval found in a wretched ftate, and he 
 was received as one who faved them from deftru&ion, and the foldiers 
 of Garay who were there affured him, that the prefervation of what re- 
 mained was folely owing to our veterans. Sandoval then divided his 
 cavalry, mufqueteers, and crofsbow-men, into different bodies, and 
 placed them under the command of the veterans, with orders to carry 
 on the war with vigour againft the neighbouring Indians, and to fend 
 in what provifions they could colled, for he was unable to go out, in 
 confequence of a bad wound. During three days his parties fent in a 
 number of prifoners of the lower clafs, together with five chiefs, the 
 former of whom Sandoval releafed. He then gave out an order to his 
 troops not to f<end in any but fuch as had been prefent at, or concerned, 
 where the lives of Spaniards had been loft. 
 
 Sandoval now prepared for an expedition againft the enemy, and 
 on the day after, marched out with thofe troops which he had brought 
 from Mexico, and by fkilful meafures fucceeded in taking twenty ca- 
 ciques, who had commanded where no lefs than fix hundred Spaniards 
 had been put to death. Purfuing mild and fevere meafures at the fame 
 time, according to the circumftances, he fummoned the neighbouring 
 
 Yy -2 towns 
 

 < 348 ) 
 
 towns to a treaty of peace. Some acceded to his propofals, but others 
 neglected to attend. With the latter he diflimulatcd, thinking it beft 
 not to notice their contumacy, and wrote to Cortes giving a full account 
 of what he had done, and defiring to know how the prifoners mould 
 be difpofed of. Cortes on receiving thefe fatisfactory accounts appoint- 
 ed Sandoval to fucceed ValJejo, as commandant at St. Eftevan, and in- 
 formed him, that for the fake of juftice, and to prevent future mifchief, 
 it was neceflary to punifh with death thofe who had been any way con- 
 cerned in, or who had abetted the murders of Spaniards, and he gave 
 directions to the alcalde Diego de Ocampo, to take the neceflary fleps 
 againft them, with orders to execute fuch as mould be legally condemn- 
 ed. He gave orders that every neceflary meafure alfo mould be taken 
 to conciliate the natives of that province, and that proper fteps fhould be 
 adopted to prevent any future outrages on the part of Garay's troops. 
 Thefe letters, the contents of which were highly fatisfaclory to Sando- 
 val having reached him, he proceeded conjointly with Ocampo to put 
 the orders of Cortes into execution. In two days after their receipt they 
 proceeded to the trial of thofe caciques who were accufed, and many be- 
 ing found guilty by evidence, or their own eonfeflion, were put to death. 
 Some were burnt and others hanged; many alfo were pardoned, and 
 the districts were given to the children and heirs of fuch as fufTered. 
 Thefe acts of juitice being done, Ocampo in compliance with the far- 
 ther instructions he had received from Cortes, proceeded againfl all thofe 
 Spaniards who had committed outrages, robberies, or murders; or who> 
 going through the country in bands, had invited other foldiers to defert 
 to them ;. and having feized and collected together thefe public diftur- 
 bers, he eaufed them to embark for the Ifland of Cuba. To Juan de 
 Grijalva Cortes offered the alternative of accepting a prefent of two 
 thoufand crowns, and a paflage to Cuba, or if he preferred flaying in 
 the country, an honorable reception at Mexico; Grijalva and all the 
 others were anxious however to return and accordingly they fet fail for 
 that ifland; 
 
 Sandoval 
 
( 349 ) 
 
 Sandoval and Ocampo having thus cleared the colony of thefetrou- 
 blefome inmates, returned to Mexico, leaving an officer of the name of 
 Vallecillo governor of the fettlement. On their arrival they were received 
 by Cortes and every one there as their fervices merited, for a general 
 appreheniion prevailed of fome misfortune occurring on that expedition. 
 Such was the fuccefs of the meafures purfued as I have above related, 
 that there never was another infurrection in that province. 
 
 The reader has been told how the Licentiate Zuazo met with Garay 
 in the Iiland of Cuba, and that the latter made preffing invitations to 
 him to take a part in his expedition. Zuazo agreed to this propofal, 
 and promifed to follow, as foon as he could give up his office.. Hav- 
 ing effected this he embarked, taking with him twobrothers of the or- 
 der of mercy, Fra Gonzalo de Pontevedra, and Fra Juan de Varillas. 
 Thefe three perfons purfuing their voyage, fell among fome fmall iflands 
 named Las Viboras, very fatal to veiTels. Here, they were obliged to 
 throw overboard their provifions, and the pieces of pork attracted a. 
 number of (harks, one of which, feized a failor, and tore him to pieces,, 
 fo that the whole water round them was difcoloured with his blood.. 
 They were then obliged to run the veffel on fhore, and in this fituatioiv 
 they were left. Two Indians of Cuba who were with them had the art 
 of obtaining fire by rubbing two dry flicks together; in. the fand they 
 found fom£ brackifh water, and a, quantity of turtles came afhore to lay 
 their eggs.. Thus they obtained proviiions fufficient to fuftain thirteen- 
 perfons. The failors alfo contrived to kill the fea wolves which in the 
 night were frequently found on the more.. Amongft the crew were 
 two fhip carpenters, who had preferved their working tools. Out of 
 the wreck, of the veffel they confbructed a fmall failing boat in which 
 three mariners and one Indian embarked for New Spain, and made the 
 port of Calchocuca in the river Vanderas. From thence they went to* 
 Medellin, and informing the governor of the fituation in which, they 
 had left the Licentiate, he fent a veffel. in fearch of. them.. The veffel 
 
 arrived 
 

 
 j w.«v;»s^w-**5°»is^§^ij k \;i%ii*v«< 
 
 
 ( 35° ) 
 
 arrived at the ifland but Fra Gonzalo died a few days before. The reft, 
 fhortly arrived at Medellin; from whence they went to Mexico, 
 where they had all reafon to be fatisfied with the reception they met 
 with from Cortes, who made Zuazo his alcalde major. 
 
( 35' ) 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Expeditions under various officers. 
 
 X\S the views of Cortes were always lofty and tending towards do- 
 mination, and as he was well fupported by the talents and bravery of 
 his captains and foldiers, after having eftablifhed his power in the great 
 city of Mexico, and in Guaxaca, Zacatula, Colima, Vera Cruz, Pa- 
 nuco, and Guacacualco, he learned that in the province of Guatemala, 
 there were populous nations, and rich mines. He therefore determined 
 to fend a force under Pedro de Alvarado, to conquer and colonize that 
 country, and having firft fent an embaffy thither, ineffectually, Alva- 
 rado at the head of three hundred infantry, and one hundred and thirty 
 five cavalry, two hundred TIafcalans and Cholulans, and one hundred 
 Mexican allies, with four pieces of cannon, was ordered to march to 
 that province. 
 
 Cortes gave inftructions to Alvarado, that he mould if pofTible 
 bring thofe nations over to him by peaceable methods, and that Fra 
 Bartholome mould preach to them upon the articles of our holy religion; 
 that all prifons and cages mould be broken in pieces, and the prifoners 
 fet at liberty. 
 
 The expedition kt out from Mexico, on the thirteenth day of De- 
 cember, one thoufand five hundred and twenty three. On his march 
 Alvarado received the fubmiffion of the diftrict named the rocks of Gu- 
 elamo, and there qbtained many rich prefents of Gold. When the ar- 
 my, palling the provinces of the Zapotecas of Teguantepeque, and by 
 
 Soconufco 4 . 
 

 
 ( 35* ) \ 
 
 Soconufco, which laft place contained upwards of fifteen thoufand houfes, 
 came into the neighbourhood of a place called Zapotitlan, at a river 
 over which there was a bridge, they perceived a number of bodies of 
 warriors drawn up to difpute the paflage with them. An action enfued 
 in which many foldiers were wounded, and a horfe killed. So nume- 
 rous were the Indians, that the Spaniards could not break or difperfe 
 them without three very hard fought battles. 
 
 From this place Alvarado continued his march, under conftant 
 alarms from the neighbouring Indians of Quetzaltenango, and after fome 
 time he arrived at a defile which afcends a mountain, for the length of 
 about a league and a half. When he arrived at the fummit, he found 
 there an Indian woman, very fat, and having with her a dog of that 
 fpecies which they breed in order to eat, and which do not bark. This 
 Indian was a witch ; fhe was in the act of facrificing the dog, which 
 is a fignal of hoftility. Shortly after, our army perceived multitudes of 
 armed Indians advancing upon them on all fides, in a difficult broken 
 tract of ground, where the cavalry could not charge. The infantry 
 advanced, but our troops foon perceived that thefe Indians acted upon a 
 regular plan; for they retreated into the mod rough and difficult ground, 
 where above fix thoufand of the warriors of Utatlan, which is adjacent 
 to Quetzaltenango, fell upon our people. They were howeve rfor the 
 prefent put to flight, but foon rallied, being reinforced by frefh troops 
 in great numbers, who waited our advance, and fought our troops foot 
 to foot parties of three or four of them feizing a horfe before and behind, 
 and endeavouring to pull him to the ground. During this time the ex- 
 ertions of Alvarado, and the exhortations of Fra Bartholome, who re- 
 prefented to our foldiers the iervice which they owed to God, and that 
 they mufl conquer or die, for the extenfion of our holy faith, never 
 ceafed; thus animated, our troops completely fucceeded in difperfing the 
 Indians. They then halted in the field and were unmolefted by the 
 enemy for three days ; after which they advanced to the town of Quet- 
 zaltenango. 
 
 Meaning 
 
( 353 ) 
 
 Meaning to give fomc repofe to his troops, Alvarado was disap- 
 pointed to find that the Indians were now aMembled in greater force, 
 and determined to attack him in his poll:. On their approach, to the 
 number of about iixteen thoufand, for their army was compofed of two 
 Xiquipils, Alvarado drew out his troops in a plain, and advancing up- 
 on the enemy, completely defeated them, with fuch lofs, that for a 
 long time after, they remained completely under awe of the Spa- 
 niards. 
 
 The chiefs now propofed to treat for a peace, and fent ambafTadors 
 to Alvarado who received them kindly, but they had at the fame time 
 arranged a plan for the deftruclion of the Spanifh force, and it was this, 
 Not far diftant was a place called Utatlan, in a difficult countiy, and 
 furrounded with defiles, whither they perfuaded him to march, 
 and it was determined, that when the Spaniards were arrived, 
 they mould be fallen' on by furprife with the forces of both the diftricts. 
 Alvarado marched for Utatlan, but on his arrival remarked the bad fitu- 
 ation of the place. This town was of confiderable ftrength, having 
 only two gates, to one of which was an afcent of about five and twenty 
 ifeps, and the other opened to a very bad and broken caufeway. The 
 ftreets were very narrow, and the houfes joined ; and in cafe of being 
 attacked, the ground about the town was unfit for cavalry. The Spa- 
 niards obferved alfo that the women and common people had difappeared; 
 and fome Indians of the place which they had left told them, that warri- 
 ors were ported in ambufcade round the town, which it was intended 
 that night to fet fire to, and that w r as to be a fignal for a general, 
 attack. 
 
 Alvarado therefore ordered his troops under arms, and marched 
 out into the open country, telling the caciques that it was to give his 
 horfes grafs. They did not feem plcafed with this change, and as foon 
 as Alvarado had his troops clear of the town he feized the cacique who 
 governed it, and reproaching him for his treafon, ordered that he mould 
 be burnt alive, but Olmedo obtained a refpite and permillion to ufe his 
 
 Z z endeavours 
 

 ( 354 ) 
 
 endeavours to convert him to our holy faith ; he accordingly preached 
 an entire day, and at laft fucceeded, and as an indulgence, inftead of 
 being burned he was hanged, and his territory given to his fon. Alva- 
 rado now fell upon, and difperfed fuch of the natives as remained about 
 the town, and his fuccefs having become known in Guatimala, pre- 
 vious to his arrival on the frontiers of that nation which was in hoftility 
 with the people of Utatlan, they determined to treat; for that purpofe 
 they fent an embafTy charged with a quantity of gold, and to declare 
 their fubmhTion as valTals to his Majefty; they offered at the fame 
 time to ferve in his wars. Alvarado accepted their fubmiffion and their 
 offer of fervice, defiring them to fend to him two thoufand of their war- 
 riors, which requifition was immediately complied with. As the peo- 
 ple had rebelled again, Alvarado continued in the country of Utatlan 
 about eight days, collecting a confiderable fpoil and many flaves, and 
 then fettihg forward on his march, he foon arrived at the city of Gua- 
 timala, where he was hofpitably received. 
 
 During this time the greateft harmony prevailed between Alvarado 
 and his troops, and the natives, the chiefs of whom informed him that 
 in their neighbourhood was a nation called the Altitans, who pofleffed 
 feveral ftrong fortrefles on the fide of a lake, and who refufed to come 
 in and make fubmiflion. They alfo reprefented them as a bad and ma- 
 licious people. To thefe Alvarado fent an invitation, but they maltreat- 
 ed the perfons who brought it, in confequence of which, he found it 
 necelTary to go with an armed force, and taking with him one hundred 
 and forty Spanifh foldiers, and two thoufand Guatimalans, he marched 
 againft them, renewing his offer, which was returned by a difcharge of 
 arrows from their warriors, who marched out armed in coats of mail, 
 and founding warlike inftruments. Alvarado put them to flight, and 
 purfued them, with confiderable lofs, to their fortreffes which were over 
 the lake. He then drove them from thence, and making feveral pri- 
 soners, compelled them to take to the water, and crofs over to an ifland. 
 The principal perfons whom he had taken, he fet at liberty, and bid 
 them go and ufe their endeavours to perfuade their countrymen to a peace. 
 
 Between 
 
( 355 ) 
 
 Between threats and promifes Alvarado at length fuceeeded, after which 
 he returned to Guatimala. Fra Bartholome exerted himfelf with. effect 
 in his holy office, for, erecting an altar and an image of our Lady, he 
 explained the myfteries of our faith to the natives, who imitated our ex- 
 ample in adoring the Holy Virgin. 
 
 A people who came from a diftance towards the fouth, to make 
 fubmifTion, and who were named the Pipiles, told our chief, that in 
 their way was a nation called the Izcuintepeques, of a very malignant 
 and obftinate difpofition, who maltreated all fuch as went through their 
 country. To them he fent an invitation to come in and make fubmif- 
 fion, which they neglecting, he marched againil them with his whole 
 force and a body of his allies of Guatimala, and coming, on them by 
 furprife he made great destruction among them. This was an unfortu- 
 nate event, productive of mifchief, and directly contrary to his Ma- 
 jetty's orders. I have now given the reader a fummary account bf the 
 conqueft and pacification of Guatimala and its dependencies, but it may 
 be found at full length as written by Gonzalo de Alvarado. I was not 
 prefent at it, nor did I go into that province until ray return from Hi- 
 gueras. The Indians of this province are not good foldiers; only wait- 
 ing the attack in broken ground. 
 
 Cortes had been informed that the provinces of Higueras and Hon- 
 duras contained rich mines, and certain failors alfo told him, they had 
 met with the natives flming, and that they ufed nets which had weights 
 of gold mixed with copper; as alfo, that a ftraight, or pafTage, was 
 probably fomewhere about that coalt. In compliance with his Majefty's 
 orders, he therefore determined to fend a body of troops thither under. 
 Chriftoval de Oli to fearch for this pafTage to the Spice Iflands, and to 
 make enquiry concerning the mines. As the way thither by land was 
 very tedious and difficult, it was determined he mould go by fea, and 
 accordingly fix mips were provided, and three hundred and feventy fol- 
 diers embarked, of whom one hundred were mufqueteers and crofsbow- 
 men, and twenty two, cavalry. Five alfo of the old conquerors of 
 
 Z z 2 Mexico, 
 
( 356 ) 
 
 Mexico, the companions of Cortes and his Majefty's veteran fervants, 
 who had retired to their houfes and repofe, were commanded to take 
 tip arms again on this occafion ; and it was of no ufe to tell Cortes that 
 any one had fcrved long enough, or fuffered hardfhips, for when Cor- 
 tes ordered no remonftrances availed. There was alfo one Briones, a 
 feafaring man, of a feditious difpofition, and a bitter enemy to Cortes, 
 and many of the foldiers who embarked thought they had been ill ufed 
 in the diftribution of lands and property. 
 
 The instructions given to De Oli were, to fail to the Havannah, to 
 receive provilions and neceflaries, and purfue his voyage to Higueras, 
 where he was to make enquiry whether any harbour, Straight, or paf- 
 Sage lay to the fouthward; alfo to fearch for mines of gold, and Silver, 
 and in fome commodious Situation to build a town, not neglecting the 
 interefts of the church, for the extenfion whereof, two reverend friars, 
 one of whom fpoke the Mexican language, were to attend the expedi- 
 tion. 
 
 De Oli embarked from Villa Rica, and arrived at the Havannah, 
 where he took on board his provilions and horfes and alfo five perfons 
 of thofe who had come out with Garay, and who had been expelled 
 from the fettlement of Panuco for feditious conduct. Thefe perfons at- 
 tached thcmfelves to De Oli, and began to inftil their poifonous coun- 
 fels in his mind, advifing him to renounce his obedience to Cortes. 
 Briones alfo laboured in this, and having concerted matters with Velaf- 
 quez the mortal enemy of Cortes, it was fettled amongft them, that De 
 Oli mould put himfelf under Velafquez, who would fupport him in 
 his expedition, and alfo make fuch reprefentations at court, that the 
 new fettlement mould be taken out of the hands of Cortes, and the go- 
 vernment thereof given to De Oli. This man was of great perfonal va- 
 lour, a very good foldier, but unfit to be a commander; he was at 
 this time about thirty fix years of age, and was a native of Baeza or 
 Linares; he had a good perfon and countenance, a cleft in his under 
 lip,, and his voice was. rough, and fierce; he was endued, with many 
 
 good 
 
( 357 ) 
 
 good qualities, being fincere, and for a long time much attached to 
 -Cortes ; until the ambition of governing, and diflike of being governed, 
 perverted his mind, by the influence of bad advifers. He had been 
 brought up in the houfe of Velafquez, but was under much greater 
 obligations to Cortes. 
 
 De Oli fet fail from the Havannah, and on the third of May arri- 
 ved at his ftation, which he on that account named El Triumpho de la 
 Cruz. Here he appointed his civil adminiftration, making his alcaldes 
 and regidors of thofe whom Cortes had recommended to him. He alfo 
 took poiTemon of the country for his Majefty in the name of Cortes.. 
 His motive for doing this was, becaufe he wifhed to conceal from thefe 
 perfons his feceflion from his general, and wilhed to keep them his 
 friends until he could afcertain how the bufinefs was likely to turn out.; 
 for, if the country was as rich as he had reafon to fuppofe, he intended 
 to throw Cortes off and fct up an independent government; if on the 
 other hand, it mould appear not to be valuable, he could return, to his 
 poflellions at Mexico, and glofs over to Cortes his negotiations with 
 Velafquez, by pretending it was done in order to put him in good hu- 
 mour, and induce him to give him the necefTary fupplies. Thus was 
 the new colony of El Triumpho de la Cruz eitablifhed, from whence 
 no intelligence reached Cortes for upwards of eight months, 
 
 In the town of Guacacuaico were a ccnfiderablc number of veterans, 
 .and Spaniards of quality, who were entrufted with the government of 
 the province of that name, together with thofe of Citla, Tabafco, Ci- 
 matan, Chontalpa, Cachula, Zoque, the Quilenes, Cinacatan, and 
 Chamuela, Chiapa of the Indians, Papanaufta, Pinula, Xaltepeque, 
 Guazpaltepeque, Chinanta, and Tepeque. In the whole of New Spain, 
 the demand of tribute was the fignal for an infur recti on, and. thofe who 
 attempted the collection of it were killed, as indeed were all Spaniards 
 .who fell into the hands of the natives. In thofe provinces the reiiftance 
 was umverfal, and we were under the neceiTity of going round from one 
 city or town to another with a company of foldiers, to preferve the 
 peace,. The 
 
 ■*. 
 

 ( 358 ) 
 
 The diftricT of Cimatan being particularly refractory, and Captain 
 Luis Marin being unwilling at that time to fend a body of troops thi- 
 ther, it was determined that four neighbours, whereof I was one, 
 mould be fent to try if we could bring the people to, reafon. Accordingly, 
 fetting out upon our journey, when we approached the principal town, 
 we difpatched meffengers to acquaint the people with our bufinefs. 
 When we came nearer to it we were met by a large body of Indians, 
 armed with lances, and bows and arrows, who killed tw r o of my com- 
 rades, and wounded me defperately in the throat. My furviving com- 
 panion after a few blow r s provided for himfelf by making off to fome 
 canoes by the bank of the river Macapa, fo that I was left alone; I 
 however retained fufficiently my fenfes, to creep into fome bullies where 
 recovering a little, I addrelfed myfelf to heaven, and implored the aid 
 of our-Holy Virgin, befeeching her not to let me die in the hands of 
 thofe dogs of Indians. Then, feeling my powers return to me, I fal- 
 lied out, and forcing my palfage through the natives, giving many good 
 cuts by the way, I made my efcape to where my comrade was in the 
 canoes, with four Indians whom we had brought with us to carry our 
 baggage, which they had thrown away, and which the natives quitted 
 us, to pillage. As it was the will of God that we mould not lofe our 
 lives on this occafion, we then got acrofs the river, which is very broad 
 and deep, and full of alligators. To avoid the Indians we were obliged 
 to remain eight days concealed in the woods, and from our not appear- 
 ing, we were all concluded to be loft. As was the cuftom at that time, 
 our property was forthwith divided amongft the other Spaniards, how- 
 ever at the er.d of twenty three days we returned to our town, to the 
 great joy of our friends, and difappointment of thofe who had gotten 
 pofTefiion of our lands and Indians. 
 
 Captain Marin now thought proper to goto Cortes to reprefent the ftate 
 of affairs, and demand more foldiers. He accordingly fet out and waited 
 on Cortes, who gave him thirty foldiers, commanded by Alonzo de 
 Grado, with orders for the whole body of Spaniards to march for the 
 province of Chiapa which was in a ftate of war. Accordingly we fet out 
 
 for 
 
( 359 ) 
 
 tor the purpofe of reducing it, and of building a town there, to keep 
 the inhabitants in check. 
 
 The firfr thing necefTary was to make a road through the woods, 
 in a very marfhy country where we were obliged to make caufeways for 
 the horfes to pafs. Proceeding thus, we arrived at a place called Tez- 
 puztlan, and continued our route to another town named Cachula, from 
 whence we proceeded, there being no pafTage previous to our expedition, 
 from the fear the other natives have of thofe of Chiapa, who undoubt- 
 edly were at that time the braveft warriors in America ; they alfo robbed 
 paffengers and travelling merchants, and brought off the inhabitants of 
 thefe diftricts to colonize and till their ground, nor could the Mexicans 
 ever fubdue them. This our expedition took place in Lent, the year h 
 cannot bring to my recollection, but think it was one thoufand five 
 hundred and twenty four. When we came near the city of Chiapa, 
 we made a review of our force, which confifted of twenty feven horfe- 
 men, twenty three mufqueteers, and a field piece under the direction of 
 a gunner who told us that he had ferved in Italy; however that was, 
 he was of no ufe, being a very cowardly fellow. We had feventy foot 
 foldiers armed with fword and target, and about eighty Mexicans. The 
 cacique of Cachula with fome of his principal people attended us, tremb- 
 ling with fear j four foldiers of the moil active of our little army, of 
 whom I was one, were always fent forward to reconnoitre; the ground 
 not being fit for a horfe I kft mine behind, and we were ufually in front 
 of the army about half a league. The people of Chiapa being much 
 accuftomed to hunting, fome of them who were thus employed, perceiv- 
 ing us at a diftance gave the alarm, and made fignals by fmoke. 
 
 As we approached their firft fettlement, which is called Eftapa, and 
 is diftant four leagues from the principal town, we found the roads, 
 which ran through cultivated grounds, wide and convenient; and. on 
 each fide were plentiful crops of corn, and vegetables. We entered this 
 town, but the inhabitants had quitted it, and having pofted our guards and 
 fent out patroles, the remainder went to reft; but we were foon roufed 
 
 fey 
 
 V. 
 

 
 ( 36o ) 
 
 by the arrival of two of our out party, who came in at full fpeed to tell 
 us, that the natives were collecting from all parts to attack us. We 
 flood to our arms, and advanced to meet them out of the town, where 
 a very fevere action enfued, for they were provided with darts hardened 
 in fire, war clubs, and lances larger than ours, and alfo a good defen- 
 five armour made of cotton. As the field of battle was very Honey, their 
 flingers did us infinite mifchief. They approached us fo clofe that in 
 the firit. attack they killed two of our foldiers, and four horfes, wound- 
 ed our reverend father, Fra Juan, and thirteen foldiers, and deftroyed 
 many of our allies. Our captain, Marin, alfo was wounded in two pla- 
 ces. This action tailed till dark night, when, having made an unfatif- 
 factory experiment of the fharpnefs of our f\v ords and the effect of our 
 *nufquetry, the enemy retired, leaving behind them fifteen killed, and 
 many wounded, from two of whom, apparently principal people, we 
 learned, that on the next day a general attack was intended upon 
 us. 
 
 The manner in which the enemy had fought convinced us that 
 they were no defpicable warriors : for when a cavalry man halted to 
 make a thruft the Indians feized the horfe, and wrcfted the lance out of 
 the horfeman's hand, or pulled him to the ground. 
 
 On the next day we purfued our route to the city of Chiapa, and 
 a city it might truly be called, from the regularity of its ftreets and 
 houfes. It contained not lefs than four thoufand families, not reckoning 
 the population of the many dependent towns in its neighbourhood. At 
 the diftance of about a quarter of a league from the place which we 
 had left, we found the whole force of Chiapa drawn up to receive 
 us. Their troops were adorned with plumage, and well armed, often- 
 lively and defenfively, and the hills reibunded with their fhouts on our 
 appearance. It was dreadful to behold the fury with which they threw 
 themfelves upon us like enraged lions; as for our black artillery man, 
 and black he was indeed to us, he was fo itupifkd with fear, that he 
 iiood trembling and unable to put the match to the gun, and when at 
 
 lail 
 
( sM ) 
 
 Iaft we fuccceded in roufing him, he fired the piece with no other effect 
 than that of wounding three of our own men. Our captain gave orders 
 to the cavalry to form in fmall bodies, and the mufqueteers, crofsbow- 
 men, and fword and buckler men, to clofe into one compact battalion, 
 whereby the cavalry and infantry fupported each other. The enemy 
 were fo numerous that had we not been the men wc were, it would 
 have gone very hard with us, and we ourfelves were aftonifhed at the 
 bravery of our adverfaries ; but good father Bartholome flood firmly 
 by us, and adminiftered comfort to us by his exhortations, promifing 
 that we fhould be rewarded for our exertions, both by God and by Ca> 
 far. Our Captain Marin likewife frequently encouraged us, calling 
 out to charge them in the name of St. Jago. We at length forced them 
 to fly before us; but as there were hard by, tracts of very rocky ground 
 where the cavalry could not follow them, frefh bodies of Indians fell 
 upon us by furprife, while we, thinking the day our own, were return- 
 ing thanks to God and our Lady. Of thefe troops a number were pre- 
 pared with long thongs to twifl round the horfes, and throw them 
 down, and they had alfo ftretched out the nets which they ufed in hunt- 
 ing, for the fame purpofe. The enemy attacked us here fo defperately 
 that hardly one of our foldiers efcaped without a wound ; they wrefted 
 the lances from fome of our cavalry, and killed two foldiers and five 
 horfes. In the centre of their army was a woman, aged, and immode- 
 rately fat, who was efteemed by them a goddefs, and had promifed 
 them the victory. They had alfo incenfe in a pan, and certain idols 
 made of ftone. This woman, who had her body painted, and cotton 
 mixed with the paint, advanced without any fear among our allies, 
 who were formed by companies, and by whom this infernal deity was 
 in a very fhort time torn to pieces. 
 
 During this time the battle raged, and we and our captain recom- 
 mending ourfelves to our Lady, and befeeching the reverend father to 
 pray for us, threw ourfelves into the thickefl of it, and forced the ene- 
 my to fly, fome to the rocks, others to the river, whereby they effected 
 their efcape, being excellent fwimmers. We then halted to take breath, 
 
 Aaa and 
 
( 36a ) 
 
 and our good friar, joined by the foldiers, fang the hymn which begins 
 " Salve '&c," and we returned thanks to God for the victory. Our 
 army then advanced towards a town by the fide of a river, where we 
 remained the entire -day and night, paying particular attention to the 
 concealment of our dead . 
 
 About midnight, ten chieftains of the neighbouring diftricts came 
 down the river which is very broad and deep in five canoes ; they dis- 
 embarked at one of our pofts, and were made prifoners. Being brought 
 before our captain, they told him they belonged to a nation called the 
 Xaltepeques, againft whom the people of Chiapa had made war; their 
 object was, to offer their fupport, and to obtain from us a promife, 
 that in cafe of fuccefs againft the Chiapans, we mould fet free from 
 them the nations to which thefe Indians belonged ; in the hopes of 
 which, they promifed us afliftance to pafs the river, which could not 
 otherwife be done. This was very fatisfactory to us, and therefore 
 leaving two of their party behind, the reft went immediately to provide 
 twenty canoes. The remainder of the night was patted under a ftrict 
 watch, for the drums and horns of the enemy were heard, from the 
 banks of the river, where they were collecting to attack us. As foon 
 as it was light we faw our friends arrive with the canoes ; they alfo 
 mewed us a ford, though a very dangerous one, and were urgent to 
 us to lofe no time in pafling, to fave the lives of ibme of their coun- 
 trymen who had been made prifoners. Accordingly we paffed the river, 
 formed into a folid column, at the ford, which took us up to our arm- 
 pits y and where we loft one of our cavalry. On the oppofite bank 
 we were aflailed by the enemy with fuch a difcharge of darts and arrows, 
 that not one of our party eicaped without two or three wounds before 
 w T e could get out of the water, but vaft bodies of other Indians appear- 
 ing in our rear, and declaring for us, by attacking the Chiapans, they 
 were foon forced to turn their backs and fly towards their city, whither 
 we advanced in good order, with colours flying, and accompanied by 
 our allies. On our arrival there, we found it too clofe built to be fafely 
 occupied by us, and we therefore pitched our camp in the open field. 
 
 Our 
 
( 3^ ) 
 
 Our captain now feat mefTengers inviting. them to peace, and fhortly 
 after, they fent a deputation of their chiefs, praying forgive* 
 nefs, and requesting to be admitted. Subjects to his Majefly. They 
 alfo defired that the. neighbouring nations might not be permitted to de- 
 ftxoy their houfes and plantations, which requcfl was readily granted.. 
 When we went into this town we found many prifoners confined in 
 wooden cages, who had been feized by them when travelling. All 
 thefe were releafed and fent to their homes. In their temples we found 
 idols of horrid figure, which Fra Juan broke to pieces, and alfo many 
 remains of men and boys juft facrificed, and other traces of their moil 
 abominable cuftoms. 
 
 Our captain then fent orders to all the neighbouring nations to come 
 in; amongfl the firfl who obeyed were thefe of Chinacatan, Gopa- 
 nauflla, Pinola, Gueguiztlan,, Chamula, the Quilenes, and others of 
 the Zoque language, with many more which I do not recollect. Thefe 
 people were much furprifed when they perceived with how fmajl a body 
 we had ventured to attack the warlike nation of the Chiapans, whom 
 the Mexicans never could conquer. Fra Juan preached to them with 
 great fuccefs, and many came to him to be baptifed. 
 
 While this was pafTing, a certain Spanifh foldier, attended by eight 
 Mexicans, went to a town called Chamula, and there demanded with- 
 out any authority a contribution of gold in the name of his captain. A 
 portion was collected for him, but not fatisfied therewith he attempted 
 to feize the cacique, which caufed an infurrection in that and a neigh- 
 bouring town named Guehuifllan. As foon as our captain got intelli- 
 gence of it, he caufed him to be feized, and immediately fent him oft 
 by exprefs, prifoner, to Mexico. This man was one who considered 
 himfelf of confequence amongfl us, very evil difpofed, and cruel to the 
 Indians. 
 
 i 
 We then proceeded to Chamula, which in confequence of the above 
 
 related outrage continued in rebellion. We were afMedon our marcli 
 
 Aaa 2 by 
 

 
 ( 3«4 ) 
 
 by the people of Cinacatan, a polifhed and mercantile nation, and ar- 
 riving at Chamula, we found this place ftrongly fortified by nature, 
 and the inhabitants well armed, having a large kind of fhield with 
 which they could cover the whole b<3dy, and which when not wanted 
 was rolled up. When we approached we were attacked with mowers 
 of arrows, upon which our captain ordered the cavalry to go into the 
 plain, there to watch the infurgents of the neighbouring diftricts of 
 Quiabuitlan. Our mufqueteers then fired upon the enemy, but with ve- 
 ry little effect, whereas their miffile weapons injured us who were unco- 
 vered, materially. We were during this whole day fighting thus, to 
 very little purpofe, and when we attempted to force the ramparts, we 
 found them guarded by above two thoufand men armed with lances. 
 Finding our endeavours ineffectual, it was determined to procure tim- 
 ber from another town which was depopulated, and to conftruct of it 
 the machines named burros or mantas, under cover of which twenty 
 men or more could approach, and remain under the walls, fo as to 
 work an entrance. We therefore drew off for that time, and having 
 procured the timber and conflructed thefe machines, we again proceeded 
 fo the attack. Under cover of them our men endeavoured to undermine 
 the wall, the enemy throwing down upon us fcalding water mixed with 
 blood, fire, and heavy ftones, infomuch that we were quite in defpair, 
 and forced to retreat to repair the machines, which having done, we 
 again brought them to the walls, and working under them we made 
 different breaches. As foon as the enemy perceived this, they fent up 
 to the top of their ramparts four of their principal perfons, priefts, and 
 others, who addreffed us covered with their thick fhields, and told us, 
 that fince we wanted gold we might have it; and therewith threw over 
 feven crowns of fine gold, together with a quantity of gold trinkets, 
 and other things made of that metal, caff in the forms of fhells and 
 birds ; and they alfo at the fame time fent among us frefh fhowcrs of 
 arrows, darts, and ftones. We had fucceeded in making two confide- 
 rable breaches in the walls, but it was now dark, and a heavy rain be- 
 gan to fall; we were therefore obliged to defift for that night, keeping 
 good watch all round our poft, and the cavalry remaining on the plain 
 
 ground, 
 
( 365 ) 
 
 ground, faddled and bridled. The enemy during the whole night were 
 founding their warlike inflruments, fuch as timbals, and fmall trum- 
 pets, yelling, and threatening us with deftruction on the next day, 
 which they faid had been promifed to them- by their gods. 
 
 At day break we again brought forward our machines, to work 
 at their walls, which the enemy defended with the greatefl obftinacy, 
 wounding five of our people, and among!! them myfelf by a thruft, 
 and were it not for the ftrength of my cotton quilted armour, the lance 
 would have gone through me. Thus we were employed during the 
 whole day, and the evening was drawing on, with a heavy fall of rain 
 and a very thick mift, as is frequently the cafe in that mountainous 
 country. In confequence of this our captain called us off from the en- 
 gagement, and about the fame time the enemy ceafing to fhout and 
 make the noifes they had hitherto done, I, who was accuftomsd to bu- 
 finefs of the kind, and alfo perceived that their lances were refted againft 
 the walls, barbicans, and battlements, except about two hundred that 
 ftill appeared to be in hand, began to fufpect they were going to aban- 
 don the place; in confequence whereof, I and one of my comrades get- 
 ting in at a fmall breach in the wall, to fee what they were doing, fell 
 fuddenly in upon upwards of two hundred of them in arms, who at- 
 tacked us with their lances, and would fpeedily have put an end to us, 
 but that fome of our Indian allies who perceived our fituation, called 
 out to the reft of our foldiers, who crouded in to where we were fur- 
 rounded by thefe Indians,, who only .compofed the rear guard of the 
 garrifon, for all the reft, men, women, and children, had evacuated 
 the place by the other gate. 
 
 Thefe who remained we quickly put to flight, and purfuing them, 
 we came up with many of the others, and made prifoners feveral men, 
 women, and children. We now quitted the town, and purfued our 
 route towards Chinacatan, halting for that night- at a place where at 
 prefent the city of Chiapa de los Efpanoles is built. Being arrived here, 
 our captain difcharged fix of his prifoners, with orders to inform their 
 
 countrymen. 
 
( 366 ) 
 
 countrymen that it they Submitted, he would deliver up to them the 
 whole of thofe he had taken, which meliage was delivered, and chear- 
 fully complied with. 
 
 In consequence of the orders which Cortes had given to our cap- 
 tain, who was alfo my particular friend, to give me fome good Situation, 
 I was appointed to the command of this encomienda which I held fof 
 eight years. The firft thing I did was, to get a reverend father to 
 preach to the Indians, and convert them to the chriftian faith; we ac- 
 cordingly erected an altar and crucifix, and he preached to them to good 
 effect. The firft day we baptifed fifteen, to my great fatisfaction, for 
 \ loved and wifhed well to them, they being now my own. There was 
 in this neighbourhood a people who inhabited three fortified towns, and 
 were in rebellion againit us, named the Guegueftitlans, and it became 
 neceiTary to march againit and reduce them. Leaving therefore our 
 wounded and baggage behind, the molt flout and active among us pro- 
 ceeded againit them ; they had barricaded all their approaches with fall- 
 en trees, which we cleared by the afliftance of our Indian allies, and 
 arrived under their fortrefles, which appeared likely to give us enough 
 to do, for the firft we came to was full of warriors who were well ap- 
 pointed, offensively and defenfively. When we mounted to the allault 
 they all fled and left the place to us, but our allies made two of them 
 prifoners, who were immediately releafcd* and Sent with offers of peace 
 and good treatment to their friends, on SubmifTion. Thefe conditions 
 they accepted and came in, bringing with them fome trifling preSents 
 of gold, and feathers of the quetzal. 
 
 ■ 
 Having thus effected our bufinefs here, we proceeded according to 
 the directions of Cortes, to eftablifh a colony. Hereupon there was a 
 difference of opinion amongft us, for fome were for it, but others who 
 had plantations and Indians in Guacacualco were adverSe, objecting to it 
 as an unfit Situation for cavalry, and faying alfo that our force in its 
 prefent reduced ftate was inefficient, the diftrict being populous, anfl 
 the towns built in the faftneffes of the mountains. Thus our party fell 
 
 into 
 
( 3«7 ) 
 
 into difputes upon this and other fubjects, for our captain, Marin, and 
 Diego de Godoy who was a royal notary and a very bufy perfon, were 
 adverfe to the plan. That troublefome fellow Alonzo de Grado, alfo 
 it appeared, was pofTefTed of a patent from Cortes, giving himanenco- 
 rnienda'in the province of Chiapa, when it was reduced to obedience. 
 By virtue of this he demanded from Marin the gold which had been 
 obtained from the Indians of Chiapa, and alfo that which had been 
 found in the temples, amounting to one thoufand five hundred crowns. 
 This Marin refufed, alledging that it was neceflary to employ it in re- 
 placing the horfes which had been killed in the expedition. All thefe 
 differences together brought matters to fuch an extremity, that our cap- 
 tain put both of them in irons, determining to fend De Grado to Mex- 
 ico; as to Godoy, by dint of interceiTion and promifes he obtained his 
 releafe. Godoy made but a very bad return to Marin for his lenity, for 
 he immediately entered into a cabal with De Grado, and it was agreed 
 between them to make a formal complaint to Cortes againft him. I 
 was applied to alfo to write to him in exculpation of De Grado, becaufe 
 they faid that Cortes would believe my reprefentations. I did write in- 
 deed, but it was to let Cortes know the true flate of the cafe, and by no 
 means charging Marin with any impropriety. De Grado was fent to 
 Mexico under an oath to prefent himfelf to Cortes within eighty days; 
 that time being allowed on account of the diftance, which is upwards 
 of one hundred and ninety leagues. 
 
 It was now determined by us, to chaflife thofe- people who killed 
 the two foldiers of that party wherewith I was fent, as formerly men- 
 tioned. In our way we marched through a diftridt fo very rugged, that 
 the paiTage was impoffible to our horfes without aiTiftance, which, on 
 an application to the caciques was readily afforded us. Thefe people are 
 named Tapelola. Continuing our route by the Silo, Suchiapa, and 
 Coyumelapa diftricts we came to thofe of the Tecomayatacal and Atea- 
 pan Indians. The houfes in the chief town, which belonged to my dif- 
 tricl, joined each other, and formed a very populous and extenfive place* 
 
 Near 
 
( 368 ) 
 
 Near this was a large and deep river, which it was neceflary to pafs, 
 and here we were oppofed by the people of the town and vicinity, but 
 after a (harp action, wherein we had fix foldiers wounded and three hor- 
 fes killed, we put them to flight, they all taking to the mountains and 
 Woods, having firft fet fire to their town. We .flayed here five days 
 taking care of the wounded, and having made many of the women of 
 this place prifoners, our captain fent to invite the people to peace, which 
 was accepted, and they returned to their homes. Godoy was averfe 
 from this lenity, and told our captain that thefe people who had revolt- 
 ed without any reafon fhould be punifhed, or at any rate made to pay 
 for the horfes which were killed in the action. I was of a different 
 opinion, and thought that fince they came peaceably they mould not 
 be made to fuffer ; and giving my opinion freely, Godoy became enra- 
 ged and broke out into angry words, from which we came to blows, 
 and drew our fwords. A good many cuts patted between us before we 
 could be parted, and if we had not been fo, one or other of us would 
 have loft his life. Marin, who was a good and mild man, faw the 
 impropriety of ufing harfh meafures with thefe people, and refloring all 
 their property to them, left them in peace. 
 
 We continued our march, and pafling by other difbricts of Cima- 
 tlan, and Talatiopan, we were aiTailed by a number of their archers » 
 who gave us a volley whereby above twenty of our foldiers were wound- 
 ed, and two horfes killed ; and but that we immediately attacked and 
 drove them from their poft, they would have done us much mifchief. 
 I muft obferve, that thefe are the ftrongeft archers that ever I met with, 
 for they drive their arrows through two fuits of cotton mail well quilted; 
 which is a wonderful force. Their country is in great part marfh, 
 which fhakes when a foot-man walks upon it. It was therefore in vain 
 to ptrfue the natives, and as for our offers of peace they treated them 
 with neglect. We therefore thought it befl to make our fhorteff way 
 to our town of Guacacualco. We took our route for it by the diflridt 
 of Guimango, Nacaxa, Xuica, Teotitlan, Copiko, and others which 
 
 I do 
 
( 3«9 ) 
 
 I do not recoiled, to Ulapa, and acrofs the rivers Agaqualulco, and 
 Tonala, to Guacacualco, where the killed horfes were paid for at a 
 penny a pound. 
 
 As to De Grado, when he arrived at Mexico and waited on Cortes, 
 the general was highly difpleafed with him, telling him to take three 
 thoufand crowns and go to the Ifland of Cuba, and give him and others 
 no farther trouble. De Grado however made fuch apologies that they 
 were afterwards good friends. 
 
 Bbb 
 

 
 ( 370 ) 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 )®«a 
 
 TranfaSlions in Old Spain, 
 
 AN the year one thoufand five hundred and twenty one, out moft Ho- 
 ly Father Pope Adrian of Lobayana fucceeded to the fovereign pontifi- 
 cate. He was then governor of Caftille, and refided in the city of 
 Vittoria, where our agents waited upon him to kifs the foot of his ho- 
 linefs. At the fame time arrived a great nobleman from Germany, 
 called Mofiur de Lafoa, chamberlain to his Majefty, by whom he was 
 fent to congratulate his holinefs on his election. This M. de Lafoa, 
 having heard the heroical actions of the conquerors of Mexico, and the 
 great works they had done for the extenfion of our holy faith, by the 
 converfion and baptifm of {o many thoufands of Indians, was interefted 
 in our behalf, and applied to the Holy Pontiff, requeuing him to acce- 
 lerate the bufinefs wherein our agents were employed. This requefr. 
 was readily granted, for independent of what was laid before him by 
 our agents, our holy father had received many complaints againft. the 
 Bifhop of Burgos from perfons of high honour and quality, whereby 
 our agents were encouraged to] proceed in a formal accufation againft. 
 him. Thofe who were moft active in the bufinefs were Francifco de 
 Montejo, Diego de Ordas, the licentiate Francifco Nunez coufin to 
 Cortes, and Martin Cortes our general's father, who were aflifted by 
 many great and powerful noblemen, but principally by the Duke de 
 Bejar ; and thus countenanced, they brought forward their charges with 
 great effect. 
 
 The firfr. was, that Velafquez had bribed him with a diffrid:, with 
 the people of which he worked gold mines. Secondly, that in the 
 
 year 
 
( 37' ) 
 
 year one thoufand five hundred and feventeen, when one hundred and 
 ten of us procured velTels at our own expence and fet out for the difco- 
 very of New Spain, the Bifhop of Burgos informed his Majefty that it 
 was Diego de Velafquez who had done fo, contrary to the truth. 
 
 Thirdly that Velafquez had fent twenty thoufand crowns in gold, 
 which his nephew Juan de Gnjalva had obtained, to the bifhop, and 
 no part to his Majefty; and that when Cortes fent a prefent of o-old the 
 bifhop feized it, fuppreffing our letters, and fubftituting others, afcrib- 
 ing the faid prefent to Velafquez. Alfo that the bifhop retained one 
 half of the treafure, and when Puertocarrero applied to him for per- 
 milTion to wait upon his Majefty, he caufed him to be feized and thrown 
 into prifon, where he died. Alfo, that he fent orders to the officers of 
 the Cafa de Contrac~tacion of Seville, that they mould not give any af- 
 fiftance to Cortes. Farther, that he appointed as officers to the military 
 fervice in New Spain, fuch as were not fit for it, as was the cafe in re- 
 gard to one Tapia, to whom, in order to bring about a marriage between 
 his niece and the faid Tapia, he prom i fed the government of New Spain. 
 Alfo, that he approved for good, the falfe relations tranfmitted by the 
 agents of Velafquez, which he forwarded to his Majefty, fupprefling 
 thofe of Cortes which were the true ones. There were befides many 
 other charges, all very well fubftantiated, and which he could not 
 deny. 
 
 Thefe things being all brought to light, his holinefs was pleafed 
 to order, that the Bifhop of Burgos fhould have no farther authority in 
 New Spain, that Cortes mould be declared governor thereof, and that 
 Velafquez fhould receive compenfation for the expences he had been 
 at, and could duly prove. His holinefs fent alfo to New Spain a num- 
 ber of indulgences for the hofpitals and churches, and was pleafed to 
 direct Cortes and us the conquerors to pay unremitting attention to the 
 converfion of the Indians, adding how much it was the duty of himfelf 
 and all Chriftendom to pray for thofe who had done fo much for the 
 advancement of our holy faith. He alfo was pleafed to fend to us his 
 
 Bbb 2 holy 
 

 
 ( 37* ) 
 
 holy bulls of abfolution. All this his Majefty gracioufly thought pro- 
 per to confirm, fa far as relates to the civil and military eftablifhment, 
 adding thereto his order to Velafquez to give up his government of Cuba, 
 on account of his having fent out the armament under Narvaez in de- 
 fiance of the peremptory orders of the royal chamber of audience, and 
 of the brethren of the order of St. Jerome. The Bifhop of Burgos was 
 fo affected by the cenfure which his holinefs the Pope pafled upon his 
 conduct, and by his Majefty 's orders in confequence thereof, that when 
 he retired to his country feat at Toro he fell dangeroufly ill. 
 
 At this period arrived in Old Caftille, Pamphilo de Narvaez, and 
 Chriftoval de Tapia, whom the Bifhop of Burgos had created governor 
 of New Spain, together with the pilots Umbria and Cardenas. Thefe 
 perfons waited on the bifhop to demand his permiflion to lay their accu- 
 fations againft Cortes before his Majefty, and as the bifhop defired no- 
 thing better than to hear complaints of Cortes and of us, he mewed 
 them every favour in his power. When the agents of Velafquez per- 
 ceived this, they gladly joined the party, and all together went to prefer 
 their charges before the Emperor. 
 
 They made ftrong accufations againft, Cortes; firft, that Velafquez 
 "fitted out armaments three times to his own great colt, and entrufted 
 the command of the laft to Cortes, who broke his engagement. Far- 
 ther, that when Velafquez fent Narvaez with his Majefty 's commiffion 
 as governor general of New Spain, Cortes made war upon, and defeated 
 him. Alfo, that when the Bifhop of Burgos fent Tapia to take the go- 
 vernment of thofe countries in his Majefty's name, he refufed to obey, 
 and by main force compelled him to reimbark. They alfo accufed Cortes 
 of having obtained a quantity of gold in the name of his Majefty, and 
 converting it to his own ufe* of having taken to himfelf a fifth of all 
 prizage; of having burnt the feet of Guatimotzin ; of retaining the fol- 
 diers fhares ; and building palaces and fortified houfes that were as large 
 as whole villages, making the inhabitants round Mexico work at them, 
 and forcing them to draw large cyprefs trees, and ftones, from a, great 
 
 diffccnce; 
 
 
( 373 ) 
 
 diflancc; and that he had given poifon to Francifco de Garay, to get 
 from him his troops and (hipping. There were many other accufations 
 brought forward, fo that his Majefty was at laft tired of hearing them, 
 believing them to be true. 
 
 Narvaez, when admitted into the Emperor's prefence addrefled him 
 in his pompous tone of voice, as follows. " Your Majefty muft fur- 
 " ther know, that on the night I was taken prifoner, having your 
 41 royal commiflion in my pocket, my eye put out, and in apprehenfion 
 " of being burnt alive, for the apartment was in flames, one of Cor- 
 " tes's captains, Alonzo de Avila at prefent prifoner in France, violent- 
 " ly tore your commiflion out of my pocket, and when I claimed it, 
 M declaring what it was, he denied the fact, and faid that they were 
 4t bonds for money owing me by Spaniards in Mexico, and which I 
 '• was coming to enforce." At this the Emperor could not refrain from 
 laughing. In regard to the charges, his Majefty faid, he would give 
 orders that Ariel juftice fhould be done; and he forthwith commanded, 
 that certain perfons of his royal privy council fhould be formed into a 
 court of enquiry to hear and decide upon thefe allegations. The per- 
 fons who compofed this court were Mercurio Catarinario grand chang- 
 ed lor of Italy, De liSoa, and Doctor De la Roche, Flemings, Hernando 
 de Vega lord of Grajales, the Doctor De Garavajal, and the Licentiate 
 Vargas. 
 
 This court gave notice to the parties to come forward, and accord- 
 ingly they produced their charges in the fame form that they had been 
 laid before his Majefty. To the charges brought by Velafquez it was 
 replied, that De Cordova was the difcovercr of New Spain, who did it 
 with his companions at their own coft, and that Velafquez was here 
 alfo criminal, in that he ordered hiin to go to the Ifland of Los Gua- 
 najes, to take Indians by force, and make flaves of them. Farther, that 
 admitting he fent Juan de Grijalva thither, it was not for the purpofe 
 of colonization but only for trade. That for the expences incurred, the 
 principal part was born by the different captains, and not by Velafquez, 
 
 and 
 

 
 ( 374 ) 
 
 and thefe captains Lad there collected twenty thoufand crowns, the 
 principal part of which went to Velafquez. Farther, that Velafquez 
 gave the Bifhop of Burgos Indians in the Ifland of Cuba to piccure 
 gold, neglecting his duty to his Majefty. Alfo, that admitting it was 
 he who fent Cortes, it was by the approbation of his Majefty, and by 
 the providence of God ; for that any other commander would have fail- 
 ed in an undertaking of fuch danger, and that Cortes was not fent by 
 him to colonize, but to barter; and that his eflablifhment in the coun- 
 try was owing, not to the inftructions of Velafquez, but the inftances 
 of his companions, for the fervice of God, and his Majefty. Alfo 
 that it was well known, that Cortes reported the whole of his proceed- 
 ings to his Majefty, fending therewith all the gold he had been able to 
 procure, he, and his companions, awaiting his Majefty's further orders, 
 proftrate on the earth. It was alfo reprefented, how the Bifhop of Bur- 
 gos fupprefTed the faid letters, and feized the prefents, concealing from 
 his Majefty our meritorious fervice ; and when our agents wanted to 
 obtain permiffion to wait on his Majefty, he threw one of them, Puer- 
 tocarrero, into prifon, where he died; and that he forbid the officers of 
 his Majefty at Seville, to furnifh us with what we required. All which 
 was done by the faid bifhop, from a corrupt motive, as he wanted to 
 procure a marriage between either Velafquez or Tapia, and his niece 
 named Donna Petronila de Fonfeca, as he had promifed that his fon-in- 
 law fhould be governor of Mexico. In fupport of all which accufations 
 they were ready to produce proofs. As to the expedition of Narvaez, 
 our agents replied, that in the firft place Velafquez defer ved to fufFer 
 death for difobedience of his Majcfty's orders; and alfo, that he applied 
 himfelf folely to the bifhop, neglecting his Majefty, which was a high 
 difrefpect; in confequence therefore of the above mifdemeanors and 
 crimes, our agents, prayed that the court would be pleafed to award 
 punifhment; to which the court replied that they woul4 take it into 
 confideration. 
 
 In reply to the charges brought againft Cortes by Narvaez it was 
 reprefented, that on his coming to New Spain he fent word to the great 
 
 King 
 
( 37* ) 
 
 King Montezuma, that he came to refcue him, and thereby caufed fuch 
 a disturbance in the country, as produced a dangerous war. That on 
 his arrival at Vera Cruz, Cortes had written to him a friendly letter, de- 
 firing'to fee his commiflion, to which Narvaez would make no anfwer, 
 but declared war againft Cortes and his companions, notwithftanding 
 that Cortes invited him to, and reprefented the neceiTity of, an amicable 
 junction, for the good of his Majefty's fervice, left all mould be loft. 
 But Cortes rinding that all his offers were neglected, and Narvaez not 
 (hewing him his Majefty's commiflion, and knowing the mifconduct 
 of Narvaez in feizing his Majefty's oydor, to bring him to punilhment 
 for fo doing, went to him, determined to fee his authority, and to know 
 the reafon of his conduct, and that Narvaez had then attempted to fur- 
 prife and feize him, of which he could adduce proofs and witneiTes, 
 amongft others Andrez de Duero, who was at that time with Narvaez. 
 In regard to his caufing the failure of Garay, and poifoning him at 
 breakfaft, it was replied that the failure of the expedition was owing to 
 Garay's own mifconduct, and ignorance of the country. That when 
 Garay found his fituation hopelefs, he accepted the friendly offer which 
 Cortes had made him, of an hofpitable reception at Mexico, where an 
 alliance was agreed upon between the families, and Garay was to have 
 had afliftance to eftablifh a colony on the river Palmas; and that if it 
 was God's will to take him from this life, according to the oaths of 
 the phyficians, by a pleurify, it was not in the power of Cortes to pre- 
 vent it. Cortes alfo proved in anfwer to the charge of having retained 
 his Majefty's fifth, that he had fairly expended it in the fervice, toge- 
 ther with fix thoufand crowns of his own property : that the fifth which 
 he deducted for himfelf was according to compact, and in regard to the 
 charge of detaining the foldiers prize money it was replied, that in the 
 capture of Mexico very little gold remained to be divided, inafmuch as 
 the wealth of the place was almoft all fallen into the hands of the Tlaf- 
 calan and Tezcucan allies. In regard to burning the feet of Guatimot- 
 zin, it was done contrary to the inclination of Cortes, by his Majefty's 
 officers, to force him to difcover where Montezuma's treafure was con- 
 cealed. In anfwer to the charge of his buildings it was ftated, that they 
 
 were 
 

 ( 37* ) 
 
 were truly ifurnptuous, and that the cyprelTes and ftones were brought 
 from a greait diftance, but that the faid buildings were for the ufe and 
 honor of hiis Majefty and his fuccelTors : that the materials were brought 
 the principal part of the way by water, and that the work was carried 
 on by the general labour of the Indians, under the order of Guatimotzin, 
 as is alwayss the cafe in building the houfes of the great in that country. 
 As to the ccomplaint of Alonzo de Avila forcibly taking the commifiion 
 from Narvaaez, it appeared upon infpection that there was no commif- 
 fion whatewer in thofe papers, the whole of which were receipts for the 
 purchafe of horfes, and other things Similar; but that Cortes never faw 
 them, nor was it done by his order. In regard to the complaints of the 
 pilots againift Cortes, the feet of Umbria were cut off by the hand of 
 juftice, as ;a punifhment for running away with his (hip, and Car- 
 denas had rrefufed to take his Share in the division of the gold, confent- 
 ing that the whole (hould be fent to his Majefty, but that Cortes had 
 given him (out of his own purfe three hundred crowns, which was as 
 much as he: deferved, being a perfon of little consideration, and no fol- 
 dier. In rccgard to the charge relative to Tapia, it was alledged that had 
 he come to Mexico and produced his Majefty's orders, they mould have 
 been received by Cortes, proftrate on the ground, with all refpecl, and 
 humility; ibut his incapacity was fo notorious, that it was the univeriai 
 define, and advice, of the Spaniards then in New Spain, that Cortes 
 iliould remain in the command. Thefe charges and exculpations hav- 
 ing been duily weighed by the court for five days, it was determined to 
 lay the whcole of the proceedings before his Majefty, together with their 
 decifion, w/hich was accordingly done. The Sentence which they gave 
 was entirely in favour of Cortes : the merit and valour of him and the old 
 conquerors of Mexico were highly praifed, and filence was impofed on 
 Velafquez ;as to his complaints, he being told that if he looked for a re- 
 muneration! of his expences he muft feek it from Cortes by courfe of 
 law. Corttes was alfo declared governor general of New Spain, accord- 
 ing to the (orders of his holinefs the Pope. The court alfo approved of 
 the arrangements made by him in that country, and authorized him to 
 make the dlivifions of the diftricts in fuch a manner as he thought fit. 
 
 Narvaez 
 
( 377 ) 
 
 Narvaez was referred for redrefs to France, where Avila who had feiz- 
 ed his papers was at prefent prifoner j the pilots Umbria arxi Cardenas 
 obtained royal cedules, granting to them property in New Spain to the 
 amount of one thou land crowns in rent; and it was ordained, that Cor- 
 tes's veterans mould all have immediate and ample gratifications, in 
 lands and Indians, and mould enjoy pre-eminence and precedency, fuch 
 as their valour deferved. The fentence thus given was taken to Valla- 
 dolid to be confirmed by his Majefty,, who was then on his way to 
 Flanders, and who did confirm and ratify it accordingly. His Majefty 
 alfo gave orders relative to the banifhment of lap fed converts in that 
 country, and forbid the admifTion of fcholars for a term of years. His 
 Majefty and the King of Hungary were alfo pleafed to write to Cortes 
 and to us, thanking us for the fervices we had rendered. The affair 
 being thus decided in our favour, the documents were intruded to Ro- 
 dorigo de Paz, coulin to Cortes, and to another relation of his, named 
 Fiancifco de las Cafas, who arrived at St. Jago in Cuba, the refidence 
 of Velafquez the governor, where the fentence being made known to 
 him, and proclaimed by found of trumpet, he fell ill from vexation, 
 and fhortly after died very poor and miferable. Montejo was given by 
 his Majefty the government of Yucatan and Cozumel, with the lord- 
 fhip and title of Don. To Diego de Ordaz he confirmed his poftefiions 
 in New Spain , and ennobled him giving him for a coat of arms the 
 Volcano of Guaxocingo, and with thefe honours and emoluments they 
 returned to Mexico, from whence in two or three years De Ordas went 
 back to Caftille, to obtain from his Majefty permiilion to conquer the 
 province of Maranion, in which undertaking he loft his life and all his 
 property. The Bifhop of Burgos was reduced to defpair when he learn- 
 ed the manner in which the affair had gone, and that all his tranfactions 
 with Velafquez had come to light. 
 
 When Las Cafas and Rodrigo de Paz brought the intelligence to 
 Mexico, that Cortes was appointed governor of that country, there was 
 univerfal rejoicing. The meffengers were liberally rewarded, Las Cafas 
 being made captain and prefented with a good diftrict called Anquitlan, 
 
 Ccc and 
 

 
 
 
 ( 378 ) 
 
 and De Paz obtained other valuable pofTeiTions, and was appointed by 
 Cortes his major domo and fecretary. To all thofe who came from his 
 country of Medellin, Cortes gave Indians, and to the captain of the 
 velTel a liberal reward in gold. 
 
 Some readers may be curious to learn how thefe matters came to 
 my knowledge; to which I reply, that the conquerors received infor- 
 mation of the proceedings of our agents or procuradors, in four or five 
 letters written by them from Caftille; but I ufed then to fay often, that 
 it appeared to me that they procured only for Cortes and themfelves, and 
 during all that time, we who had made Cortes what he was, remained 
 encountering one danger and hardfhip after another. May God grant 
 us his protection, and infril into the mind of our great Caefar the de- 
 termination to caufe his true and juft intentions to be carried into effect* 
 
( 379 ) 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Tranfaclions and occurrences in Old and New Spain. 
 Expedition again/l the Zapotecans. 
 
 AT appeared to us, the moft ancient, wife, and experienced conque- 
 rors of Mexico, that Cortes ought now to confider duly who were his 
 friends, and flood by him through the whole of his difficulties and 
 dangers, from the firft, and to fettle his accounts with Pedro, with 
 Sancho, and with Martin, according to their deferts ; which was to be 
 done by recalling to him thofe who were low, and poor, and unfortu- 
 nate, and by placing them in good fituations, according to their deferts, 
 and his Majefty 's orders. All this Cortes was bound in duty to do, as 
 alfo to procure for us and our children all the good offices, and emolu- 
 ments, that were to be had in this country of New Spain. But, " that 
 " which does not grow from the (kin, hangs loofely to it;" and fo it 
 appeared, for inftead of doing this he procured fuch for no one but 
 himfelf, as in the firft place the government, and afterwards when he 
 went to Caftille, and got his title. But to advert to other matters. In 
 regard to the divifion of the country, it was decided by many of the 
 moft experienced, brave, and fage conquerors thereof, that the proper 
 method would be, to divide it into five parts, one whereof (hould go to 
 his Majefty, another to be for the eftabliftiment and revenues of our ho- 
 ly church, and the other three to be given to Cortes, and the reft of us, 
 the true original conquerors of the country ; that each (hould have a 
 fhare in perpetuity, and in proportion to his rank and deferts, and that 
 we, for our parts, who had ferved his Majefty here, without putting 
 him to the leaft coft, and as one may fay without his knowledge, he be- 
 ing in Flanders, would be well fatisfied therewith, and contented, and 
 
 Ccc 2 at 
 

 ( 38o ) 
 
 at our eafe, not wandering about the world as is at prefent the cafe, and 
 falling from bad to worfe .; for many of us at this moment are without 
 a morfel of bread to eat, and God knows what will become of our 
 children. 
 
 I will now relate what Cortes did, and which I call a very unfair 
 diftribution. To the Veedor Chirinos, the Factor Salazar, J. de Ri- 
 bera and all thofe who came from Medellin, and to the dependents of 
 great men who flattered and told him pleating things, he refufed no- 
 thing. Not that I blame him for being generous, for there was enough 
 for all ; but I fay that he ought to have firft confidered thofe who ferved 
 his Majefty, and whofe valour and blood made him what he was. 
 But enough of this, and now to other matters, for it is ufelefs detailing 
 our misfortunes, and how he treated us like varTals, and how we were 
 obliged to take to our old trade of expeditions and battles; for though 
 he forgot us in his diftribution of property, he never failed to call on 
 us when he wanted our aiTiltance. However before I take leave of the 
 fubject let me mention, that when Luis Ponce de Leon came to fuper- 
 cede Cortes, we went to the general, to requeft. that he would give us 
 fome part of that property which his Majefty had at that time ordered 
 that he mould refign. He then told us, and fwore it, that if he return- 
 ed to his government he would provide for us all, and not do as he had 
 done, for which he was very forry. As if we were to be fatisfied with 
 promifes and fmooth words. 
 
 There had lately arrived certain officers of his Majefty from Old 
 Caftille, amongft. whom were Alonzo de Eftrada the treafurer, Gonzalo 
 de. Salazar the factor, Rodrigo Albornos the contador, (Juan de Alde- 
 rete being dead,) Pedro Almindes Chirinos the Veedor, and many 
 others. 
 
 One Rodrigo Rangel whom I have already mentioned, now came 
 to Cortes, telling him that he had hitherto acquired no fame in the 
 wars, and wifhed to have a command given him. wherewith to go and 
 
 conquer 
 
( 38i ) 
 
 conquer the Zapotecans who were in rebellion, and to take with hiin 
 Pedro de Ircb as his private counfellor and director. Cortes knew very 
 well this man was not fit for any fervice, being a poor difeafed mifera- 
 ble object, from the effects of his fins; he therefore put him off, telling 
 him that nat.on was not eafily to be conquered on account of the high 
 rugged mountains which they inhabit, and which are always covered 
 with miffs and clouds ; as alfo that cavalry could not be brought againft 
 them, on account of the bad and narrow roads which it was neceffary 
 to climb like ladders, each foldier's head at the heels of his file leader. 
 However at iaft Cortes agreed to the propofal of this man who was a 
 fellow of a very flanderous tongue, and one whom he would have been 
 glad to have got rid of in this way where he was likely to lofe his life. 
 The general in confequence wrote to ten or twelve of us who were in 
 Guacacualco, defiring that we fhould go with him, and I was one of 
 the number thus felected. Thefe Indians are a light and very active 
 people, and when in the field have a way of whiffling and fhouting, 
 which makes the hills and woods refound again. Having this man 
 with us it was impoilible to effect any thing, and as we advanced under 
 a very heavy rain, we came to a village of fcattered houfes, fome being 
 upon a ridge, and others in the valley. Poor Range! whined and com- 
 plained all the way of the pain of his limbs, to our great annoyance, 
 knowing it was entirely ufeiefs trouble and danger, and that the Indians 
 who were fo nimble would deftroy us climbing the rocks in one file, 
 if they made a ffand any where. It was at laft agreed, as Rangel grew 
 worfe and worfe, to abandon the black expedition as we ufed to call it, 
 and return to our homes. His counfellor alfo as he called him, Pedro 
 de Ircio, was the firff to advife him to it, and fetting the example by 
 following his own advice, went home to his town of Villa Rica. Ran- 
 ge! however preferred accompanying us to Guacacualco, which was 
 more grief to us than going with him in his expedition. He had hopes 
 that the hot climate of that country, as he faid, would relieve him of 
 his pains. 
 
 No fooner had we arrived at this place then he took in his head to 
 

 ( 38* ) 
 
 go upon an expedition againfr. the Indians of Cimaton and Tatupatan, 
 who were rebellious, for they thought themfelves fecure amongft their 
 great rivers and trembling marfhes. They were alfo formidable warri- 
 ors, tiling very large and ftrong bows. Rangel however produced his 
 commiffion from Cortes, and we dare not but to obey and march with 
 him, to the number of one hundred horfe and foot. We accordingly 
 {ct out, and arrived at a pafs between the marfhes and lakes, where the 
 whole force of the Indians was drawn up to receive us, having made 
 circular barricades of very grofs timber, with fpike holes to (hoot through, 
 and pallifadoes. Here they gave us a hearty welcome with a flight of 
 arrows and darts, killing feven horfes and wounding Rangel and eight 
 foldiers. We had often told him what flout warriors thefe Indians were, 
 and as he was a prating fellow he now exclaimed, by heaven, if he had 
 believed us, he would not have been in that jeopardy now, and that in 
 future we the old conquerors of the country fhould be his captains and 
 not he ours. As foon as our wounded men and horfes were drefled, he 
 begged I would go forward to reconoitre. I took with me a very fierce 
 greyhound which belonged to him, and fele&ing two other foldiers for 
 my comrades, defired the infantry to follow us clofe, and for Rangel 
 and the cavalry, that they fhould keep a good diftance in the rear. Pur- 
 fuing our route towards Cimaton, we fell in with another pofl fortified 
 like the preceding one, and defended as flrongly, from whence we re- 
 ceived a volley, which killed the dog, and wounded me and each of 
 my comrades. I received an arrow in my leg, and feven more remain- 
 ed in my cotton armour. I called immediately to fome of our Indian 
 allies who were a little in rear of us, to go and bring up all the infantry, 
 but to order the cavalry not to advance, as all their horfes would furely 
 be killed. When the infantry came up we attacked the barricades, and 
 forced the Indians from them, driving them to their marfhes where it 
 was impoffible to follow them a ftep, without danger of finking and 
 being fmothered. We then advanced, and halted at a village. On the 
 next day we proceeded, and were encountered by a large body of Indians f 
 pofted in a marfh. This was an inftance of the addrefs of the natives, 
 in chufing to meet us in the plain, hoping that they could draw our 
 
 cavalry 
 
( &3 ) 
 
 cavalry to charge them, in expectation that galloping full fpeed they 
 fhould run into the marfh, and fo it happened; for in fpite of all we 
 could fay to Rangel of their art and ftratagem, and how neceflary it was 
 to be wary, he ran his cavalry full at them, and tumbled in himfelf the 
 flrft, head foremoft into the marfh, where the Indians began to clofe 
 upon him, in order to feize him alive for facriflce. 
 
 By great ^exertions, we got him, badly wounded, out of their 
 hands, half drowned, and his poor fore head expofed and broken. As 
 this country is very populous, we found a village hard by, whither we 
 went to take repofe and drefs the wounded. It was abandoned on our 
 approach, but we had hardly been there a quarter of an hour when we 
 were attacked with fuch violence, that in the flrft onfet they killed one 
 of our foldiers and two horfes, and we had much to do to drive them 
 off. All this time Rangel was complaining of his wounds and bruifes, 
 and the mufquitos got about him in clouds. The vermin alfo with 
 which that country is infefted, bit him to fuch a degree that his life 
 was infupportable, for he could get no reft day or night, and the rain 
 fell inceflanrly. He, and fome of Garay's foldiers whom he had brought 
 with him, feeing that nothing had been got but three very hard fought 
 battles, and that eleven horfes and two foldiers had been killed and ma- 
 ny more woundedl, began to grow very fick of the bufinefs, and to 
 wifh to be quickly at home. But Rangel did not wifh to have it ap- 
 * pear that this retreat was a choice of his, arid therefore fummoned a 
 council of fuch as he knew were of his own opinion. 
 
 About twenty of us had at this time gone to fee if we could make 
 any prifoners among fome gardens and plantations hard by; we took 
 five, and on my return Rangel called me afide and told me that the 
 council had determined to retreat, defiring me to bring over the reft to 
 it. Having known the man before, I had a kindnefs for him. How 
 fir, faid I to him can you now think of returning ? What will Cortes 
 and the world fay of you, when they hear of your retreat without ef- 
 fecting any thing in thefe two expeditions ? You furely cannot think of 
 
 returning 
 

 
 
 ( 
 
 ) 
 
 returning till you have reached the head town of thefe Indians ! I will 
 go forward on foot and reconoitre with the infantry, give my horfe to 
 another foldicr, and do you follow in the rear with the cavalry. By 
 heavens cries out Rangel, for he was a very loud talker, Bernal Diaz 
 gives good advice; the lot is cafl and we will march on. This was ac- 
 cordingly done, contrary to the inclination of feveral, and we advanced 
 in good order to Cimaton, the principal town, where we were faluted 
 as ufual with a flight of arrows, and then, on entry, found it abandon- 
 ed. We burned it in part, and took feveral Indians whom we difmif- 
 fed, defiring them to iiwite their neighbours to peace and amity; but' 
 thofe we fent never returned to us. This enraged Rangel againft me, 
 and he fwore I mould procure him Indians in the place of thofe who 
 had been liberated. To pacify him I was fain to go with thirty foldiers, 
 and we picked up fome among the marines, whom I brought to him and 
 he difmilTed, in hopes of inducing the reft to come in, but without ef- 
 fect. Thus ended the famous expedition againfl the Zapotecans, and 
 fuch was all the fame Rangel acquired in the wars. In two years after- 
 wards we effected the conqueh: of thefe countries, the natives whereof 
 were converted to our holy faith, through the grace of God, and the 
 exertions of the reverend father Bartholomc de Olmedo, who poor man 
 was at that time grown weak and infirm. Pity it was, for he was an 
 excellent minifler of the gofpel. 
 
 
 Cortes had now collected eighty thoufand crowns in gold, and V 
 a golden culverin, which he named the Phoenix, and had caufed to 
 be made as a prefent for the Emperor, was finifhed. It was a fuperb 
 piece of workmanmip. The following motto was engraved on it. 
 
 " Efta Ave nacio fin par; Yo en fervir os fin fegundo; 
 " Y vos fin igual en el Mundo. 
 
 The 
 
( 38j ) 
 
 The immortal Phoenix peerlefs fweeps the air; 
 To Charles is given boundlefs rule to bear; 
 Zealous to conquer, at my King's command, 
 I in my fervices unrivalled ftand. 
 
 This prefent was fent to Europe under the care of Diego de Soto, 
 I am not certain if J. de Ribera, formerly fecretary to Cortes, went 
 with it. I always thought him a bad kind of man, from what I ob- 
 ferved in him at play, either with cards or dice : befides this he had 
 many ill qualities. 
 
 He however was fent to Caftille, and took a fum of money with 
 him for the general's father; which money he appropriated to his own 
 ufe, and then, unmindful of the obligations he had received, faid much 
 ill of Cortes; and being very flippant and fluent of fpeech, and having 
 been his fecretary, he obtained credit for what he faid, and combining 
 with the Bifhop of Burgos and others, did him much harm; and 
 would have done more had it not been for the interference of the Duke 
 of Bejar, who protected Cortes on account of a treaty of marriage which 
 was then on foot, between our general and a niece of that Duke, na- 
 med Donna Juana de Zuniga. This, combined with the feafonable ar- 
 rival of the prcfenft, gave a favourable turn to the affairs of Cortes. 
 
 In regard to the golden Phoenix, I mull: obferve, that the motto 
 gave great offence to many, as they thought it prefumption in Cortes. 
 to fry he had no equal in his fervices. But his friends juftly defended 
 him ; for who had extended fo far the fame and power of his Majefty, 
 or brought fo many thoufands of fouls to the dominion of our holy 
 church? They alfo did not forget us his alTociates, but declared that we 
 alfo were intitled to honours and emoluments, having earned them, as 
 the Caftillian nobility did thofe enjoyed by their defcendants. 
 
 Ddd As 
 

 
 ( 386 ) 
 
 As to the culverin, it went no farther than the city of Seville; his 
 Majefty was pleafed to make a prefent of it to Don Francifco de los 
 Cobos, commendador major of Leon, who melted it down. Its value 
 amounted to twenty thoufand ducats. 
 
 A fuit was commenced by Martin Cortes againfl Ribera, on ac- 
 count of the money of which the latter had defrauded him. While it 
 was yet pending, and as Ribera was on a journey, he flopped to dine 
 at the town of Cadahalfa, where, eating fome broiled meat, he fell 
 down dead fuddenly, and without confeffion. God pardon his fins ! 
 Amen. 
 
 Cortes continued to rebuild and embellifh the city of Mexico. It 
 ivas now as well peopled by the natives as it had ever been before. Kc 
 gave them privileges, exempting them from all tribute to his Majefty 
 until their houfes were completed, as alfo the caufeways, bridges, pub- 
 lic edifices, and aqueducts. In the Spanifh quarter churches and hof- 
 pitals were erected, under the care of the good father Bartholome de 
 Olmedo, as vicar and fuperior. This reverend father had alfo efta- 
 blifhed an hofpital for the natives, to whom he paid the utmoft 
 attention. 
 
 In compliance with our petition to his Majefty, as formerly rela- 
 ted, Don Francifco de los Angeles, general of the Francifcans, fent 
 twelve of his order under the vicarage of father Martin de Valencia. 
 Amongft. them came* father Toribio de Motolinea; this firname, the 
 meaning of which is, the poor brother, was given him by the Mexicans, 
 becaufe all that he got in charity he diflributed in the fame manner, and 
 was frequently without a morfel to eat. He alfo always went barefoot- 
 ed, and wore a tattered habit, and conftantly preaching to the natives, 
 was very popular among them. As foon as Cortes was informed of 
 their arrival at Villa Rica, he gave directions for the road to Mexico to 
 be put in good order, houfes to be built at proper ftations for them to 
 jefrefh in, and the inhabitants of all the towns to go out to receive them 
 
 *ith 
 
( 387 ) 
 
 with reverence, ringing the bells, bearing crucifixes and lighted wax 
 candles, and the Spaniards to kneel down and kifs their hands. When 
 they approached Mexico, he went out to meet them and as foon as they 
 appeared, Cortes threw himfclf from his horfe to kifs the hands of the 
 reverend vicar. When the natives faw the general on his knees to thofe 
 reverend fathers, with bare feet and in tattered habits, they were afto- 
 nifhed, and confidering them as gods, they all followed his example, 
 and have continued to do fo ever fince. 
 
 Cortes at this time thought it neceiTary to inform his Majefty of 
 his proceedings in the converfion of the natives, the rebuilding of the 
 city, and the expedition which he had fent againft the province of Hon- 
 duras under the command of De Oli, who had deferted, and embraced 
 the party of Velafquez, on which account he had determined to fend a 
 force againft him. He alfo complained of the proceedings of Velafquez, 
 and of the injury his Majefty 's fervice had fuftained thereby, as alfo by 
 the partiality of the Bifliop of Burgos. He remitted at the fame time 
 thirty thoufand crowns in gold to his Majefty's treafury, and lamented 
 the unfortunate eflecls of thofe abufes, as having prevented him from 
 making an ampler contribution of gold. He at the fame time com- 
 plained of one Rodrigo de Albornos, contador in Mexico, who afper- 
 fed him from private motives, becaufe he had refufed to give him in 
 marriage the daughter of the Indian lord of Tefcuco, adding that he 
 underftood that thiis Albornos was attached to the intereft of the Bifhop 
 of Burgos, and wais accuftomed to write to him in cyphers. 
 
 At this time the news of the bifliop 's removal had not reached 
 Mexico. Albornos, before mentioned, fent by the fame velTel his accu- 
 fations againft Cortes, charging him with levying excefTive contribu- 
 tions of gold for his own ufe. That he was fortifying caftles, and mar- 
 rying the daughters of great lords to his private foldiers, infinuating 
 that Cortes was endeavouring to fet himfeif up as an independent king 2 , 
 and ftrongly reprefenting the neceflity of fending an officer with a great 
 iorce, tofupercede him. Thefe letters came to the hands of the Bifhdp 
 
 Ddd 2 of 
 
MSi^^B 
 
 
 
 l 383 ,) 
 
 of Burgos, who laid them before the whole junto of the enemies of Cor- 
 tes, and this new matter was immediately brought before his Majefty. 
 They complained of the partiality which they alledged was (hewn to- 
 wards him on former occafions, and his Majefty, deceived, by thefe 
 mifreprefentations, which were enforced by the bold and lofry tone of 
 Narvaez, now iftued an order for the admiral of St. Domingo to go with 
 fix hundred foldiers to arreft Cortes, and make him anfwer if he found 
 him culpable, with his head. Alfo to punifh all thofe of us who had 
 been concerned in the attack upon Narvaez. As an encouragement, 
 this officer was promifed the admiralty of New Spain, the right of which 
 was now under litigation in the courts. 
 
 The admiral, either from want of money, or being apprehenfive 
 of ferious confequences from committing himfelf againft fo able and fo 
 fuccefsful a leader as Cortes, delayed fetting out upon his expedition fo 
 long, that it gave time to the friends and agents of Cortes to make a 
 full explanation of the circumftances, and alfo of the conduct of Albor- 
 nos, to the Duke of Bejar, who immediately went to wait upon the 
 Emperor , to reprefent the true ftate of the cafe, and to offer his life as 
 a fecurity for the loyalty and good conduct of Coites. 
 
 His Majefty being upon due consideration convinced of the juftice 
 ofourcaufe, determined to fend a perfon of high quality and found 
 judgment, and one who feared the Lord, to hold a fupreme court of 
 juftice in New Spain. Such a perfon he found in the licentiate Luis 
 Ponce de Leon, coufin to the count Don Martin de Cordova. To him 
 his Majefty intrufted the bufinefs of enquiry into the conduct of Cortes, 
 with full power to inflict the greattft punifhment, in cafe he fhould 
 find him guilty. It was however two years and an half before this 
 gentleman arrived in New Spain. 
 
 I have now gone beyond the date of my narrative two years in ad- 
 vance, to inform the reader of this circumftance; and I may now alfo 
 mention, that during the viceroyalty of Don Anthonio de Mendoza, 
 
 that 
 
( 389 ) 
 
 that moft illuftrious nobleman, worthy of eternal memory and heavenly 
 glory, for his wife and jufl government, this fame Albornos wrote 
 Sanderous and malignant letters of him, as he had done before of Cor- 
 tes. The letters which related to Don Anthonio were all returned from 
 Caftille, into the hands of that nobleman, and when he. had read them, 
 with all the perfonal abufe of himfelf that they contained, he fent for 
 Albornos, and mewing them to him, laid in his mild and flow man- 
 ner of fpeaking, "whenever you choofe to make me the fubjeel: of 
 •• your letters to his Majefty, mind that in future you tell the truth; 
 " and now go about your buflnefs, for a knave as you are." Thus he 
 left the contador, overwhelmed with confufion. 
 

 
 ( 390 ) 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Expedition of Cortes to Higuer&s, 
 
 D 
 
 *E OLI I have already mentioned as having revolted. When Cor- 
 tes received intelligence of this, it made him very penfive; but as he 
 was one not to be trifled with in fuch cafes, he determined to fend a 
 gentleman who was his relation, by name Francifco de las Cafas, 
 with five Chips, and one hundred well provided foldiers, having with 
 them fome of the original veteran conquerors of Mexico. 
 
 Las Cafas fet out from the port of Vera Cruz, with his good mips, 
 and his pennants flying, and with fair winds arrived at the bay named 
 El Triumpho de la Cruz, where De Oii had eftablifhed his poft. Al- 
 though Las Cafas hoifted the fignal of peace, De Oli determined upon 
 making reiiftance, and embarking a number of foldiers in two armed 
 vefTels, he fent them to oppofe Las Cafas, who being a brave man was 
 determined to land at all events ; he therefore ordered out his boats and 
 arming them with fwivels and mufquetry, attacked the other party, and 
 funk one of their vefTels, killing four foldiers and wounding many. 
 When De Oli faw this he thought it advifable to propofe terms of peace, 
 for a confiderable part of his foldiers were detached up the country, in 
 fcarch of another body of troops which was making conquefls there, 
 about the river Pechin. This laft mentioned party was commanded by 
 a Captain Gil Gonzalez de Avila. 
 
 De Oli as I have already related being in expectation of the return 
 of his detachment, withed for a truce with Las Cafas, which the latter 
 tor his misfortune agreed to, and remained at lea, partly in the inten» 
 
 tion 
 
( 39* ) 
 
 tion of looking out for fome other place of dlfembarkation, and partly- 
 induced by letters from, the friends of Cortes who were in the troops 
 commanded by De Oli. On that night a hard gale fprung up, by 
 which our veffels were driven on fhore and entirely loft, with above 
 thirty of the foldiers. The- reft were mi de prifoners, after being two 
 days without food, and almoft dying with cold, being thoroughly foak- 
 ed in the fait water and with rain which at that feafon fell very heavily. 
 De Oli was very triumphant on this occafion. He made his prifoners 
 fwear fidelity to him agiinft Cortes, releafing them all except Las Cafas. 
 The parties he had fent out againft Gonzalez de Avila returned about 
 this time. It feems that Avila came there as governor of Golfo Dolce, 
 and had founded a town which he named St. Gil de Buena Vifta. De 
 Oli on hearing of it fent his troops againft him, who in their firft attack 
 had taken Avila prifoner, killed his nephew, and alfo eight of his fol- 
 diers. De Oli was now in great ftate with two captains as his prifo- 
 ners, and that all might know his valour which certainly was very great 
 fo far as his own perfon was concerned, he wrote a full account of his 
 exploits to his friend Velafquez. He afterwards marched up the coun- 
 try to a place called Naco, in a very populous diftricl:, the whole of 
 which is now deftroyed. While De Oli remained here, he fent out 
 troops on different excursions ; among others he fent a party under one 
 Captain Briones who was the firft to inftigate him to revolt. He was 
 a feditious fellow, and the lower parts of his ears had been cut off, as 
 he ufed to tell us, for refuting, together with other officers, to furren- 
 der themfelves in a certain fortrefs. This man was afterwards hanged 
 in Guatimala for mutiny. To return to my narrative, intelligence came 
 to De Oli, that Briones with his whole body had revolted from him* 
 and gone to New Spain, which turned out to be the cafe. 
 
 Las Cafas and De Avila being at large, though prifoners, for De 
 Oli was too brave to be under any apprehenfions from them, concerted 
 a plan with fome foldiers to put him to death, the fignal for which was 
 to be the words, "To me, friends of the King and Cortes, kill the ty- 
 44 rant!" Las Cafas half injeftas it were, and laughing, then afked 
 
 him 
 

 
 ( 39* ) 
 
 him for liberty to return to Cortes; to which De OH replied, that he 
 was too happy to have fo brave a man for his companion, and did not 
 choofe to part with him. "Then," faid Las Cafas in the fame man- 
 ner, " take care that one of thefe days I do not kill you." All this the 
 other confidered as a joke; but the meafures were taken, and one night 
 after Tapper, when the cloths were taken away, and the fervants and 
 pages had fat down in their apartment, as Juan Nunez de Mercado and 
 other foldiers of the party of Cortes, Las Cafas, and Avila, were con- 
 verting with De Oli upon the affairs of Mexico, and the fortune of 
 Cortes, he being entirely unfufpicious of their defigns, the confpirators 
 fuddenly drew out penknives and fell upon him. Las Cafas feizing 
 him by the beard made a cut at his throat, and the otlhers gave him fe- 
 veral wounds ; but fuch was his flrength and activity of body, that he 
 efcaped out of their hands for the prefent, calling aloud to his people 
 for affiftance, but they were all too bufily employed at their fuppers to 
 hear him. He then fled, and concealed himfelf among fome bufhes, 
 in hopes of afliflance. Many were in the act of coming to him for the 
 purpofe, but were deterred by the cries of Las Cafas not to affift the ty- 
 rant, but to rally on the fide of their King, and his general Cortes. 
 They firft hefitated. and then obeyed; and Las Cafas immediately gave 
 notice, that whoever knew where De Oli was, and did not immediately 
 reveal it, fhould fuffer death. Information was foon given, in confe- 
 quence of which he was made prifoner, and, by fentence of the two 
 captains, beheaded in the town of Naco, thus paying with his life for 
 having followed evil counfels ; being a very brave man, but of no fore- 
 sight. Cortes had conferred many favours on him; he held a commif- 
 fion of Maeftre de Campo, had valuable eftates, and was married to 
 Donna Philippa de Aranja, a handfome Portugueze lady, by whom he 
 had one daughter. 
 
 Las Cafas and Avila being now free and their enemy dead, joined 
 their troops together, and acted in concert. Las Cafas colonized Trux- 
 illo in Eitremadura; Avila fent a meffage to his lieutenant in Buena 
 Vifla, ordering him to remain as he was. and that he mould ftiortly 
 
 receive 
 
( m ) 
 
 receive reinforcement, which he was going to requeft from Gortes at 
 Mexico. The two captains having fet out for that city, I wiill now 
 take my .leave of them for. the preient. 
 
 Cortes, in fome months after the departure or Las Caias, began 
 to grow apprehenfive of a difafter; not that he entertained the leafl doubt 
 of the valour or conduct of that officer, but he repented, under the cir- 
 cumftances of the cafe, that he had not taken the command himfelf. 
 He was alfo anxious to examine the fkte of that province, more efpe- 
 cially its mines, and for thefe reafons now determined to fet out upon 
 his journey thither. He appointed a good garrifon to take charge of 
 the city of Mexico during his abfence, and provided the different pofts 
 with artillery, leaving as his deputies in the government, the treafurer 
 Alonzo de Eftrada, and the contador Albornoz. Cortes did not know 
 the fecret fervices the latter had been rendering him at court, or he pro- 
 bably would not have left him in power, although on the other hand 
 it is poiTible, that he could not have avoided it. He appointed the li- 
 centiate Zuazo alguazil major of the city, and as alguazil major and 
 agent in his private concerns, Rodrigo de Paz. To thefe he ftrongly 
 infilled on the ftricteft attention, both to the intereft of his Majefty, and 
 the converfion of the natives. This he alfo recommended to the worthy 
 fathers Motolinea and Olmedo, both holy men. 
 
 In order to deprive the Mexicans of chiefs, in cafe they mould at- 
 tempt to rife, he took with him Guatimotzin the late king, the chief 
 of Tacuba, Velafquez an Indian and captain under Guatimotzin, and 
 feveral others. There came alfo with us Fra Juan de las Varillas, ano- 
 ther clergyman, two reverend fathers, Flemings, and good theologians, 
 to preach the faith, and the captains De Sandoval and Luis Marin, with 
 many other cavaliers. The fuite, or officers who attended the perfon 
 of Cortes were as follows ;. a fteward and paymafter, a keeper of the plate, 
 a major domo, two ftewards of the houfehold, a butler, a confectioner, 
 a chamberlain, a phyfician, a furgeon, a number of pages of his houfe- 
 hold, amongft' whom was D. Francifco de Montejo afterwards captain 
 
 Eee in 
 

 ( 394 ) 
 
 in Yucatan, two armour bearers, eight grooms, two falconers, five 
 muficians, a ftage dancer, a jugler and puppet player, a mafter of the 
 horfe, three Spanifh muleteers. The general brought a great fervice of 
 gold and filver plate, and a large drove of fwine for his table followed 
 feeding by the way. Three thoufand Mexican warriors attended their 
 chiefs, beiides a numerous train of domeflics. 
 
 When the party was on the point of fetting out, the factor Salazar, 
 and tthe veedor Chirinos, either feeing or affecting to fee much danger 
 likely to refult from Cortes quiting the feat of government, and finding 
 alfo tthat they had not been left in any ftation during his abfence, rerrion- 
 ftrated with him, but finding it to be to no purpofe, they then requefled 
 perrraiffion to accompany him as far as Guacacualco. To this he gave 
 his confent, and they accordingly fet out. Cortes was received in all 
 the places upon his way with fuch pomp and rejoicing as is not in my 
 power to defcribe. Above fifty foldiers and ftraggling travellers newly 
 arrived from Caftille joined him upon the road, and the general divided 
 his trocps in two parties, until their arrival at Guacacualco, for the 
 greatter convenience of obtaining provifions. 
 
 During the journey, the veedor and factor kept themfelves clofe 
 to Cortes, efpecially the latter, playing a hundred tricks of fervility and 
 obfetquioufnefs, and every word he fpoke, he was cap in hand, and 
 with h;s fluent fpeech, and fmooth words, as it were trying to get him 
 back to Mexico, and exprefTmg his folicitude for his fafety. Some- 
 times when he was riding by the fide of the general he would fing, 
 *•' Ay tio bolvamonos, ay tiobolvamonos." Then Cortes would laugh 
 at him and reply finging, 
 
 " Adelante mi fobrino, adelante mi fobrino, 
 
 " Y no creais in agueros, que fera lo que dios quifiere. 
 
 " Adelante mi fobrino. 
 
 Oh 
 
( m ) 
 
 " Oh good uncle let us return. 
 
 " Forward, dear nephew forward, 
 
 " Truft in God and never heed auguries, 
 
 Quitting the fubject of our factor and his delicate fpeeches, I have 
 now to mention how a marriage took place on the arrival of the party 
 at the town of Ojeda, which is near that of Orizava, between our lin- 
 guift Donna Marina, and Juan Xaramillo. The next place they came 
 to was Guazpaltepeque, in the diftrict of Sandoval. As foon as intel- 
 ligence reached Guacacualco of the advance of Cortes to Guazpaltepeque, 
 all the Spaniards of that fettlement came thirty three leagues to receive 
 him. This I mention that the reader may fee what fear and refpect he 
 was held in by us. Proceeding beyond the place laft mentioned, incrof- 
 ing a large river, fortune began to frown upon us, for three of our ca- 
 noes overfet, whereby fome plate and other valuables were loft, for 
 that river is fo full of alligators that there was no recovering any thing. 
 Palling Illuta, when we came to the river by Guacacualco we found 
 three hundred canoes faftened two and two to carry us over; here we 
 were received under triumphal arches, and with various feftivities repre- 
 fenting fkirmifhes of Chriftians and Moors, together with fireworks 
 and other mows of that kind. 
 
 Here Cortes remained fix days, during which time the factor was 
 continually founding in his ears the burthen of his old fong. He alfo 
 told him of fecret practices of the contador and the treafurer, who boaft- 
 ed that he was the fon of his catholic Majefty, and in fhort a number 
 of ftories, the drift of all which was, to induce Cortes to fupercede the 
 prefent deputies, and put him, and the veedor, in their places. In this 
 he too well fucceeded ; for by his arts he obtained from the general a 
 deputation for himfelf and his aflbciate the veedor, to hold the govern- 
 ment of Mexico, in cafe they mould judge that the prefent deputies 
 
 Eee 2 foifcd 
 

 ( 396 ) 
 
 failed in their duty. Thefe intrigues caufed much trouble afterwards 
 in Mexico as I will relate at the. proper time. The reverend father bla- 
 med Cortes for what he had done, and forefaw the confequences that 
 followed. The veedor and factor now took their leaves, with fuch ten- 
 demefs and affection, the latter pretending to fob and cry with forrow 
 at parting, that it was ridiculous to fee it. The fellow had by the tricks 
 of his friend Valiente the fecretary, got at that time in his pocket the 
 documents he wanted for the furtherance of his views in Mexico, of 
 which as I before obferved I will fay no more for the prefent, but con- 
 tinue the narrative of our painful journey, for I left this place with the 
 general, and attended him throughout. 
 
 Cortes now fent orders to one of his major domos, Simon de Cu- 
 enca, at Villa Rica, to freight two light veffels with bifcuit of maiz, 
 (for at that time there was no wheat in New Spain,) fix pipes of wine, 
 oil, vinegar, pork, iron, and other necelTary articles, and to proceed 
 with them along the coalt, northward, until he mould receive further 
 directions. The general then ordered all the fettlers of Guacacualco 
 who were fit for fervice to join his expedition. I have already mention- 
 ed how this colony was formed out of the molt refpectable hidalgos, 
 and ancient conquerors of the country; and now that we had reafon to 
 expect to be left in quiet pofTeflion of our hard earned properties, our 
 houfes and farms, we were obliged to undertake an hoftile expedition 
 to the diflance of five hundred leagues, and which took up the time of 
 above two years and a half. But we dared not fay no, neither would 
 it avail us. We therefore armed ourfelves, and mounting our horfes, 
 joined the expedition, making in the whole above two hundred and 
 fifty veterans, of whom one hundred and thirty were cavalry, befides 
 many Spaniards newly arrived from Europe. 
 
 1 was immediately ordered to march at the head of thirty Spaniards 
 and three thoufand Mexicans, to a diftrict named Cimatan, which was 
 in rebellion, with directions to quarter my troops on the natives, and 
 if I found them fubmuTive, to do no farther injury, but if refractory, 
 
 they 
 
( 397 ) 
 
 they were to be fummoned intelligibly, three times, in prefence of a 
 royal notary and proper witnefles, and in cafe they perfifted, I was to, 
 make war on, and compel them to fubmit. The orders which I re- 
 ceived from the general I now have in my pofleflion', ftgned and fealed 
 by him, and counteriigned by his fecretary, A. Valiente. I found the 
 people peaceable, but in a few months after, in confequence of the fet- 
 tiers of Guacacualco being withdrawn, they broke out again. Howe- 
 ver they being in the ftate that I have mentioned, I made no delay* but 
 fet out with my detachment to rejoin Cortes at Iquinapa. 
 
 The general, with the reft of his troops, leaving Guacacualco, 
 proceeded to Tonala, crofted a river to Ayaqualulco, crofted another river, 
 and, feven leagues diftant an arm of the fea, upon a bridge of half a 
 quarter of a league in length; a moft aftoniftiing work in fuch a fttua- 
 tion, and conftru&ed by the natives of the country under the infpection 
 of two captains, fettlers of Guacacualco. They then proceeded to a large 
 river named Mazapa, which flows by Chiapa, and is named by mari- 
 ners Rio de dos Bocas ; this they crofted in double canoes, and proceed- 
 ing through fome villages, came to Iquinapa, where my detachment 
 joined them. We then crofted another river on wooden bridges, alfo 
 an arm of the fea, and came to a great town named Copilco, where the 
 province of Chontalpa begins, which was very populous, covered with 
 plantations of cocoa, and perfectly tranquil. 
 
 From Copilco we marched to Nicaxuxuica;, and to Zagutan, pa£ 
 fing another river, in which the general loft fome articles of his bag- 
 gage. The laft mentioned town was found by us in a ftate of peace, 
 but the inhabitants fled during the night. Cortes ordered parties out 
 to fearch the woods and make prifoners, which was a very inconfiderate 
 thing, and productive of bad confequences ;. we found, it is true, after 
 much trouble, feven chiefs and fome others, but they all made their 
 efcape from us again during the night, and we were thus left without 
 guides. At this period arrived at our quarters fifty canoes fromTabafco, 
 
 loaded 
 

 
 ( 39§ ) 
 
 loaded with provifions, alfo fome from a place named Teapan in my 
 encomienda . 
 
 We proceeded on our march to Tepetitan and Iztapa, eroding a 
 great river named Chilapa, at which we were detained four days mak- 
 ing barks. I propofed to Cortes, to fend five of our Indian guides to a 
 town of the fame name, which I underflood to be on the banks of this 
 river, to defire the people to aflift us with their canoes. Cortes affented, 
 and it was done; we procured fix large canoes, and alfo provifions. We 
 were four days in pafTing. 
 
 From this we tfent on to Tepetitan which was depopulated and 
 burnt, in confequence of a civil war. For three days of our march 
 from the river of Chilapa, our horfes were almoft conftantly up to the 
 girths in the marfliy grounds which we had to pafs. We then reached 
 a place named Iztapa, the inhabitants of which had fled. We lent in 
 fearch *>f them, and feveral chiefs and others were brought in, who be- 
 ing treated kindly, made the general a prefent of fome trifling articles in 
 gold. We halted here for three days on account of the plenty of corn 
 and grafs; Cortes alfo approved of it for the fcite of a colony, it being 
 furrounded by many towns which might be attached to it as dependen- 
 cies. From the travelling merchants here, Cortes obtained information 
 as to his future route, producing to them a map painted on cloth, 
 whereon was reprefented the way which he was to take to reach Huy- 
 acala, which means great Acala; it being fo called to diftinguifh it from 
 another place of that name. They told him that the way he was to 
 take was much interfered by rivers, and that in order to reach a place 
 named Tamaztepeque, three days journey diftant, three rivers and an 
 arm of the fea were to be eroded. The general in confequence gave or- 
 ders to the chiefs to conduct bridges at the proper places, and alfo to 
 bring canoes; neither of which was obeyed. 
 
 The three days which the natives allured us the journey would 
 take up, turned out to be no lefs than feven; but they fucceeded in 
 
 getting 
 
( 399 ) 
 
 getting rid of us, and wc fet out, provided only with roafted maiz 
 and roots fufficient for three days. We were obliged to conftrucl: bridg- 
 es of timber, at which all laboured from the general downwards, which 
 detained us three days, during which time we had nothing to eat but 
 a certain wild plant named Quexquexque, which inflames the mouth 
 and tongue. When we had crofted this inlet we found no road what- 
 ever, and we were obliged to open our way through the woods, as it 
 were, fword in hand. After labouring thus for two days in hopes of 
 reaching the place which we were in fearch of, we became totally in 
 defpair. The trees were fo thick that we could not fee the fun, and 
 when we afcended to the top of one we could not difcover to any dis- 
 tance. Of our three guides alfo two had fled, and the third was inca- 
 pable of rendering any fervice. Cortes, whofe refources were inexhauft- 
 ible, guided himfelf by a mariners compafs, and by his Indian map, 
 according to which, the town we were in queft of, lay to the eaft. 
 Cortes himfelf was however forced to acknowledge, that if we were 
 one day more without difcovering it, he did rot know what we 
 fhould do. 
 
 Fortunately we at this time perceived the remains of trees which, 
 had been formerly cut, and alfo a fmall lane or path, and Lopez the 
 pilot and I returned to report our difcovcry to the general. Our news 
 revived the fpirits of the army, and we pufhed forward to a village on 
 the oppofite fide of a river, where, though the inhabitants had aban- 
 doned it, we found fufficiency of provifions for ourfelves and our horfes.. 
 Parties were immediately fent out in queft of the natives, and they foon 
 returned, bringing with them many chiefs and priefts, who. being well 
 treated, procured us a plentiful fupply of provifions, and pointed out 
 our way to Izguantepeque, which was three days journey, or fixteen 
 leagues diftant from this town of Tamaztepeque. During our journey 
 hither we loft our ftage dancer by fatigue, as alfo three of the newly 
 arrived Spaniards, and many of the Mexicans were left to die upon the 
 road It came alfo to be difcovered that fome of their chiefs had feized 
 two or three of the natives of the places through which we palled, and 
 
 concealed 
 
■■HH^HH 
 
 ( 400 ) 
 
 concealed them with the baggage, until through hunger they had killed 
 and eaten them, dreffing the bodies in their manner, which is, by a 
 kind of oven made with heated ftones which are put under ground. 
 On enquiry it was alfo found out that they had done the fame with two 
 of our guides who had fled from us, but were retaken. Cortes feverely 
 reprehended all thofe concerned, and one of the reverend father Fran- 
 cifcans preached a holy and wife fermon on the occafion, after which, 
 by way of example, the general caufed one againft whom it was moft 
 clearly proved to be burnt ; for though all were equally guilty, yet in 
 the prefent circumftances one example was judged fufficient. As for 
 our poor muficians with their inftruments, their fackbuts, and dulci- 
 mers, they felt the lofs of the regales and feafts of Caftille, and now 
 their harmony was ftopt, excepting one only, whom the foldiers ufed 
 to curfe whenever he {truck up, faying it was maiz and not mufic that 
 they wanted. Some perfons have afked me how it happened that fince 
 neceffity has no law, we did not, rather than ftarve, lay our hands on 
 the herd of pigs which Cortes brought with him. To this I reply fftat 
 they were not within our fight or reach, and the general's fteward, who 
 was a fly artful fellow, faid that they had all been eaten by the* alliga- 
 tors in crofling the river. But in reality they had them four days march 
 behind the army. On our route we made crofifes in the living trees, 
 and put inferiptions on them faying, M here patted Cortes and his army 
 ** at fuch a time. 
 
 The Indians of Tamaztepeque fent forward to our next ftation, 
 Ciguatepecad, to inform the people of our approach, and remove their 
 apprehenfions. They alfo, to the number of twenty attended us thither, 
 where, being arrived and halted, Cortes was anxious to know the courfe 
 of a large river which flows by that town. Upon enquiry he found 
 that it difcharged itfelf in certain inlets of the fea, near the towns named 
 Gueyatafla, and Xicalango, and thereby he thought that he could 
 conveniently fend two Spaniards to the north coaft, to obtain informa- 
 tion relative to his fhips. One of his meffengers was Francifco de 
 Medina, to whom he gave a joint commifTion of captain with Simon de 
 
 Cuenca 
 
( 4oi ) 
 
 Cuenca, his officer whom he had employed to freight and command 
 the (hips. De Medina was an able and diligent man, and well ac- 
 quainted with the country; it would have been better however on the 
 prefent occafion if he had not been entrufted with fuch powers ; as will 
 appear. De Medina having gone down the river to meet the vefllls, and 
 having arrived at Xicalonga where they were at anchor, waiting to hear 
 from Cortes, prefented the general's letters to Cuenca, and alfo pro- 
 duced his own commiffion as captain. A difpute immediately enfued 
 between thefe two officers relative to the chief command, and each being 
 fupported by a party, they had recourfe to arms, and fought until there 
 were not eight Spaniards on both fides left alive. When the neighbour- 
 ing Indians perceived this they fell upon the furvivors, put them to 
 death, and deftroyed the two fhips, fo that we did not, for two years 
 and a half, know what was become of them. 
 
 We were informed at our prefent quarters, that the town of Guey- 
 acala was diftant three days march from us, and that our way was acrofs 
 deep rivers and trembling marches. Cortes accordingly fent two foldiers 
 to examine them, who, founding and trying the rivers, came back and 
 reported that they were paffable by conftru&ing wooden bridges acrofs 
 them, but as to the marfhes, which lay more diftant, and which were 
 the moft material, they made no examination at all. Cortes alfo fent 
 me and one Gonzalo de Mexia forward to Gueyacala, with fome guides 
 who offered themfelves from our prefent quarters. We fet out accord- 
 ingly, but in the night our Indians left us, for it feemed that the two 
 nations were at war, and we were now forced to rely entirely on our- 
 felves. When we arrived at the firft town belonging to the diftricl: of 
 Gueyacala, which is the chief over about twenty others, the inhabitants 
 of it (hewed fome figns of jealoufy, but we foon reconciled them. This 
 diflricT: is much interfered by lakes, rivers, and trembling marfhes. 
 Some of the dependent towns are in iflands, and all the communication 
 is by canoes. We invited the chiefs to go and wait upon Cortes, but 
 this they declined on account of the hoftility between the two nations. 
 It feems that on the firfl day of our arrival they had no idea of our force, 
 
 Fff bu< 
 
( 402 ) 
 
 but on the next they had received further intelligence concerning it, and 
 treated us with more deference. They promifed that they would provide 
 every .accomodation for our people on their arrival, and while we were 
 engaged in difcourfe with them on thefe fubjects, two Spaniards fent 
 by Cortes brought me letters, wherein he ordered, that I fhould within 
 three days meet him with all the provifions that I could collect, for 
 that he had been deferted by the natives, and was on his way to Guey- 
 acala without any neceffaries whatever. Thefe Spaniards alfo informed 
 me, that four of our foldiers who had been detached by Cortes higher 
 up the river had not returned, and were fuppofed to be murdered, as 
 afterwards appeared to be the cafe. 
 
 Cortes purfued his march, and was for four days employed in con- 
 ducting his bridge acrofs the great river, during which time the army 
 fuffered dreadfully from hunger, having left their laft quarters without 
 any provifions whatever. Some old foldiers cut down trees refembling 
 the palm, and procured nuts which they roafted and eat. A very poor 
 refource for fo many. On the night that the bridge was finifhed I arri- 
 ved with one hundred and thirty loads of corn, honey, fruit, and fait, 
 and eighty fowls. It was dark, and Cortes had made mention of his 
 expectation of my arrival. The coniequence was, that the foldiers 
 waited for me, and immediately laid violent hands on every atom of 
 provifions which I had brought, not leaving any thing for Cortes or 
 the other officers. The general's fteward and major domo cried out, 
 V this is for the general," and " do not touch that/' but it was to no 
 avail, the foldiers faid that the general and the others had been eating 
 their hogs, while the poor foldiers were famifhing, and neither entrea- 
 ties nor arguments could induce them to leave him fo much as a f ingle 
 load of corn. Cortes loft all patience when he heard of it, and fwore 
 that he would make enquiry and punifh thofe who had committed the 
 outrage, and who had talked about the hogs. But he foon found that 
 this was merely crying in the defert. He then blamed me, but 1 told 
 him that a guard fhould have been appointed to receive the provifions 
 when they were brought in, for that hunger knows no law. As he 
 
 law 
 
( 403 ) 
 
 faw there was no remedy he returned to me, and, Captain De Sandoval 
 being prefent, addreiTed me with good words faying, ** my dear friend 
 4< Del Caflillo I am fure that you have left fomething behind you on 
 " the road for yourfelf and our friend here; do let us go together, and 
 " permit me to mare it with you." Sandoval alfo faid that he vowed to 
 his God he had not fo much as a handful of maiz. When thus ap- 
 plied to I could not refufe them. "Well," faid I, "when the 
 " foldiers are all aileep, come with me, and take (hares of what I pro- 
 " vided for myfelf and thofe with me;" which was, twelve loads of 
 maiz, twenty fowls, three jars of honey, fruits, and fait; I had alfo 
 fome women to make bread. They both thanked and embraced me, 
 and fo we efcaped famine for this time. Cortes enquired how the reve- 
 rend fathers had fared, but there was no caufe of apprehenfion for 
 them, as each foldier gave them a portion of what he had obtained. 
 Such are the hardfhips attendant upon expeditions in unexplored coun- 
 tries! our general, feared as he was by the foldiers, had his provifions 
 pillaged, and was in danger of flarving, and Captain De Sandoval 
 would not trufl any one, but went himfelf to get his ration from me. 
 On continuing our march, when we had advanced about a league from 
 the river, we came to thofe defperate trembling marines. Here our hor- 
 fes were near being all fmothered; but as the diftance was not above 
 half a bow fhot between the firm ground on each fide, we contrived to 
 draw them through it by main force, and when we had gotten acrofs, 
 after returning thanks to God, Cortes fent to Gueyacala for a frefh fup- 
 ply of provifions, of which he took care not to be plundered as on the 
 former occafion, and on the eniuing day the whole of onr party arrived, 
 at an early hour, in the town of Gueyacala, where the chiefs attended, 
 and had made ample preparations for our reception. 
 
 Cortes, having done whatever was necefiary to conciliate the good 
 will of thefe people, enquired of them relative to his future march, and 
 alfo, if they had ever received any intelligence of fhips being on the 
 coaft, or of any fettlement of Europeans there. They told him, that 
 at the diftance of eight. days journey there were many men with beards 
 
 Fff %' " "*""' like 
 

 ( 404 ) 
 
 like ourfelves, who had horfes, and three (hips with them. They alfo 
 furnifhed him with a map of his route, and offered their afliftance du- 
 ring the march; but in anfvver to his demand that they would open the 
 way for us, they reprefented to him the difobedience of fome of their 
 dependencies, and exp reflfed their wifhes to reduce them to fubmiflion 
 by our means. This duty he gave to Diego de Mazariegos, a relation 
 of the treafurer Alonzo de Eftrada, as a compliment to him, and call- 
 ing me afide, he defired that I would attend him upon the occafion as 
 his counfellor, from my experience in the affairs of the country. This 
 I fhould not now mention, nor do I as a boafl, but it is my duty as an 
 hiftorian, and further, it was well known to the whole army, and his 
 Majefty was informed of it in the letters written to him by Cortes. 
 About eighty of us went with Mazariegos upon this occafion. When 
 we arrived, we found the diftrict in the befl difpofition poflible; the 
 chiefs returned with us to wait on Cortes, and brought with them a moft 
 plentiful fupply of pro vifions. In about four days after this, all the 
 native chiefs deferted us, and we were left with only three guides, to 
 purfue our route, which we did, crofling two rivers, to another town 
 in the diftrict of Gueyacala, which we found abandoned. 
 
 Here was the fcene of the death of Guatirnotzin, laft native king 
 of the Mexicans. It appeared that a plot had been entered into by this 
 unfortunate man, together with many others of his nobility, to murder 
 the Spaniards, and return to Mexico; and that on their arrival, they 
 intended to make a junction of all their forces, and attack the Spanifh 
 garrifon. Their treafon was communicated to the general by two lords 
 named Tapia and Juan Velafquez, who had commanded under Guati- 
 rnotzin during the fiege. As foon as Cortes got the knowledge of it he 
 took the informations, not only of thefe two, but alfo of feveral others 
 concerned; their confeflion was, that perceiving we marched without 
 precaution, that difcontent prevailed, that many of our foldiers were 
 lick, and provifions fo fcarce that ten Spaniards had died of hunger ab- 
 folutely, and others had returned to Mexico, considering alfo the uncer- 
 tainty of our fate and deftination they had decided, that dying at once 
 
 was 
 
( 405 ) 
 
 was preferable to going with us any farther. They had therefore refol- 
 ved to try their fortunes, and fall upon us at the pafTage of fome river 
 or marfh, their numbers being an encouragement to the attempt, as they 
 exceeded three thoufand well armed men. Guatimotzin denied that the 
 whole of the Mexican force was concerned in this plot, or that it would 
 have ever been, to his knowledge, carried into effect. But he admit- 
 ted that it had been heard though never approved of by him. The 
 prince of Tacuba declared that all which had ever paffed between Gua- 
 timotzin and him was, frequent declarations that to lofe their lives at 
 once would be preferable to waiting in the manner they were, in a (low 
 death, by hunger and fatigue, and feeing the diftrefles of their friends 
 fuffering around them. Without any more proofs whatever, Cortes 
 ordered Guatimotzin and his coufin the prince of Tacuba to be hanged 
 immediately, and the preparations for the execution being made, they 
 were brought to the place attended by the reverend fathers. Before he 
 was executed, the king turning round to Cortes faid, "Malintzin! now 
 " I find in what your falfe words and promifes have ended ; — in my 
 44 death. — Better that I had fallen by my own hands than truft myfelf 
 " in your power in my city of Mexico. — Why do you thus unjuftly 
 " take my life? May God demand of you this innocent blood!" The 
 prince of Tacuba only faid that he was happy to die by the fide of his 
 lawful fbvereign. Thus ended the lives of thefe two great men, and I 
 muft fay like good chriflians, and for Indians, moft pioufly; and I 
 heartily pitied Guatimotzin and his coufin, having feen them in fuch 
 great fortune and fituations. They behaved very kindly to me during 
 our march, doing me many fervices, efpecially giving me Indians to 
 carry grafs for my horfe; and I alfo declare that they fuftered their deaths 
 moil undefervingly, and fo it appeared to us all, amongft whom there 
 was but one opinion upon the fubject; that it was a moft unjufl and 
 cruel fentence. 
 
 We continued our march afterwards with great caution, from ap* 
 prehenfions of a mutiny among the Mexicans on account of the execu- 
 tion, of their chiefs j but the wretches were fo exhaufted by famine, 
 
 ficknefs,. 
 
■■'■■■-'■'•-■■ 
 
 ( 406 ) 
 
 fickncfs, and fatigue, that they did not appear even to think about the 
 matter. At night we arrived at a village which was abandoned by the 
 inhabitants, but on fearching we found eight priefts who readily attend- 
 ed us to Cortes. He defired them to call back their neighbours, and 
 that they mould receive no injury. This the priefts readily promifed, 
 requefting at the fame time, that their idols which were in a temple ad- 
 joining the building wherein were the quarters of Cortes, mould not be 
 touched; which the general agreed to, but took the opportunity of ex- 
 poftulating with them upon the abfurdity of venerating what was in 
 reality no more than clay and timber. The priefts feemed very willing 
 to embrace the true doctrine, and brought us twenty loads of fowls and 
 maiz. To the queftion put to them by Cortes, how many days jour- 
 ney, or funs, it was, to the place where were the men with beards on 
 their faces and who rode horfes they replied, feven; that the place was 
 named Nito, and they offered to be our guides thither. 
 
 Cortes caufed a crofs to be fixed in a large ceiba tree clofe to their 
 temple, which as I have before mentioned joined to the building where- 
 in he had taken his quarters. He was at this time very ill tempered, 
 and fad. He was vexed by the difficulties and misfortunes which had 
 attended his march, and his confeience upbraided him with the death 
 of the unfortunate Guatimotzin. He was fo diftracted by thefe thoughts 
 that he could not reft in his bed at night, and getting up in the dark to 
 walk about, as a relief from his anxieties, he went into a large apart- 
 ment where fome of the idols were worfhipped. Here, he miffed his 
 way, and fell from the height of twelve feet, to the ground, receiving 
 a defperate wound and contufions in his head. This circumftance he 
 tried to conceal, keeping his fufferings to himfelf, and getting his hurts 
 cured as well as he could. 
 
 Quitting this place we arrived in two days at a diftrict the people 
 of which are called the Mazotecas, and found a newly built town, for- 
 tified and barricaded, with very ftrong pallifadoes in two circles, one 
 of which was like a barbican, with loop holes, and trenches funk 
 
 before 
 
( 40? ) 
 
 before it. The part which was not fortified in this manner was defend- 
 ed by a perpendicular rock, the top of which was piled with ftones fliap- 
 ed for the fling. It had alfo a parapet, and there was on one fide of 
 the town an impafTable marfh. On entry we found every houfe filled 
 with provifions of whatever kind the country afforded, and a magazine 
 flocked with arms of all forts, but not a fingle human being. While 
 we were expreffing our aftonifhment at thefe circumflances, fifteen In- 
 dians came out of the marfh, and addrefling us with great fubmiflion, 
 informed us that they had been driven to the conftruction of this for- 
 trefs, as a laft refource in an unfuccefsful war, in which they had been 
 engaged with forae of their neighbours, whom, as well as I recollect, 
 they called the Lazandones. It feemed to be a warfare of plunder on 
 each fide. The name of this diftrict means in their language a country 
 abounding with game, which it was very well intitled to be called. 
 Two of the Indians attended us from this place, and communicated to 
 Cortes what they knew of the fettlement of the Spaniards. 
 
 We now travelled through a country entirely open, confifting of 
 vaft plains without a tree. The heat of the fun was exceffive, and the 
 deer which fed over this extenfive range of champaign were innumerable, 
 and fo tame as almofl to come to our hands. The horfemen took them 
 after the fhorteft purfuit, and we had in a very little fpaceof time above 
 twenty killed. Afking our guides the reafon of thefe animals not being 
 alarmed at the approach of men, we found that it was owing to a fuper- 
 ftition of the people, who confidered them to be divinities, as they faid 
 that their gods appeared to them in their forms ; and alfo that their idols 
 had commanded that they fhould be neither killed nor frightened. The 
 heat of the weather was now fo great, that a relation of the general's, 
 named Palacios Rubios, loft his horfe by purfuing the game. Purfu- 
 ing 6ur journey by villages where war had left its deftructive marks, 
 we met fome Indians on their return from hunting. They had with 
 them a huge lion which they had juft killed, and fome iguanas, a fpe- 
 cies of fmall ferpent, very good to eat. They led us to their town, be- 
 ing obliged to wade up to our middles in a lake of frefh water with 
 
 which 
 
( 408 ) 
 
 which it was furrounded. In this town was a large pond of frefli water, 
 which was quite full of fifties, refembling what we call in Europe the 
 fhad fifh, but enormoufly large, with prickles on their backs. We 
 procured fome nets, and took above a thoufand, which afforded us a 
 plentiful meal. We alfo procured here five Indians, who on our enqui- 
 ry by defcription for our countrymen, readily undertook to guide us to 
 their fettlement, for they at firft thought that we came to put them to 
 death, and were happy to find that they were likely to be rid of us on 
 fuch eafy terms. 
 
 We proceeded towards a place named Tayafal, fituated on an ifland, 
 the white temples, turrets, and houfes of which, gliftened from a diftance. 
 It was the chief town of a diftricl:. As the road grew very narrow we 
 thought it beft to halt for the night, four companies of foldiers being 
 detached to the fhore, to fearch for a paflage. Luckily they took two 
 canoes, in which were ten men and two women who were conveying 
 fait and maize. Being brought to Cortes and queftioned, they faid, 
 that they belonged to the town before us, which was diftant about four 
 leagues. Cortes detained one canoe and fome of the people, particular- 
 ly the women, and fent the others with two Spaniards to the chief, to 
 demand from him canoes to crofs the water. Our whole party then fet 
 out towards the river, and arriving there, we found the cacique waiting 
 for us. He invited the general to his town, and Cortes embarked with 
 thirty crofsbow-men, and arriving there, was prefented with fome tri- 
 fles of gold much alloyed, and a few mantles. They here informed 
 him that they knew of Spaniards being at two different places, one of 
 which it feems was Nito, the other San Gil de Buena Vifta. He alfo 
 learned that many more were at Naco, which is up the country, and 
 diftant ten days journey from Nito, which laft mentioned place lies on 
 the northern coaft. The general on hearing this obierved to us, that 
 probably De OU had divided his force, for as yet we knew nothing of 
 Gil Gonzalez de Avila. 
 
 Our whole body having crofTed the river, we halted at the diftance 
 
 of 
 
( 409 ) 
 
 of two leagues from it, to wait the return of Cortes. Here a Kegrfk 
 two Indians, and three Spanifh foldiers deferted; the latter preferring the 
 taking their chance among enemies, to the repetition of the fatigues 
 they had gone through. This day I was fun ftruck and fell ill of a 
 calenture. The weather alfo at this time changed, and for three days 
 and nights it never ceafed raining ; but we were obliged to continue our 
 journey under it, from the apprehenfion that our pro virions mould fall 
 fhort. After two days march we came to a ridge of rocks, the ftones 
 whereof cut like knives ; we fent foldiers a league's diftance on each fide 
 to fearch for fome other road, but to no effect. Our horfes fell here at 
 every ftep, and cut themfelves to pieces, and the farther we proceeded 
 on the defcent, the worfe it was. We left eight horfes dead upon the 
 fpot, and mod of the reft were fo wounded as not to be able to keep 
 up with us. Amongft others who received hurts the general's relation 
 Palacios Rubios broke his leg by a fall. We called this place La Sierra 
 de los Pedernales. When we had gotten over it we did not fail to re- 
 turn thanks to God for his mercy in extricating us from that difficulty. 
 We then advanced chearfully towards a town named Taica, which lay 
 before us, and where we hoped to find a fufficiency of every thing; but 
 we were fuddenly and unexpectedly flopped by an enormous torrent, 
 which, being fwelled by the heavy rains, came tumbling between great 
 precipices with a noife which could be heard at the diftance of two 
 leagues. Here we were obliged to halt for three complete days, in or- 
 der to make a bridge from one precipice to the other, and when at the 
 end of the third day we began to pafs over, we found that the people 
 on the other fide had taken advantage of our delay, to remove them- 
 felves and all their provifions out of our reach. 
 
 When we learned that after all our fatigues hunger was to be our 
 portion, we feemed as it were thunder ftruck. I own I never in my 
 life felt my heart fo deprelTed as when I found nothing to be had for 
 myfelf or my people; and this too on the eve of our Lord's refurredtion ! 
 a pretty feftival we had of it truly ! Cortes, after fending out his fer- 
 vants every where, procured about a bufhel of maiz. When he faw 
 
 Ggg the 
 

 
 ( 4io ) 
 
 the diftrefs which we were in, he called together the colonifts of Gua- 
 cacualco, as the flower of his army, and earneflly folicited us to do our 
 utmoft to procure fome neceflfaries. Pedro de Ircio who was prefent 
 afked to be appointed to the command, to which Cortes aiTented; but 
 I, who knew that De Ircio was more of a talking, than a marching 
 foldier, and that he would lag by the way and retard us, whifpered Cor- 
 tes and Sandoval to prevent his going, for he being duck legged, could 
 not get through the deep ground and mire like us, and would be obli- 
 ged to fit down. Cortes therefore ordered him to flay, and five of us 
 fetting out together, with two guides, and eroding rivers and marines, 
 came to fome Indian houfes where we found provifions in plenty. Here 
 we alfo took fome prifoners, and with their fruit, fowls, and corn, we 
 celebrated the feaft of the refurreclion heartily. On the fame night ar- 
 rived a thoufand Mexicans, whom Cortes had ordered to follow us. 
 We joyfully loaded them with all the corn that we could procure, and 
 twenty fowls for Cortes and Sandoval, and there (till remained fome 
 corn in the town which we ftaid to guard. On the next day we advan- 
 ced to other villages, where we found fuch a plenty of corn that we 
 wrote a billet to Cortes, with ink which we made, and on a piece of a 
 drum head, defiring him to fend all the Indians that he could, to carry 
 it to our people. 
 
 Thirty foldiers and about five hundred Indians in a fhort time ar- 
 rived, and thus, thanks to God, we were amply provided for the re- 
 mainder of the five days, during which we ftaid at Taica. I mull: 
 obferve, that the bridges which we constructed on this march, remained 
 perfectly good for many years, and that the Spaniards, when they paf- 
 fed them ufed to fay, "thefe are the bridges of Cortes," as formerly it 
 ufed to be faid, "here are the pillars of Hercules." We continued our 
 march for two days, to a place named Tania, through a country inter- 
 fered with rivers and rivulets, and where all the towns were abandoned; 
 and during the night, our guides, being intruded to the care of fome 
 of the newly arrived Spaniards who I fuppofe flept upon their pofts, 
 made their efcape. Thus we were left in a difficult country, and not 
 
 knowing 
 
( 4ii ) 
 
 knowing which way to turn. In addition to this, it rained mod hea- 
 vily. Cortes was out of humour and faid, Pedro de Ircio and many 
 more being by, that he wifhed others befidcs the fettlers of Guacacual- 
 co would beftir themfelves, and do fome good, in fearching for guides. 
 De Ircio, Marmolejo a perfon of quality, and Burgalcs afterwards regi- 
 dor of Mexico, each offered their fervices, and taking fix foldiers a 
 piece, were out three days in fearch of Indians, and all returned with- 
 out any fuccefs, having met with nothing but rivers, and waters, and 
 obftructions. Cortes was in defpair at this, and defircd Sandoval to 
 apply to me, afking as a favour that I would take the bufmefs on me. 
 When addrefled in this manner I could not refufe, though very ill; and 
 taking with me two friends, men capable of enduring hunger and thirft, 
 we fet out together, and following a ftream, the marks of boughs be- 
 ing cut fronn the trees pointed out a way to fome houfes, from whence 
 we faw corn fields and houfes with people about them. We remained 
 concealed until we fuppofed the people to be afleep, and then, taking 
 the inhabitants by furprife, made prifoners three men, two Indian girls 
 who were very handfome, and an old woman. They had a few fowls 
 and a little corn. The whole of our capture we brought to our quarters. 
 Sandoval was overjoyed at our arrival ; "now," faid he to Pedro de Ircio, 
 in the prefence of Cortes, " was Del Caftillo right when he infiited on 
 " having none but active men with him, and not to take people who 
 " hobble along, telling their old ftories of the adventures that happened to 
 ,' the count De Urena, and his fon Don Pedro Giron." Thefeftories De 
 Ircio ufed to pefter us with, over and over again, for which reafon all 
 who were prefent laughed heartily at what was faid by Sandoval who 
 knew that De Ircio and I were not friends. Cortes returned me thanks, 
 and paid me many compliments upon my conduct, but I will drop this 
 fubject, for what is praife but emptinefs and tinprofitablenefs, and 
 what advantage is it to me that people in Mexico mould tell what we 
 endured, or that Cortes mould fay when he wanted to perfuade me to 
 go on this laft expedition, that next to God it was me on whom he 
 placed his reliance to procure guides. 
 
 G gg * 
 
 from 
 
( 4'» ) 
 
 From the prifoners whom we had taken we learned, that it was 
 neceflary to defcend the river for two days journey, to a place of above 
 two hundred houfes named Oculiztli; which we accordingly did, paf- 
 fing on our road fome large buildings where the travelling merchants of 
 the Indians are ufed to flop. At the clofe of the fecond day we arrived 
 at the place to which we had been directed, where we found plenty of 
 provifions. We alfo found in one of the temples an old red cap, and a 
 fandal, as offerings to their idols. Some of our foldiers brought to 
 • Cortes two old men and four women, whom they took in the maiz 
 fields ; Cortes afked them what diftance the Spanifh fettlement was from 
 this place; to which they replied that it was two days journey, being 
 clofe by the fea fide, and that no town intervened. Upon this Cortes 
 ordered Sandoval immediately to fet out on foot, with fix foldiers, and 
 get down to the coaft, in order to afcertain what number of men De Oli 
 had with him, for as yet we were entirely ignorant of all that had hap- 
 pened there, and Cortes required this information in order to effecT: what 
 he had determined, which was, to fall upon, and furprife De Oli and 
 his troops daring the night. 
 
 Sandoval taking three guides reached the fea fide, and going north- 
 wards, foon perceived a canoe, and concealing himfelf where he expect- 
 ed it to anchor for the night, he was fortunate enough to get pofTeflion 
 of it, and upon examination, found it to belong to Indian merchants 
 who were bringing fait to Golfo Dolce. Sandoval embarked on board 
 this canoe with a part of his foldiers, and fending the reft by land, he 
 purfued his route for the great river. As fortune would have it, on his 
 voyage he fell in with a canoe in which had come four Spanifh fettlers, 
 who were fearching for fruit near the mouth of the river, being in great 
 diftrefs from the hofiilities of the Indians, and the ravages made by dif- 
 eafe. Two of thefe being up in a tree, were aftonifhed at the fight of 
 Sandoval and the reft, and reported to their companions what they had 
 feen. When they met, Sandoval was informed by them of their pre- 
 fent diftrefs, and how they had hanged the officer left there by Avila. 
 Upon this he determined to bring them to Cortes, which having decla- 
 red 
 
( 4^3 ) 
 
 red, a foldier named Alonzo Ortiz obtained from him permiflion to fet 
 off with the news, in order to get a reward. He accordingly in a fhort 
 time reached us, and by his intelligence rejoiced us all, Cortes pre- 
 fented him with an excellent horfe named Moor's- head, and each of us 
 gave him fomething proportionate to our abilities, Sandoval arrived a 
 fhort time after, and informed us that they were preparing to embark 
 for the Illand of Cuba, and how they had hanged their commanding 
 officer, for oppofing them and alfo becaufe he had hanged a turbulent 
 prieft: as alfo that they had elected one Anthonio Niote in his 
 place. 
 
 Cortes ifTued an order to march immediately for the fea coaft, 
 which was diftant fix leagues, and we had an inlet of the fea to pafs. 
 We were therefore obliged to wait till low water, and then crofs it, 
 wading and fwimming. Cortes pufhed forwards with his attendants, 
 and crofTed the river in the two canoes, fwimming the horfes by the fide 
 of them; but he found it fo dangerous from the violence of the current, 
 ■that he fent word to us not to attempt to follow him until farther 
 orders. 
 
 The place where AvhVs fettlers now were, was about two leagues 
 diftant from where Cortes landed. They were greatly furprifed at the 
 appearance of Europeans, and more fo when they found that it was the 
 general fo renowned through all thefe countries. Cortes received their 
 congratulations in the molt gracious manner, and defired them to bring 
 together what canoes they could collect, as alfo the boats belonging to 
 their fhips, and to provide bread for the ufe of his people. Of this laft 
 article only fifty pounds could be procured, for they lived almoft entire- 
 ly on fapotes, vegetables, and what fifh they caught. We were four 
 days paffing the river, with the greateft danger. One foldier with his 
 horfe went to the bottom, and never appeared afterwards. Two other 
 horfes were alfo loft; one of them belonged to a foldier named Cafquete, 
 who heartily curfed Cortes and his expedition, for the ill fortune he had 
 brought upon him. 
 
 The 
 
( 4*4 ) 
 
 The general truited the care of the embarkation to Sandoval. One 
 Saavedra, prefuming upon his relationfhip with Cortes, would not pay 
 refpecT: to the captain's orders, and endeavouring to force his paflage, 
 laid his hand to his poniard with difrefpectful expreffions to Sandoval. 
 The latter made few words, but feizing him inftantly, threw him into 
 the water; where he was nearly drowned. Our fuffering at this time 
 from hunger was beyond my expreflion. For thefe four days we had 
 literally nothing but the few nuts that we could gather, and fome wild 
 fruits; and when we arrived on the other fide our condition was not 
 bettered. 
 
 We found this colony to confifr. of forty men and fix women, all 
 yellow and fickly, and without any thing to eat. Of courfe we were 
 anxious for the moment of fetting out in order to fearch the country for 
 provifions. About eighty of us went on foot, under the command of 
 Captain Luis Marin, to a town at the diflance of eight leagues, where 
 we found provifions of all kinds, cocoa in the greateft quantity, and 
 plenty of corn, and vegetables. This place was exactly on the route of 
 Naco, whither it was the intention of Cortes to go. On receiving our 
 intelligence, he difpatched Sandoval with the principal part of his troops 
 to join us. We lent a plentiful fupply of maiz to our wretched colo- 
 nifts, who having been fo long ftarving, eat to fuch an excefs that fe- 
 ven of them died immediately. At this time alfo a veffel arrived there, 
 with feven horfes, forty hogs, eight pipes of falted meat, bifcuit, and 
 fifteen paflengers, adventurers from the Ifland of Cuba. All the pro- 
 vifions Cortes bought immediately, and diftributed them amongft. the 
 colonifts, with an equally fatal refult. They eat of the falted meat to 
 fnch an excefs that it gave them diarrheas, which in a very few days 
 carried off fourteen. 
 
 Cortes now determined to examine this great river, for which pur- 
 pofe he fitted out one of the brigantines of Avila which had been brand- 
 ed, and with this velTel, a boat, and four double canoes, in which he 
 embarked thirty foldiers, with eight failors of the veffel which lately 
 
 arrived, 
 
( 4«5 ) 
 
 arrived, he proceeded up the rive> to a fpacious lake with good anchor- 
 age, which extended to the diftance of fix leagues, and the whole of 
 the adjacent country was liable to be inundated. Proceeding higher he 
 found the current more ftrong, and at length came to fome (hallows 
 which his vefTels could not pafs; he accordingly difembarked, and pro- 
 ceeding by a narrow road, pafTed through different villages. In the 
 firft he took fome natives to ferve as guides, and in the fecond he found 
 plenty of corn, and fowls, amongft which were pheafants, pidgeons, 
 and partridges. Thefe laft I have frequently obferved domefticated 
 among the Indians. Purfuing his route, he came near a large town 
 named Cinacan Tencintle, lituated amongft fine cocoa plantations, and 
 in which he heard the found of mufic, the Indians being engaged in 
 a drunken feftival. Cortes waited until a fit opportunity, concealed in 
 a wood, and then fuddenly rufhing out, made ten men and fifteen wo- 
 men prifoners. , The reft attacked him with arrows and darts, but our 
 people clofed with them and cut to pieces eight of their chiefs. When 
 the natives found that the affair was going againft them they thought 
 it high time to fubmit; and accordingly four old men, two of whom 
 were priefts, came, apparently very much tamed, to petition Cortes for 
 the prifoners , and brought with them a few trifles of gold. Cortes pro^ 
 mifed to deliver his prifoners on receiving a good fupply of provifions 
 which they affured him of, and he pointed out to them where the fliips 
 lay. It appears that a mifunderftanding afterwards happened between 
 Cortes and the natives, relative to the delivery of his captives, he wifh- 
 ing to retain three women to make bread. They in confequence pro- 
 ceeded to hoftilities again j Cortes received a wound in the face, twelve 
 alfo of his foldiers were wounded, and a boat deftroyed. He then re- 
 turned after an abfence of twenty fix days, fuffering dreadfully by the 
 mofquitos. He wrote to Sandoval giving him an account of all that 
 had occurred at Cinacan, which is diftant from Guatimala ; feventy 
 leagues, and ordered him to proceed to Naco; 4 Cortes hjmfelf intending 
 to eftablifaa fcttlement at the place which was named Puerto de Cavallos, 
 for which purpofe he defired ten of the veterans of Guacacualco. with- 
 out whofe affiftance nothing was conducted properly. 
 
 Cortes 
 
( 4«6 ) 
 
 Cortes taking with him all the Spaniards that remained at St. Gil 
 de Buena Vifta, embarked in two (hips, and after eight days fail arrived 
 at Puerto de Cavallos, in order to plant a colony there, the fituation be- 
 ing anfwerable, and the harbour good. He appointed Diego de Godoy 
 commandant of this fettlement, which he named Natividad. Hfe 
 thought that by this time Sandoval had arrived at Naco which was not 
 far diftant, and wrote to him there, delirrng ten of the foldiers of Gua- 
 cacualco to reinforce him, as he intended to proceed to the bay of Hon- 
 duras. This letter reached us in the quarters which I laft mentioned, 
 for we had not arrived at Naco. I will fay no more of the proceedings 
 of Cortes, nor how the flies bit him day and night, and prevented his 
 reft, fo that as we afterwards heard he had like to have died or loft his 
 fenfes, from want of fleep. 
 
 Sandoval on receiving the general's letter prelTed forwards towards 
 Naco, but was obliged to halt at a place called Cuyocan, in order to 
 bring up his ftragglers who had quitted him in fearch of provifions. 
 We had alfo a river to pals, and the natives all round were hoftile. As 
 our line of march was fo very long by the number of invalids who 
 came ftraggling after us, efpecially of the Mexicans, it became neceffary 
 to eftablifh a poll: at the ferry on this river, for which purpofe Sandoval 
 left me with the command of eight men. 
 
 One night a body of the natives fell upon us, but we were prepa- 
 red for them. They fet fire to the houle in which we were, and thought 
 to have brought off our canoe; but we, with the aftiftance of a few 
 Mexicans, beat them off for that time, and knowing that there Were 
 fome invalids lodged upon the road behind us, we on the next day 
 brought them over and all together fet out to join Sandoval. One man 
 died upon the road; he was a Genoefe, had been fome time ill, and at 
 length funk under poverty of diet. I was obliged to leave the body be- 
 hind, for which Sandoval blamed me when I made my report. I told 
 him we had two invalids on each horfe, and my companion Bartholome 
 de Vilia Nueva haughtily laid, that it was difficult enough for us to 
 
 r bring 
 
( 4*7 ) 
 
 bring ourfelves, without carrying dead men. Sandoval immediately- 
 ordered me and Villanueva to return and bury him, which we accord- 
 ingly did, and placed a crofs over the grave. We found in his pocket 
 a purfe containing a quantity of dice, and a memorandum of his fami- 
 ly and effects in Teneriffe. Reft his foul ! Amen. 
 
 In about two days we arrived at Naco, having pafTed a place where 
 mines have been fince difcovered, and alfo a town named Quiniftan. 
 On arriving at Naco we found it to be a good town, but it w r as aband- 
 oned by its inhabitants ; however we obtained plenty of provilions and 
 fait which we much wanted. We took our quarters in fome very large 
 quadrangles, the fame place where De Oli had been executed, and fixed 
 ourfelves as if we had been to remain here for ever. In this place is the 
 fineft water that we had met with in New Spain, as alfo a tree, which 
 at the time of the fiefta, let the heat of the fun be as great as it will, 
 has a delightful refrefhing coolnefs in its (hade, and there feems to de- 
 fcend from it a kind of dew, of the mod: delicate nature, which is good 
 for the head. The place is well iituated, the neighbourhood fertile and 
 producing both the red and the fmall fapote, and it was at that time 
 populous. 
 
 Sandoval having obtained poiTemon of three of the principal na- 
 tives of the diftridl, treated them kindly, and we continued in peaceable 
 terms with them, but the inhabitants could not be induced to return to 
 the town. It was now time to fend the reinforcement Cortes had requi- 
 red, of ten Spanifh fettlers of Guacacualco. I was an invalid and una- 
 ble to go, and Sandoval wifhed to keep me with him; eight valiant 
 foldiers were however fent, who fet out heartily curling Cortes and his 
 expedition at every ftep. They had fome reafon, for they did not know 
 the leaft of the ftate of the country through which they were to go. 
 Sandoval took the precaution of fending five principal perfons of the na- 
 tives with them, and gave it to be underftood that if any injury was 
 done to them the country mould be feverely punifhed. They arrived at 
 the place where Cortes was, in fafety, and he immediately embarked 
 
 H h h for 
 
for Truxillo, leaving Godoy in the command at Puerto de Cavallos, 
 with forty Spaniards, which was all that remained of the fettlers who 
 came with Avila, and thofe newly arrived from the Ifland of Cuba. 
 
 For fome time Godoy maintained himfelf in the neighbouring 
 country, but as his men were continually dropping off by difeafe, the 
 Indians began to defpife and neglect them, and in a fhort time they loll 
 by flcknefs and famine above half their number, and three of them de- 
 ferred and joined Sandoval. Such was the refult of the colonization of 
 Puerto de Cavallos. Sandoval, by different expeditions to the neigh- 
 bouring diftricts, named Cirimongo, Acalaco, Quizmitan, and four 
 others, and by judicious meafures, brought the whole of the country 
 to peace and fubjection, all around Naco, and as far as Godoy's fet- 
 tlement. 
 
 After fix days fail Cortes arrived at the port of Truxillo. This 
 place had been colonized by Francifco de las Cafas, but there were alfo 
 amongfl them many of the mutineers who had ferved under De Oli, 
 and who had been banifhed from Panuco. All thefe, confeious of their 
 guilt, waited on Cortes upon his arrival, to fupplicate his pardon for 
 their offences. This Cortes granted them; he alio continued thofe who 
 had been appointed to offices, and put at the head of all thofe provinces 
 as captain general, his relation Saavedra. Cortes having now fummon- 
 ed the chiefs and priefts of the Indians, made an harangue to them, 
 wherein he told them of the object of his coming thither, which 
 was, to induce them to quit the unnatural and cruel practices of their 
 falfe religion, and to embrace the true one. He alfo dwelt upon the 
 power and dignity of his Majefty the Emperor Don Carlos, to whom 
 he required their fubmiffion. This together with the holy exhortations 
 of our reverend fathers being explained to thefe people they readily pro- 
 mifed to obey him, in becoming his Majefty's vaffals; whereupon 
 Cortes fignified to them, that they mould provide the fettlement with 
 all articles of food, efpecially fifh, of which there was a great plenty 
 in the fea about the Iilands of Los Guanajes, and alfo he defired them 
 
 to 
 
( 4i9 ) 
 
 to fend labourers to clear the woods in front of the town, and 
 open the view to the fea. All this being readily undertaken by them, 
 Cortes ordered a number of fows in young to be turned out on thefe 
 iflands, to flock them, which they did in the courfe of a few 
 years. The reverend fathers Francifcans alfo preached to the Indians 
 many holy things very edifying to hear. The natives applied them- 
 felves to labour fo earneflly, that in two days they cleared the woods 
 towards the fea, and built fifteen houfes one of which was for Cortes, 
 and a very good habitation. The renown of our general made him 
 feared through all thefe diflricts, as far as Olancho where are the rich 
 mines; the Indians called him the captain Hue- hue of Marina, that is 
 the old captain who brings Donna Marina, and his prefence reduced the 
 whole country to fubmiflion, two or three diftricls in the mountains 
 only holding out. Againfl thefe, the names of which were given to 
 him by the chief of Papayeca, then a populous diflrict but now almofl 
 uninhabited, he fent Captain Saavedra with a party of foldiers who 
 brought mofl of them under fubjection, the only one that held out be- 
 ing that people named the Acaltccans. 
 
 As many of the fuite of Cortes began now to fall fick from the ef- 
 fects of the climate, he fent them on board a veffel to St. Domingo or 
 Cuba, and by this opportunity he alfo fent letters to the reverend fathers 
 of the order of St. Jerome, and the court of royal audience, informing 
 them of all the events that had happened ; of his refigning the govern- 
 ment of Mexico into the hands of deputies, to proceed againfl 
 De Oli in perfon, and alfo of his future intentions. He requefled from 
 them a reinforcement of foldiers, and, to attach credit to his report, 
 he fent a valuable prefent of gold, taken in reality from his fide 
 board, but in fuch a manner that it mould appear to them the produce 
 of this fettlement. This bufinefs he entrufled to a relation named Ava- 
 los, with orders, on his way, to take up twenty five foldiers, who, he 
 had received intelligence, were left in the Ifland of Cozumel, to kid- 
 nap Indians. This veffel was wrecked about feventy leagues from the 
 Havannah; the Captain, Avalos, and many palfengers perifhed, and 
 
 Hhh 2 thofe 
 
( 4*o ") 
 
 thofe few who efcaped, amongft whom was the licentiate Pedro Lopez, 
 were the firft who brought to the iflands intelligence of the exigence of 
 Cortes and his army, for it had been hitherto univerfally believed that 
 we had all perifhed. As foon as it was known where Cortes then was, 
 two old fhips were freighted with horfes and colts, and fent out to us. 
 Except thefe, and one pipe of wine, all the reft of the cargo confifted 
 of fhirts, caps, and ufelefs trumpery of various kinds. 
 
 Some Indians of the iflands called the Guanajes, which are about 
 the diftance of eight leagues from Truxillo, came at this time to com- 
 plain to Cortes, that it had been a practice of the Spaniards to come to 
 their iflands, and kidnap the natives and their maceguales, or flaves, 
 and that a vefTel was now there, as fuppofed for that purpofe. Cortes 
 on hearing this ordered out one of his mips, which came in view of the 
 veffel, but me immediately hoifted fail, and made her cfcapc. It after- 
 wards appeared that the commander of her was the bachelor Moreno, 
 who had been fent on bufinefs to Nombre de Dios, by the royal court 
 of audience of St. Domingo. 
 . 
 
 Whilft Sandoval remained at Naco, the chiefs of two diftricts in 
 that vicmity named Quecufpan, and Tanchinaichapa, came to him to 
 complain of a party of Spaniards who maltreated their people, robbing 
 them, and putting them in chains, and who were now at the diftance 
 of about one day *s 'march from his poft. He accordingly fct out againft 
 them with feventy men, and arrived at the place where thefe people 
 were, perfectly at their eafe, and not expecting any attack. They were 
 furprifed at feeing us, and ran to their arms; but we foon feized the 
 captain and feveral more, thus getting the better of them without any 
 blood being drawn on either fide. Sandoval cenfured them in very ftrong 
 terms for their mifcondiidt, and ordered thofe Indians whom they had 
 made prifoners to be immediately releafed. The captain of this party 
 was one Pedro de Garro; he and his men were marched prifoners to our 
 fettlement. From the manner in which they were mounted and attended, 
 they feemed to be lords, in companfon of us who were dirt) and worn 
 
 down 
 
( 421 ) 
 
 down with fervice. Several of them were perfons of quality or gen- 
 tlcmen, and after they had repofed a day amongft us they grew per- 
 fectly contented. 
 
 ■ 
 The reafon of their being in thefe countries is as follows. Pedro 
 Arias de Avila, who had the government of Tierra Firma, fent a cap- 
 tain named Francifco Hernandez to make conquefts in the province of 
 Nicaragua and Leon. This he did, reducing the natives to obedience, 
 and efrablifhing a colony there. When Hernandez found himlelf ad- 
 vantageoufly fettled, he determined to throw off his dependency upon 
 Pedro Arias, to which I believe he was incited by the bachelor Moreno, 
 and the reafon of it to the beft of my judgment was this. Arias had 
 beheaded V. N. de Balboa, who married his daughter Donna Ilabella 
 Arias de Penofa. This atrocious ftretch of power he committed 
 moft unwarrantably, and it was on this occafion that the bachelor. 
 Moreno had been fent hither by the royal court of audience. The 
 bachelor meeting with Hernandez,, advifed him to renounce his con- 
 nexion with Pedro Arias, who had conducted himfelf fo badly, and to 
 eftablifh a diflinct government in that province, immediately under his 
 Majefty; and Hernandez taking his counfel, fent this party to make 
 their way to the north coafl, thereby to. open a communication 
 the mother country. 
 
 All' this being explained to Sandoval; was by. him communicated 
 to Cortes,* in expectation of his fupporting the views of Hernandez, by 
 Captain Luis Marin,, whom I attended upon this, occafion. Our whole 
 party confuted. of ten foldiers, and a. moil defperate journey it was. 
 the Indians were hoftile and attacked us with large heavy lances,. wound- 
 ing two of our foldiers. The rivers which we croffed were fwollen and 
 rapid, -and fo frequent, that in one day we pafled. three of them; one 
 river named Xagua, ten leagues from Triumpho de la Cruz, detained 
 us for two days, and the inlets and lagoons were infefted by alligators. 
 By the fide of the river Xagua we found the fkeletons of icven horfes; 
 tk/ had belonged to De Oli's. troops, and died from eating poifpnous 
 
 herbs,. 
 
. ■ 
 
 ( 422 ) 
 
 herbs. Paffing EI Triumpho de la Cruz, and a place named Quemara, 
 at length we arrived in the neighbourhood of Truxillo about the hour 
 of vefpers, and faw five cavaliers riding along the coaft. Thefe were, 
 Cortes and four of his friends, who were taking exercife. When he 
 recognifed us, after the firft furprife at the unexpected meeting, he dis- 
 mounted from his horfe, and running up, embraced us all with tears in 
 his eyes, fo overjoyed was he to fee us. It made me melancholy to 
 find him fo weak and reduced. Diftrefs and difeafe had worn him 
 down; indeed he expected death, and had gotten a Francifcan habit 
 made to be buried in. He had not at this time received any intelligence 
 from Mexico fince he quitted that city. He walked into the town with 
 us, and we flipped with him, wretchedly enough. I had n*ot my fill 
 even of bread or bifcuit. When he had read over the letters relative to 
 the bufinefs of Hernandez, he prorrufed that he would do all he could 
 to fupport him. The verTels from St. Domingo had arrived here three 
 days before us. I have already mentioned, that except the horfes and 
 one pipe of wine, their cargoes were nothing but frippery; it would 
 have been much better that they had not come, fince it induced us all 
 to run ourfelves in debt buying their ufelefs trafh. 
 
 While we were relating to Cortes the hardfhips we had fuftained 
 during our late journey, a (hip was defcried at a diftance, making for 
 our port. This vefTel failed from the Havannah, with letters for the 
 general from the licentiate Zuazo, alcalde major of Mexico. The hi- 
 dalgo who was captain of the vefTel came directly to kifs the hands of 
 Cortes, and prefented his letters, the fubflance of which the reader (hall 
 be informed of. As foon as Cortes read them he was overwhelmed with 
 forrow and diftrefs. He retired to his private apartment, where we 
 could hear that he was fuffering under the greateft agitation. He did 
 not ftir out for an entire day ; at night he confeffed and ordered a mafs 
 for the enfuing morning, after which he called us together, and read to 
 us the intelligence he had received, and whereby we learned, that it 
 had been univerfally reported and believed in New Spain that we were 
 all dead, and our properties had in confequence been fold by public 
 
 auction. 
 
( 423 ) 
 
 auction. From his father in Caftille he was informed, of the death of 
 the Bifhop of Burgos, that Albornoz had been laborioufly undermining 
 us at court, and alfo of what I have before related, in regard to his Ma- 
 jefty's orders to the admiral, and the interference of the duke of Bejar; 
 alfo that Narvaez had been appointed to the government of the river 
 Palmas, and that the government of Panuco had been given to one Nu- 
 no de Guzman. 
 
 In regard to the affairs of New Spain thefe letters further added, 
 that in confequence of the powers which Cortes had given to the factor 
 Gonzalo de Salazar, and the veedor Pedro Almindes Chirinos, to fuper- 
 cede the deputies he had left in Mexico, viz. the treafurer Alonzo de 
 Eftrada, and the contador Albornoz, and to take the adminiftration up- 
 on themfelves in cafe of mifconduct on the part of the deputies, thefe 
 two officers having on their return to Mexico formed a ftrong party, 
 amongff whom was the licentiate Zuazo alcalde major, Rodrigo de Paz 
 alguazil major, A. de Tapia, Jorge de Alvarado, and the reft of the 
 ancient conquerors, attempted to take the government into their 
 hands by main force, and the confequence of the flruggle of the two 
 parties was, much diiturbance, and bloodfhed. The factor and veedor 
 however carried their point, and had made prifoners the two former de- 
 puties and many of their friends. Still however there was fighting eve- 
 ry day, the predominating party confiscating the property of their oppon- 
 ents, to diftribute it among their own adherents. They had, we 
 learned, completely fuperceded Zuazo in his office, and had impri- 
 foned Rodrigo de Paz the alguazil major, but that the licentiate Zuazo 
 had effected a temporary reconciliation between the parties. During 
 thefe difturbances, three diftricts, viz. the Zapotecans, Minxes, and 
 thofe in the vicinity of a fortified rock named Ccatlan had rebelled, and 
 a force going againft them under the veedor Chirinos, inftead of attend- 
 ing to their bufinefs, the troops thought of nothing but card playing, 
 in confequence of which the natives furprifed them in their camp, and 
 did them much mifchief. The factor had then fent a veteran captain 
 named Andrez de Monjaraz, to affift the veedor, and advife him; but. 
 
 this, 
 
Hi 
 
 
 ( 4*4 ) 
 
 this officer was unable to exert himfelf properly, being an invalid. 
 As to the citty of Mexico, there was danger every hour of an infur- 
 rection. 
 
 The letters alfo informed us that the factor conftantly remitted gold 
 to his Majefty's treafurer, Don Francifco de los Cobos, to make an 
 intereft for himfelf at court, reporting that we were all dead ;at Xica- 
 longa, the belief of which was corroborated by Diego de Ordas who, 
 to get out of the factions and troubles of Mexico had failed with 
 two vefTels to fearch for us, and arriving at the place called Xicalonga, 
 where the captains Simon de Cuenca and Francifco de Medina had been 
 killed, hearing the account of their misfortunes, and not knowing the 
 particulars, had taken it for granted that it could be no others than 
 Cortes and his party who were thus deftroyed, and reported fo in his 
 letters to Mexico which he fent by certain pafTengers, and then, with- 
 out landing, hoifted fail for Cuba. The factor mewed his letter to our 
 relations, and put on mourning; and a monument was erected, and fu- 
 neral fervice performed for the honour of Cortes, in the great church 
 of Mexico. The factor then proclaimed himfelf governor, and captain 
 general of New Spain, with the found of kettle drums and trumpets, 
 and ifiiicd out an order, that all women who had any regard for their 
 fouls, and vvhofe hufbands had gone with Cortes, fhould confider them 
 dead in law, and marry again forthwith. And becaufe a woman nam- 
 ed Juana de Manfilla did not chufe to take his advice, but infilled on 
 waiting the return of her hulband Alonzo Valiente, faying that we 
 were not people who would let ourfelves be fo eafily beaten as the veedor 
 Chirinos and his party, the factor ordered her to be publicly whipped 
 through the ftreets of Mexico for a witch. 
 
 » 
 As there are in all places flattering traitors, one of this defcription, 
 whom we once expected better from, and whofe name I will not men- 
 tion, folemnly allured the factor, before many witnefTes, that going 
 one night by the church of St. Jago, which is built on the fcite of the 
 great temple of the Mexicans, and looking into the church yard, he 
 
 faw 
 
( 4*5 . ) 
 
 faw.the fouls of Cortes, Donna Marina, and Sandoval, burning in 
 flames of fire; and that he had been fo terrified thereat, as to have re- 
 mained ill ever fince. Another man of good reputation alfo came to 
 the factor, and told him that the quadrangles of Tefeuco were haunted 
 by evil fpirits, which the natives faid were the fouls of Donna Marina 
 and Cortes. All thofe falfehoods they invented to ingratiate themfelves 
 with the factor. 
 
 At this time arrived in Mexico the captains Francifco de las Cafas, 
 and Gil Gonzales de Avila, the fame who beheaded Chriftoval de Oli. 
 Las Cafas on his arrival publicly afferted the exiftence of Cortes, and 
 reprobated the conduct of the factor, but declared that mould it be the 
 cafe, as then believed, that we were all dead, Alvarado was the only 
 proper man to put in the place of Cortes, until his Majefty's further 
 pleafure mould be known. Alvarado being written to on the fubject 
 {et out for Mexico, but growing apprehenfive of fome attempt upon 
 his life, he thought it moft prudent to return to his diftrict. The factor 
 had at this time collected what gold he could lay his hands upon, to 
 fupport his negotiations at court. In this he was oppofed by almoft 
 every other officer of the government of New Spain, who determined 
 among themfelves, not to permit him exclufively to make rcprefenta- 
 tions of the tranfactions there, but to fend likewife their own flatements 
 at the fame time, and by the fame opportunity with his. When the 
 factor found that he could not bring over Las Cafas, Gonzalez de Avila, 
 and the licentiate, to fupport his views, he caufed the two former to be 
 arretted and profecuted for the alleged murder of De Oli; and by his 
 wickednefs, and the preponderance of his power, procuring their con- 
 demnation, it was with the greateft difficulty that their immediate exe- 
 cution could be prevented, by appealing to his Majefty. He was 
 obliged however to content himfclf with fending them prifoners to Caf- 
 tille. He then fell upon the licentiate Zuazo, and fent him off to Vera 
 Cruz, and there embarked him for the Ifland of Cuba, as was alleged, 
 to anfwer for his conduct while he was judge there. He next feized 
 Rodrigo de Paz, and demanded of him an account and furrender of the 
 
 I i i treafure 
 
( 4*6 ) 
 
 treafurc of Cortes, whofe major domo he had been, and becaufe he 
 could not, or would not declare, or make difcovery concerning it, he 
 caufed his feet and part of his legs to be burnt ; and not content with 
 giving him the torture, and knowing alfo that if left alive he might 
 complain to his Majefty, he ordered him to be hanged, which was 
 accordingly done. He alfo arretted moft of the friends of Cortes. Ta- 
 pia and Jorge de Alvarado, however, took fanctuary with the Francif- 
 can fathers; but feveral of them went over to him, partly becaufe he 
 gave them Indians, and partly becaufe it is natural to wifh to be with 
 the ftrongeft power, or, as the faying is, to cry, "fuccefs to the con- 
 " querors." He emptied the arfenal of arms, and brought them to his 
 palace, in the front of which he alfo planted all the artillery, which was 
 commanded by Captain Don Luis de Guzman, fon in law to the Duke 
 of Medina Sidonia. He next formed a body guard for his own protec- 
 tion, compofed in part of the foldiers of Cortes, to the command of 
 which he appointed one Artiaga. 
 
 Zuazo alfo wrote to Cortes to inform him, that he had reported 
 many fcandals of him to his Majefty, fuch as defrauding him of the 
 duty upon gold; and as an inftance to what extent he carried his tyran- 
 ny, he mentioned a circurnftance of a travelling Spaniard having in- 
 formed a woman, and given her proofs, that her hufband who was 
 gone with Cortes was alive. This coming to the ears of the factor, he 
 caufed him to be feized by four alguazils, and would have hanged him, 
 but that he, to excufe himfelf, declared that what he had faid 
 was all a falfehood, and that he had only invented it to comfort the 
 poor woman, feeing her weeping for the lofs of her hufband. The 
 bufinefs which brought this man to Mexico was, to obtain a plantation, 
 this was immediately fettled to his fatisfaction, and he was difmiffed 
 with a hint to hold his tongue, as he valued his life. This letter alfo 
 informed Cortes of the death of the reverend father Bartholome, a holy 
 man, and much regretted by all the natives of Mexico, who in token 
 of their refpeft failed from the time of his death, until he was buried. 
 
 Zuazo 
 
( 427 ) 
 
 Zuazo concluded by faying, that he feared Mexico wa9 loft, and that 
 he had been fent a prifoner in irons to the place from whence he dated 
 his letter. 
 
 This intelligence made us all very fad. It was difficult to fay which 
 of the two, Cortes or the factor, we curfed moil heartily in our own 
 minds. We fecretly gave them ten thoufand maledictions, and 
 our hearts funk within us. Cortes retired to his chamber, and did not 
 appear to us till evening, when we entreated him immediately to haften 
 to Mexico. He replied to us kindly and gently, faying, " dear friends 
 *' and companions, this villain of a factor is powerful. If I go and you 
 11 accompany me he may lay hands upon us by the road, and murder us 
 " all. It were better that I went privately with three or four of you, and 
 " came to Mexico before he was prepared. Let the reft rejoin Sandoval, 
 *' and proceed with him to Mexico." Cortes now wrote to Captain Her- 
 nandez, promifing him every fupport; he fent him alfo two mules 
 loaded with prefents of fuch things as he knew he wanted, entrufting 
 them to the care of a gentleman named Cabrera, a brave officer who 
 was on the ftaff under Blafco Nunez Velo, and was killed in the fame 
 battle with the Viceroy. When I faw that Cortes was determined to go 
 to Mexico, I requefted of him that he would permit me, who had been 
 in all difficulties and dangers by his fide, to attend him upou this occa- 
 fion. He embraced me and faid, "I requeft you my fon to remain with 
 " Sandoval. I promife you, and I fwear by this beard, that Iconfider 
 " myfelf much beholden to you, and have long done fo." However 
 he would not permit me to attend him. 
 
 I remember when we were in the town of Truxillo, a gentleman 
 named Roderigo Manueca, a principal officer in the general's houfehold, 
 to divert Cortes, feeing him diftreffied, as he was with good reafori, 
 laid a wager with fome other cavaliers, that he would climb in his ar- 
 mour Jo the top of the rock, whereon ftood the houfe Which the Indi- 
 ans had built for the head quarters. When he had got a confiderable 
 way up he milled his hold, and falling to the ground, was killed. 
 
 Iii 2 Some 
 
( 428 ) 
 
 Some of the fettlers of this place now began to grow mutinous, on find- 
 ing that Cortes had omitted to name them to any office. He however 
 found the means to pacify them, by promifes not to forget them on his 
 arrival at Mexico. Previous to his departure, he ordered Captain Diego 
 de Godoy with his fettlers to quit the colony of Puerto de Cavallos, 
 where it was impo/Hble for them to keep their ground, on account of 
 fleas, mufquitos, and other vermin, and to relieve us at the good fettle- 
 ment of Naco. He alfo ordered us to take the province of Nicaragua 
 in our way to Mexico, as the government of it was an object worth 
 applying for. Accordingly we took our leave of Cortes who was em- 
 barked, and fet out chearfully upon our journey as Mexico was to be 
 the end of it. It was as ufual attended with extreme diftrefs. How- 
 ever we reached Naco, and found that Captain De Garro had before 
 our arrival gone for Nicaragua, to acquaint his chief, Hernandez, of 
 the promife which Cortes had made, and we fet out on the enfuing 
 day for Mexico. 
 
 Two confidential friends of the governor Arias de Avila, having 
 gotten the knowledge that a private correfpondence was going on 
 between Hernandez and Cortes, began to fufpect the view of the former 
 to furrender his province, and detach himfeif from Avila. Thefe fol- 
 diers were named Garruito and Zamorrano. The former was urged on 
 particularly by an old enmity to Cortes, on account of a rival-fhip about 
 a lady in St. Domingo when they were both youths, and which had 
 ended in a duel. Thefe perfons informed Avila of the whole that they 
 knew, and he, immediately on receipt of the intelligence, haftened off 
 to feize the parties concerned. Garro, alarmed in time, made his ef- 
 capetous; but Hernandez, relying upon their former intimacy and 
 friend(hip, thought that Avila would not proceed to extremities, and 
 did not attempt to avoid him. He was however fadly undeceived, for 
 after a, very fummary procefs he was executed as a traitor to his fuperior 
 officer, in the town which he was colonizing, and thus ended the nego- 
 tiation between him and Cortes, 
 
 The 
 
( 429 ) 
 
 The firft time that Cortes failed from Truxillo for Vera Cruz, he 
 was obliged to put baok by contrary winds, the fecond time from an 
 accident which happened to the veiTel. He was difpirited by licknefs, 
 the voyage alfo added to his mental deprefiion, and he was apprehenfive 
 of the power of the factor. On his return he ordered a folermn mafs, 
 and prayed fervently to the holy Ghofr. to enlighten him as to his future 
 proceedings. It appears that he became infpired with an inclination to 
 ftay and colonize the country where he then was ; for he fent three ex- 
 prefles as hard as they could poft to recall us, and bring us back to 
 Truxillo. In his letters he expreffed his determination, which he attri- 
 buted to the infpiration of his guardian angel. When we received this 
 meflage we bellowed a thoufand maledictions on Cortes and the ill for- 
 tune which attended him, and told Sandoval, that if he chofe to remain 
 it muit be by himfelf, for that we were determined to proceed to Mex- 
 ico. Sandoval was alfo of our opinion; we therefore returned an an- 
 fwer to this effect, figned by us all, and in a few days received another 
 letter from him, which contained great offers to fuch as mould be indu- 
 ced to remain, and concluded by faying, that if we refuied, there frill 
 remained foldiers in Caftille and elfewhere. On receiving this letter 
 we were if pofiible more determined than ever to proceed, but Sandoval 
 earneftly entreated, and perfuaded us to halt for a few days, until he 
 could fee Cortes, in the hope of perfuading him to undertake the jour- 
 ney to Mexico. We wrote back in reply, that as he faid he could find 
 foldiers in Caftille, fo could we governors and generals in Mexico, who 
 would give us plantations for our fervices, and that we had fuffered 
 misfortunes enough already by him. With this anfwer Sandoval fet off, 
 attended by a foldier named Sauzedo, and a farrier, and mounted on mis 
 good horfe Motilla, fwearing by his beard that he would not return 
 until he had put Cortes on board the fhip for Mexico, 
 
 Now T mention Sandoval's horfe, I muft obferve of him,, that he- 
 was the fwifteft, and the beft dreffed, and fineit figure of any honfo in 
 New Spain: he was of a dark chefnut colour, and fuch was .the fame 
 of Motilla, that it reached the ear of his Majefty, to whom Sandoval • 
 
 intended I 
 
( 430 ) 
 
 intended to prefent him. Sandoval applied to me at this time for my 
 horfe, an excellent animal for career, exercife, or road. He coft mc 
 fix hundred crowns to one Avalos brother to Saavedra, my former one, 
 which had coft me a greater fum, being killed in an action at a place 
 called Zulaco. However Sandoval exchanged with me one of his, 
 which was killed under me in lefs than two months; after which I re- 
 mained with nothing better than a vicious colt, which I bought a bad 
 bargain of from amongfl: thofe brought to Truxillo in the two veilels, 
 as I have before related. Sandoval at parting from us defired us to wait 
 his return at a large Indian town named Acalteca. When he reached 
 Truxillo, his friend Cortes was rejoiced to fee him, but neither our 
 letter, nor the prciling inftances of Sandoval, nor of the reverend father 
 Varillas, could induce him to furmount his averfion to proceed to 
 Mexico. 
 
 When Sandoval found it impoflible to induce Cortes to go to Mex- 
 ico, he prevailed upon him to fend a confidential fervant named Martin 
 de Orantes, with a commiffion to Pedro de Alvarado, and Francifco de las 
 Cafas, to take upon them the government during his abfence, in cafe 
 thofe officers were in Mexico, and mould they not be found there, the 
 fame power was to be exercifed by the treafurer Aionzo de Eftrada, and 
 the contador Albornoz, conformably to the deputation given by Cortes 
 to them, previous to his departure from Mexico, thofe delegated to the 
 factor and veedor being revoked. Cortes having agreed to this, and 
 given his orders and inftructions, directed Orantes to land in a bay be- 
 tween Vera Cruz and Panuco, and to fuffer no one to go on more but 
 himfelf ; and the veffel was immediately to hoifl fail, and proceed for 
 Panuco. Thefe laft inftructions were given, that the arrival of 
 his officer mould be kept as private as poflible until the proper time. 
 He alfo fent letters by him to all his friends in New Spain, and to the 
 treafurer and contador, although he knew them in reality not to belong 
 to the number. 
 
 The wimd and weather being favourable, in a few days the veffel 
 
 arrived 
 
( 43' ) 
 
 arrived at its defoliation, and Orantes on landing difguifed himfelf as a 
 labourer. On his journey. he avoided the Spaniards, lodging and mix- 
 ing only with the natives. Thofe who had known him before could 
 not have recognized him, after an abfence of two years and three months. 
 To fuch as queftioned him he faid, that his name was Juan de Flech- 
 illa ; in this manner, being an active man, he arrived in four days at 
 Mexico, and entering the city after dark, he proceeded, directly to the 
 lodgings of the reverend fathers Francifcans. On being admitted, he 
 there founcNhe Alvarados and feveral of the friends of Cortes, conceal- 
 ed. When he had explained who he was, and produced the general's 
 letters, all prefent, the reverend fathers not excepted, danced for joy; 
 they immediately locked: the gates of the monaftery, to exclude the 
 obfervatioh of the traitorous party, and at midnight the intelligence was 
 communicated to the treafurer, the contador, and many of the friends 
 of Cortes, who immediately afTembled at the Francifcans. 
 
 It was then determined by them, as the firfr. ftep, to feize on the 
 perfon of the factor in the morning. All the intermediate time was 
 employed in collecting arms and friends, and making other preparations 
 for the purpofe. The veedor was at that period at the rock of Coatlan. 
 At day break the whole party marched to the palace inhabited by the 
 factor, crying, "long live his Majefty, and Hernando Cortes.'* When 
 this was heard by the citizens, they all took to their arms, thinking it 
 fomething wherein government called for their ailiitance, and numbers 
 under that idea joined the treafurer on his march. As to the contador, 
 he played a double part, giving intelligence to the factor to put him on 
 his guard, and Eftrada reproached him ftrongly for his conduct. 
 
 When the party of Cortes approached the refidence of the factor, 
 they found that he was already well prepared, owing to the information 
 that he had received. His artillery under Don Luis de Guzman was 
 planted in front of the houfe, and he had a ftrong garrifon within fide. 
 Thofe with the treafurer forcing their way in, fome by the different 
 doors, others by the terraces and wherever they could get accefs, all at 
 
 the 
 

 ( 43* ) 
 
 the fame time, and fhouting for his Majefty and Cortes, the adherents 
 of the factor became difmayed, and the artillery-men abandoning the 
 guns, the other foldiers alfo made off and hid themfelves; one of them, 
 Gines Nortes, leaping down from a corredor, {o that there only remain- 
 ed with the factor, Pedro Gonzalez Sabiote, and four fervante, When 
 he found himfelf thus abandoned, he became defperate, and endeavour- 
 ed himfelf to fire off the guns, in which attempt he was feized, and 
 made prifoner. A large cage of timber was conftructed to receive him, 
 and thus terminated his career as governor of New Spain. Circular 
 notice was fent to all the provinces of this revolution, by which each 
 individual was pleafed or diflatisfied as his particular intereft fwayed 
 him. When the veedor heard it he was fo diftreiTed that he fell fick. 
 He left his command with Captain De Monjaraz, and got himfelf con- 
 veyed towards Mexico, and reaching the monaftery of St. Francis in 
 Tezcuco, he there fhut himfelf up, and was fhortly after made prifoner 
 and fecured in another wooden cage. 
 
 Immediate intelligence of all that had happened was forwarded to 
 Pedro de Alvarado, with directions to him to proceed to Truxillo, and 
 wait upon Cortes. The next thing that the new deputies did was, to 
 pay their refpects to Juanna de Manfilla, the woman who had been 
 whipped for a witch. The treafurer placed her on horfeback behind 
 him, and thus, attended by all the cavaliers in procellion, me was pa- 
 raded through the ftreets of Mexico like a Roman matron, and was ever 
 after called Donna Juanna, in honour of her conltancy, in refuting to 
 comply with the orders of the factor, to marry again, while me was 
 convinced that her hufband was living. 
 
 The fituation of Mexico evidently requiring the prefence of Cortes, 
 Fray Diego de Altamirano was pitched on by his friends to wait upon 
 him, and reprefent to him the neceflity of his immediately fetting out. 
 This father had been in the military profemon before he entered the 
 church, and was a man of bufinefs and abilities. The conduct purfued 
 by the veedor and factor, and efpecially their confifcations and diftribu- 
 
 tion 
 
^ *89 ) 
 
 tion of property among their greedy fupportcrs, had gained them many 
 adherents, and, it not friends, at lcaft perfons interefled in the main- 
 tenance of their government. Thefe, compoied principally of the low 
 and feditious defcription, but mixed with fome of quality, with the 
 fupport and contrivance of the contador who dreaded the arrival of 
 Cortes, had formed a plan to kill the treafurer, and reinftate the factor 
 and veedor in their offices. For the purpofe of releasing them from 
 prifon, they had recourfe to one Guzman, a white-fmith; a fellow of 
 low character, and a ridiculous affecter of wit. To him they applied 
 to make the keys, giving him a piece of gold whereon was marked the 
 form in which they w r ere to be wrought, and charging him at the fame 
 time to keep the ftricteft. fecrecy. All this he readily undertook and 
 promifed, (peaking as if he had the liberation of the prifoners fincerely 
 at heart. They then told him all the particulars which his inquifitive- 
 nds induced him to queftion them about, and he proceeded in his work, 
 but flowly and aukwardly, in order to induce them to repeat their vifits, 
 to hurry him on; and he thus obtained from the confpirators the know- 
 ledge that he required. The keys being finilhed, and the party ready 
 to make the attempt, he luddenly went to the houfe of the treafurer, 
 and gave him an account of the whole. The treafurer, affembling the 
 friends of Cortes on the inftant, proceeded to the place of meeting, 
 where he found twenty confpirators armed, and in waiting for the fig- 
 nal. Thefe he feized, but many others made their efcape. Among 
 thefe apprehended were fome notorious characters ; one of them had 
 lately committed violence on a Caftillian woman. They were tried be- 
 fore the bachelor Ortega alcalde major, and being convicted, three 
 were hanged, and feveral whipped. 
 
 I mull: now make a coniiderable digreffion from my narrative, 
 though it comes in properly in point of matter, to mention how the 
 fame veflel which conveyed the letters tranfmitted by the factor to his 
 Majeity in Caftille, conveyed others, fo artfully concealed that he had 
 no lufpicion of them, wherein was given a full and true account of all 
 
 Kkk 
 
 nis 
 
( 434 ) 
 
 his opprerTions, and unlawful proceedings. Thefe facts had alfo been 
 already reported by the courts of St. Domingo, which contradicted the 
 accounts of the death of Cortes, and informed his Majefty how that 
 officer was employed for his fervice. The Emperor is reported to have 
 declared his indignation at the manner in which Cortes had been treated, 
 and his determination to fupport him. 
 
 When Fra Altamirano arrived at Truxillo, and explained his bufi- 
 nefs to Cortes, the latter returned thanks to heaven for having granted 
 peace to that countiy. He alfo declared his intention of going thither, 
 but that it muft be by land, on account of the contrariety of the currents 
 and his own bad ftate of health. The pilots however reprefented to 
 him that the feafon was favourable, it being then the month of April, 
 and prevailed upon him to give up his firft determination, but ftill he 
 could not leave that place until the return of Sandoval, whom he had 
 detached againft a Captain Roxas, who ferved under Arias, and againft 
 whom complaints had been lodged by the natives of a diftrict named 
 Olancho, which was diftant about fifty five leagues from Truxillo. 
 Sandoval had been detached thither with feventy foldierS; at firft the 
 two parties were upon the brink of hoftilities, but became afterwards 
 reconciled and parted amicably, Roxas and his foldiers quirting that 
 country. 
 
 Sandoval was immediately recalled in confequence of the mefTage 
 brought by Altamirano. The general appointed Captain Saavedra his 
 lieutenant in that province, and wrote at the fame time to Captain 
 Luis Marin, to march our whole party by the road of Guatimala, 
 and Captain Godoy he ordered to Naco. Thefe letters Saavedra mali- 
 cioufly fuppreffed, for they never came to our hands. Cortes previous 
 to his embarkation confefTed to Fra Juan and received the facrament, 
 for he was fo ill that he thought himfelf at the point of death. The 
 wind favouring his voyage to the Havannah, he foon arrived there, 
 
 and 
 
( 435 ) 
 
 and was joyfully received by his former friends and acquaintances; 
 and a veffel from New Spain which arrived about the fame time, 
 brought intelligence that the country was at peace, for that the Indians 
 hearing that Cortes, and we his conquerors were yet living, had come 
 in and fubmitted. 
 
 Kkk a 
 
f 436 ) 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Return of Cortes to Mexico; occurrences there. Return 
 oj the author to Mexico. 
 
 A: 
 
 ,FTER five days refrefhmcnt at the Havannah, Cortes embarked, 
 and in twelve days arrived at the Port of Medcllin, oppofite to the If- 
 land De los Sacriflcios, where he difembarked with twenty foldiers, and 
 proceeding to the town of San Juan de Ulua, which was diftant about 
 half a league, it was his fortune to light upon a firing of horfes and 
 mules which had conveyed travellers to the coaft, and which he engag- 
 ed to take him to Vera Cruz. He ordered thofe about him to give no 
 hint to any one, who he was, and two hours before day break arriving 
 at the town, he went directly to the church the doors of which were 
 juft opened. When the facriftan faw the church filled with people 
 whom he did not know, he became alarmed and ran into the flreet, 
 calling to the civil power to aflifr. him. The alcaldes, three alguazils 
 and feme of the neighbours came with arms in confequence of the noife. 
 Cortes was fqualid, and the white habit of the reverend father was 
 dirty from the fea voyage, nor did any one recollect them until Cortes 
 began to fpeak ; but as foon as he was recognized by them, they all 
 fell upon their knees, kiffed his hands, and bid him and his attendants 
 welcome. All his old fellow foldiers aflembled around him, and after 
 mafs, efcorted him to the quarters of Pedro Moreno Medrano, where 
 he remained, for eight days, during which time he was fcafted and en- 
 tertained by the inhabitants. Intelligence was alfo fent to Mexico to 
 give the people there the joyful tidings, and Cortes wrote to his friends 
 to the fame effect. The Indians of the neighbourhood brought him 
 
 abundant 
 
( 437 ) 
 
 abundant prefents, and when he fet oat for the city of Mexico every 
 preparation was made for his accommodation. The inhabitants of Mex- 
 ico, and of all the places round the lake celebrated his return with fef- 
 tivals, and thofe of Tlafcala did the fame. 
 
 When he arrived at Tefcuco, where the contador came to wait 
 upon him, he thought it proper to remain there for that night, and on 
 the next morning but one he entered the city, being met by all the offi- 
 cers, cavaliers, and other inhabitants, in great ftate. The natives in 
 their belt drefles, and armed as warriors, filled the lake with their ca- 
 noes; the dancing continued in- every ftreet during the day, and at night 
 the cky was Uluminar :d w^rii lights at every door. Immediately on his 
 arrival he went to the monafterv of St. Fraucifco, to return thanks to 
 God for all his mercies to h;m. From that he went to his magnifi- 
 cent palace, where he was ferved and tftccmed, and feared, as a fover- 
 eign prince, all the provinces making their fubrniilions, and fending 
 prefents and congratulations to him. The entry of Cortes into Mexico 
 was in the month of June. He immediately ordered the arreft of thofe 
 who had been moft eminent for fedition, and faction, and caufed an 
 enquiry to be infr.itur.ed into the conduct of the two great culprits. He 
 alfo arretted one Ocampo, who had been concerned in defamatory libels, 
 and a perfon of the name of Ocana a fcrivener. This man who was 
 very old was called the body and foul of the factor. He now intended 
 to proceed immediately to bring the veedor and factor to jultice for their 
 crimes, and if he had done (o no one could have faid againft it, and it 
 would have met his Majefty 's approbation. This I heard faid by fome 
 members of the royal council of the Indies, the Bifhop de las Cafas be- 
 ing prefent, in the year of our Lord one thoufand five hundred and forty, 
 when I was attending on my own affairs; but in this inftance Cortes 
 may be juflly taxed with feeblenefs of conduct. 
 
 The reader has already been informed of the charges brought 
 againir Cortes in Caftillc, and of the orders iffued to the admiral" of St. 
 
 Domingo, 
 
■s 
 
 ( 438 ) 
 
 Domingo, of the interpbfitioji of the Duke of Bejar, and the appoint- 
 ment of Luis Ponce de Leon. The licentiate at this period of which I 
 am writing, had arrived at Medellin. The fuddennefs of his coming 
 rather furprifed Cortes, who when he received the intelligence, w r as 
 performing his devotions in the church of St. Francis. He earneftly 
 prayed to the Lord to guide him as feemed befttohis holy wifdom, and 
 on coming out of the church lent an exprefs to bring him information 
 of all particulars. In two days after, the licentiate fent him his Ma- 
 jesty's orders to receive him as rcfident j udgc in Mexico, and Cortes in 
 confequence thereof difpatched a perfon with a melTage of compliment, 
 and defiring to know which of the two roads to the city lie intended to 
 take, that he might make fuch preparations as were proper for the re- 
 ception of a perfon of his rank. The licentiate fent him back an anfwer, 
 thanking him for his polite offers, and declaring his intention to repofe 
 after the fatigues of his voyage for a little time, where he was. This 
 interval was bufily employed by the enemies of Cortes, who reprefented 
 to the licentiate that it was his determination to put the factor and vee- 
 dor to death, before his arrival, and that it was neceflary for him to 
 take good care as to his own perfon, for as to all thefe civilities of Cor- 
 tes, they were only intended, by afcertaining the road that he intended 
 to take, under the colour of preparation to do hirn honour, the more 
 effectually to fucceed in his intention to aiTaffinate him. They alfo 
 mifreprefented every tranfaction in which Cortes had been concerned. 
 
 The perfons whom the licentiate principally confulted were the 
 alcalde major Proano, a native of Cordova, and his brother the alcalde 
 of the citadel, named Salazar de la Pedrada, who fhortly after his arri- 
 val died of a pleurify, Marcos de Aguilar a licentiate or bachelor, a fol- 
 dier named Bocanegra de Cordova, and certain fathers of the order of 
 St. Domingo, the provincial of whom was one Fray Thomas Ortiz. 
 He had been a prior fome where that I do not now recollect, and all 
 thofe who came with him defcribed him to be a man more fit for world- 
 ly affairs than thofe which particularly concerned his holy office. With 
 
 thefe 
 
( 439 ) 
 
 thefe perfons the licentiate confulted as to his proceeding to Mexico, 
 which they all were of opinion mould not be delayed an inftant. Ac- 
 cordingly, the laft melTengers difpatched by Cortes met him on the road 
 at Iztapalapa. A fumptuous banquet was here prepared for them, at 
 which, after feveral abundant and magnificent fervices, fome cheefe- 
 cakes and cuftards were placed upon the table, as great delicacies. They 
 were fo much approved of, and fome of the company eat of them in 
 fuch quantities, that they made them fick; but thofe who eat of them 
 in moderation were not at all affected. However this prior, Fray Tho- 
 mas Ortiz, allerted that they had been poifoned with arfenic, and that 
 he had not eaten of them from a fufpicion that they were fo; but others 
 who were prefent declared, that he fluffed himfelf heartily with them, 
 and faid that they were the beft he had ever tailed. This new charge 
 was immediately feized on and circulated by the enemies of Cortes, 
 to throw an odium upon him. 
 
 During this time Cortes remained in Mexico; report faid that he 
 had fent a good prefent of gold to the licentiate; this I cannot warrant; 
 but as he had perfons ftationed to bring him intelligence, on his quit- 
 ting Iztapalapa Cortes fet out to meet him, with a grand and numerous 
 retinue of all the officers and gentlemen of the city. When the two. 
 parties met, many civilities paffed between the great men; the licentiate 
 feemed to me to be well acquainted with the rules of politenefs. It was 
 with great difficulty that Cortes could prevail upon him to take the 
 right hand. On his entry into the city he proceeded to the monaftery 
 of St. Francifco, bufinefs being deferred till the enfuing day. Cortes 
 attended the licentiate to the palace prepared for him, where he enter- 
 tained him moft fumptuoufly, but his politenefs and grandeur of man- 
 ner was more ftriking than all the reft, infomuch that the licentiate ob- 
 ferved privately to his friends, that Cortes muft have been for a long 
 time pall: exerciling himfelf in the manners of a great man. 
 
 On the enfuing day, the council of Mexico, and all the civil and 
 
 military. 
 
( 440 ) 
 
 military officers, and the veteran foldiers, were alTembled by order; and 
 in our prefence the licentiate Ponce de Leon produced his authority from 
 his Majefty, which Cortes having kilTed, and placed upon his head in 
 token of fubmhTion, we all declared our obedience to, as in duty 
 bound. The licentiate then received and returned back the rod of juftice, 
 in token of the furrender of the government into his hands, faying to 
 Cortes, "General, this government I receive from you by his Majeity's 
 " orders, wherein however it is by no means implied that you are not 
 " moil: worthy of this, or higher truits." To which the general replied, 
 that he was always happy in obeying his Majefly's commands, and 
 that it was alfo a fatisfaction to him, that he would be thereby enabled 
 to prove the falfehood and malice of his enemies. The licentiate in 
 anfwci faid, that where were good men, there were alfo bad, and fuch 
 was the world; but that to each would be repaid in kind. This was 
 all the material hufinefs of the day. On the next, Cortes attended the 
 fummon of the new governor, who fent it with much refpect, and 
 they lud a conference, at which no one was prefent except the prior 
 Thoirus Ortiz; but it is faid and believed that the licentiate addrelTed 
 Cortes to the following effect. He firfl obferved that it had been his 
 Majefly's intention, that thofe who had moil merit in the conqueit of 
 this country, mould be well provided for in the diftribution of planta- 
 tions, confidering more especially the foldiers who firft came thither 
 from Cuba; and that it had been underftood, that this was not the cafe, 
 for that they had been neglected, while others newly arrived had wealth 
 heapec upon them, without any juft pretentions. Cortes, to this, re- 
 plied, that all had got (hares, but that fome of thefe it was true turned 
 out much inferior to others ; however it was in his power as governor 
 now to rectify that. The governor then afked him how it happened 
 that he had left Luis de Godoy to perifti for want in a diflant fettlement, 
 when the veterans ought to have been fuffercd to remain and enjoy the 
 comforts of eftablilhed poffeflions in Mexico, and the new colonizations 
 have been affigned to new comers. He alfo enquired how Captain Luis 
 Marin, Bernal Diaz del Caftillo, and the others of his approved foldiers 
 
 had 
 
( 44* ) 
 
 had been taken care of. Cortes replied, that For bufinefs of danger it 
 was ufelefs to employ any but his veterans; but that they would foon 
 he expected return to Mexico, being then upon their road thither. The 
 governor next alked him, rather fharply, about his imprudent march 
 againft Chriftoval de Oli, undertaken without his Majefty's orders or 
 permiflion. To which Cortes anfwered, that he confidered it to be 
 neceflary for his Majefty's fervice, as the dangerous effects of fuch ex 
 ample among officers intrufted with feparate commands might be very 
 extenfive, and that he had, previous to fetting out, reported to his Ma- 
 jefty his intention fo to do. He then questioned Cortes as to the affairs 
 ofNarvaez, Garay, and Tapia, to all which Cortes gave fuch fatis- 
 factory anfwers that the governor feemed to be well contented there- 
 with. 
 
 After Cortes had retired, Fray Thomas Ortiz called on three per- 
 fons intimate friends of the general, and with great earneftnefs told them 
 the fame which he on the enfuing morning told to Cortes himfelf; for 
 coming to him at that time, and defiring to fpeak to him in private, he 
 then allured him, with many proteftations of friendship, and wifhes to 
 ferve him, that the governor had fecret orders from his Majefty, imme- 
 diately to behead him, and that he had thought it proper, in conform* 
 ity with the duty of his facred function, as well as from his private 
 regard, to give him early intelligence. This friendly communication 
 it may be fuppofed gave Cortes a good deal to reflect upon ; he had been 
 informed of the intriguing and Simulating character of the friar, and 
 was induced to think that this might be done to induce him 
 to give a bribe for his interceffion. Others faid afterwards that Ortiz 
 acted by the directions of the governor. Cortes, however, received his 
 pretended friendly information with many thanks, declaring his hopes 
 that his Majefty had a different opinion of his fervices, than to proceed 
 againft him in that manner, and that he had too high an opinion of the 
 governor, to fuppofe he would do any thing without warrant. 
 When the friar found that his tricks were not attended by the effect 
 
 Lll that 
 

 
 C 44a ) 
 
 that he lhad flattered himfelf with, he remained much confufed, and 
 did not know what to fay. 
 
 The new governor ifTued public notice, that all who had complaints 
 to make againft the former adminiflration of the country, fhould bring 
 them forward, whether they were concerning Cortes, the civil, or the 
 military officers. In confequence of this a holt, of accufers, litigants, 
 and claimants, ftarted up. All the general's private enemies brought 
 accufations againfl him; others who had really juflice on their fide laid 
 claim to what was due to them. Some alledged that they had not re- 
 ceived their proper (hares of gold, others that they had not been fuffici- 
 ently rewarded, and others demanded remuneration for their horfes kil- 
 led in the wars, although they had gotten ten times the value in gold; 
 and fome demanded fatisfaction for perfonal injuries. Juft at the period 
 when the governor had opened his court to give a hearing to all 
 the parties, it was God's will, and for our fins and misfortunes, that 
 he fhould be taken fuddenly ill of a fever, and a lethargy coming on 
 him he remained in that ftate four days. His three phyficians then ad- 
 vifed him to confefs and receive the facrament, which he did with 
 great devotion, and appointed as his fuccellor in the government, Mar- 
 cos de Aguiiar who had come with him from Caftille. Some faid that 
 the latter was only a bachelor and not a licentiate, and therefore incapa- 
 ble of acting; however the governor left him orders not to proceed fur- 
 ther with the bufinefs of the court, but that all fhould be laid before 
 his Majefty. On the ninth day from the time he was taken ill, the 
 governor gave up his breath to our Lord. The whole city went into 
 mourning on the occafion. The military deplored his lofs with parti- 
 cular reafon, for he certainly intended to redrefs all abufes, and to re- 
 ward us according ta our merits. 
 
 I heard an anecdote of him, at the time of his death, and it was 
 this. He was of a gay difpofition and fond of mufic; to divert his 
 lethargy, his attendants brought a lute, and played upon it in his apart- 
 ment; 
 
( 443 ) 
 
 ment; and they faid that while they played him a favourite air, he beat 
 time to it, and juft as it was finifhed he expired. What malignities 
 and (landers were now circulated againft Cortes, by his enemies in Mex- 
 ico ! they faid that he and Sandoval had poifoned the governor, as he 
 had before done Garay. The moft bufy in this malicious affair was the 
 friar Ortiz. It appeared as if the veflel which brought them had been 
 infected with the difeafe of which the governor died; above a hundred of 
 thofe who came in it having died at lea or after landing. All the friars 
 except a very few were fwept off, and the contagion pervaded the city 
 of Mexico. 
 
 It was the wifh of thofe who were enemies to Cortes, that the 
 enquiry fhould be proceeded on in the fame manner as was intended be- 
 fore the death of the late governor. Cortes afferted his readinefs, pro- 
 vided that the new governor Aguilar would take upon him the refpon- 
 fibility of acting contrary to the teftament of his predeceflbr. The coun- 
 cil of Mexico however infifted that Aguilar was ineligible to that high 
 fituation, on account of his age, infirmities, and other incapacities, 
 which indeed were pretty evident. They therefore recommended that 
 Cortes mould be affociated with him, but he infifted on adhering Itrict- 
 ly to the letter of the teftament of his predeceffor, and Cortes was alfo 
 entirely adverfe to taking any (hare of the authority, for private reafons, 
 fo that the whole weight refted on this poor hectic old man, who was 
 obliged to drink goat's milk, and to be fuckled by a Caftillian woman 
 to keep him alive. 
 
 I will now go to a diftance both in time and place, to relate that 
 which happened to us on our journey to Mexico from Naco, where 
 we were waiting to hear from Sandoval, who was to fend us notice of 
 the failing of Cortes, which intelligence we never received, Saavedra, 
 I have already mentioned, malicioufly fupprefling the letters with which 
 he was intrufled. 
 
 Lll 2 
 
 When 
 

 f*f** saw* ] mm% d*m mm 
 
 
 - 
 
 ( 444 ) 
 
 When our captain Marin and the reft of us found that we were 
 difappointed, in the receipt of our expected intelligence, we determin- 
 ed to fend a party to Truxillo to learn the truth. Accordingly ten of 
 the cavalry, of which I was one, fet out, and on our arrival at a place 
 named Olancho, we learned from fome Spaniards that Cortes had failed. 
 This intelligence was foon after confirmed to us in a communication we 
 had with Saavedra; we therefore returned to our Captain Marin with 
 the good news, and foon after we all fet out with joyful hearts 
 for Mexico. I recollect we threw ftones at the country we left be- 
 hind us. 
 
 On our way, at a place called Maniani, we met five foldiers who 
 had been fent by Alvarado in fearch of us. They were commanded by 
 one of our veterans named Diego de Villanueva, a brave foldier. As 
 foon as we had recognized each other and faluted, we enquired for 
 his Captain Alvarado, who, he informed us was not far diifant, and 
 whom accordingly, after two days march farther, we fell in with. 
 Our meeting took place at the town of Cholulteca Malalaca, and a third 
 party joined us there, compofed of captains under Pedro Arias de 
 Avila, who met Alvarado 's party to adjuft fome difference about 
 bounds. We remained here together for three days. Alvarado at this 
 time fent one Gafpar Arias de Avila, a confidential friend of his to 
 treat with Captain Pedro Arias, about fome particular bufinefs, I be- 
 lieve relative to a marriage; for Captain P. A. de Avila feemed much 
 devoted to Alvarado. 
 
 Continuing our march, we crofted a hoflile country where the 
 natives killed one of our foldiers, and wounded three others. The 
 want of time prevented our punifhing them as they deferved. Further 
 on, in Guatimala, they had alfo manned the paffes againft us, and we 
 were detained three days in forcing our way ; here 1 received a wound 
 of an arrow, but it was of little confequence. We then arrived at the 
 valley where the city of Guatimala is now built, the people of which 
 
 were 
 
( 445. ) 
 
 were all hoftile ; I recoiled that here we had a number of mocks of an 
 earthquake, very long in their duration, and fo violent as to throw fe- 
 veral of the foldiers to the ground. 
 
 When we paffed old Guatimala, the natives had aflembled to give 
 us an hoftile reception, but we drove them away before us, and took 
 pofTefTion of their magnificent dwellings and quadrangles, for that- 
 night, and on the enfuing day we hutted ourfelves on the plain, where 
 we halted for ten days ; during which time Alvarado fent fummons to 
 the neighbouring Indians, to come in and fubmit. We delayed here 
 to receive their anfwers, which none of them thought proper to fend. 
 We then proceeded; on our journey by long marches, until we reached 
 the ftation of Alvarado 's main force, at Olintepeque. After, halting 
 there for fome days we proceeded on towards Mexico, by Sbconuzco, 
 and Teguantepeque. On this march we loft two of our Spaniards, and. 
 the Mexican lord Juan Vela.fquez who had been a chief under Guati- 
 motzin. 
 
 When we arrived at Guaxaca, we learned the news of the death 
 of the governor Ponce de Leon. Anxioufly prefting forward for Mex- 
 ico, we arrived at Chalco, from whence we fent forward meflengers to 
 Cortes to inform him of our approach, and requefting that he_ would 
 provide us good quarters, which we much required, for, it was now 
 two, years and three months fince we fet out upon our expedition. As 
 Cortes knew of our approach, he rode out with many cavaliers to meet 
 us on the caufeway, and accompany us into the city. We went on 
 our arrival, to the great church, to return our thanks to God. From 
 thence we attended the general tp his palace, where he had a fumptu- 
 ous entertainment provided for us. Alvarado went to his refidence in. 
 the fortrefs, of which he had been appointed alcalde. Luis Marin 
 went to lodge with Sandoval, and I and another friend named Captain. 
 Luis Sanchez, were taken by Andrez de Tapia to his houfe- Sandoval 
 
 and 
 

 
 ( 44<$ ) 
 
 and all our friends, and Cortes among the reft, fait us prefents of 
 neceflkries, as alfo gold and cocoa for our expences. 
 
 On the next day my friend and I, accompanied by Sandoval and 
 Andres de Tapia, proceeded to wait upon the governor Aguilar, who 
 received us with much politenefs, but declared his inability to make 
 any new arrangements, the whole being left to his Majefty's arbitration; 
 but that if he was authorifed, he would do every thing that lay in his 
 power to give us fatisfaction. At this time arrived from the Ifland of 
 Cuba, Diego de Ordaz whom I have already mentioned as the circulat- 
 or of the report of our deaths ; he was feverely taxed for his impropri- 
 ety, but moil folemnly denied it to us, averring that he had only written 
 an account of the unfortunate affair at Xicalonga as it really happened, 
 and any mifrcprefentation that was made, the factor was accountable 
 for; and for the truth of what he aiTerted he referred to his letters. 
 Cortes had at this time too much bufinefs on his hands to embarrafs 
 himfelf any further with this; he therefore thought proper to drop it, 
 and endeavour to refcue his property, which had been difpofed of upon 
 the fuppofition of his death. A great part of it had been appropriated 
 to the expences of celebrating his funeral fervice, and to the faying maf- 
 fes for his foul and ours, to give credit to the report; and thefe 
 perpetual mafTes which had been fo purchafbd out of the property of 
 Cortes upon the fuppofition of his death, and for the good of his foul, 
 were now that he was found to be alive, and no longer to be in need of 
 them, purchafed by one Juan de Caceres, for the benefit of his own 
 foul, whenever he was to die; fo that Cortes was more removed from 
 the re-attainment of his property than ever. 
 
 Ordas who was a wife man and one of experience in worldly affairs, 
 feeing that Cortes was neglected and had fallen in public eftimation 
 fince his being fuperceded by the governor Ponce de Leon, advifed him 
 to affume more confequence and a more ftately appearance than his na- 
 tural difpofition prompted him to, in order to maintain the refpect that 
 
 was 
 
( 447 ) 
 
 was due to him; but fuch was his natural plainnefs of manners, that he 
 never at any time liked to be called otherwife than fimply, Cortes, and 
 truly it was a great and noble name in itfelf, and as much revered as 
 Cafar's and Pompey's in the time of the Romans, Hannibal's among, 
 the Carthaginians, or in our time that of Conzalo Hernandez, or the moll 
 valiant and ever invincible Diego Garcia de Paredcs. Ordaz alio in- 
 formed Cortes of the report that was circulated through Mexico, of its 
 being his intention to put the factor to death privately in jail j and he 
 warned him of the man being powerfully patronifed. 
 
 The treafurer Eftrada at this time married off two of his daughters j 
 one to Jorge de Alvarado, another to Don Luis de Guzman fon to the 
 Count De Caftellar. It was then fettled that Pedro de Alvarado Ihould 
 go to Caftille to folicit the government of Guatimala, and he in the 
 mean time fent his brother Jorge to that province with a force of our 
 allies of different nations, to reduce it. The governor alfo about that 
 period fent a force againft the province of Chiapa under the command 
 of Don Juan Enriquez de Guzman, a near relation of the duke of Me- 
 dina Sidonia; an other to the province of Tabafco under Balthafar Offo- 
 rio, and a third againft the Zapoteean mountaineers under Alonzo de 
 Herrera, one of our veterans. 
 
 After lingering for eight months, the governor Marcos de Aguilar 
 gave up the ghoft, leaving by teftament the treafurer Alonzo de Eftrada 
 his fucceffor. At this time, the council of Mexico and many principal 
 Spaniards were folicitous that Cortes mould be aflbciated with the trea- 
 furer in the government, the latter appearing entirely incompetent at the 
 prefent juncture, more particularly for the following reafon. Nuno 
 de Guzman who had for two years governed the province of Panuco, 
 was a man of a moft furious and tyrannical difpolition, arbitrarily extend- 
 ing the bounds of his jurifdiction, and putting to death all who dared 
 to oppofe his will. Thus Pedro Gonzalez de Truxillo, a perfon of no- 
 ble condition, afferting with truth that his diftrict was a dependency of 
 
 Mexico*. 
 
1— — — — Ml 
 
 ( 448 ) 
 
 Mexico, the other without any ceremony ordered him to be immedi- 
 ately hanged, which was accordingly done, contrary to all juftice. 
 He alfo put many other Spaniards to death, apparently for no reafon 
 except to make himfelf feared, and fet the authority of the governor of 
 Mexico at defiance. In order therefore to curb the infolence of Guz- 
 man,, it was the wifh of many that Cortes fhould take a (hare in the 
 government, but he was utterly adverfe to' it, knowing the difficulties, 
 and the dangerous power and more dangerous malignity of his enemies, 
 for as ufual, upon the death of Aguilar the ftory was again induftri- 
 oufly circulated, that it was owing to poifon given him by Cortes* 
 
 It was determined on the peremptory refufal 'of the latter, that 
 Sandoval who was alguazil major, mould act conjointly with the trea- 
 furer, and he was willingly accepted as an aflbciate by him. His firffc 
 bufinefs on entering into -office was, to endeavour to bring to juftice one 
 Ruano, who had fled from Mexico for Tome crime. He fince became 
 a rich man, for, efcaping for the prefent, he eluded juftice altogether, 
 though Sandoval did his utmoft to apprehend him. 
 
 Certain perfons, the inveterate and active enemies of Cortes, now 
 pcrfuaded the treafurer to write to Caftille, to reprelent at court, that he 
 had been compelled by the influence of Cortes, toaffociate Sandoval with 
 him in the government, contrary to his inclination, and to his Majef- 
 ty's fervice. They by the fame opportunity tranfmitted a volume of 
 malignant falfehoods, which they had raked up againft the general, 
 fuch as that he had poifoned Luis Ponce de Leon, and Marcos de Agui- 
 lar the governors, as alfo the Adelantado Garay, and that he had en- 
 deavoured to adminifter arfenic in cheefecakes to a number of people at 
 a feaft. Alfo that he was plotting the fecret murders of the veedor and 
 factor in jail. All which lies were fupported by the induftry of the 
 contador Albornoz, who was then in Caftille. He was alfo charged 
 ftrongly as to the death of his firft wife, and thefe things being thus 
 urged, Cortes was in part judged unheard, an order being fent to releafe 
 
 the 
 
< 449 ) 
 
 the veedor and factor, and an officer named Don Pedro de la Cueva 
 commendador major of Alcantara, was ordered to go with three hun- 
 dred foldiers, at the eoft of Cortes, and in cafe of his guilt being prov- 
 ed, to inflict the punifhment of death upon him, and diflribute his 
 property amongft the veteran conquerors of Mexico. This was how- 
 ever to be done under the judgment of a royal court of audience, to be 
 prefent upon the fpot for the purpofe. All thefe preparations however 
 ended in nothing ; for neither Don Pedro de la Cueva, nor the court of 
 royal audience ever arrived. 
 
 The treafurer was now greatly elevated by the countenance which 
 he received at court, "and which he attributed to his being considered a 
 fon of the catholic king. He difpofed of governments at his pleafure, 
 fending his relation Mazariejos to make enquiry into the conduct: of 
 Don Juan Enriquez de Guzman in Chiapa, where they fay more pil- 
 lage and plunder took place than ought to have done. He alfo fent a 
 force againft the Zapotecans and Minxes under one De Barrios, faid to 
 be a brave foldier, and who had ferved in Italy. I do not mean Barrios 
 of Seville, the brother-in-law of Cortes. This officer marched againft 
 them with a hundred foldiers, but the natives furprifed him one 
 night, and killed him with feven more of the party. Such was the 
 difference between us the veteran conquerors, and thefe raw half formed 
 foldiers, who did not know the arts and Stratagems of the enemy. The 
 governor alfo fent a hundred of the new foldiers, under the command 
 of a particular friend named Figuero, to the province of Guaxaca. On 
 his route by the Zapotecans, Figuero fell in with a captain left in com- 
 mand there by Marcos de Aguilar, named Alonzo Herrera, and fome 
 difpute arifing between them, fwords were drawn, Herrera wounding 
 Figuero, and three other foldiers who were with him. Figuero find- 
 ing himfelf not able to go into the field, and his foldiers not being fit 
 for expeditions in the mountains, thought proper to fearch for and 
 break open the fepulchres, in which the ancient chiefs of thofe coun- 
 tries were interred, to make prize of the gold, Which according to 
 
 Mmm " cuftom 
 
( 45° ) 
 
 cuftom was buried with them. In this manner he collected to the 
 value of above one hundred thoufand crowns, and with this wealth, 
 which was increafed by prefents, he fet off for Mexico, leaving the 
 provinces in a worfe ftate than he found them. From Mexico he went 
 to Vera Cruz, and embarking for Caftille, the veffel in which he failed 
 was loll: in a gale of wind, and he and all his wealth went to the bot- 
 tom The bufinefs of fubjecting thefe Indians was finally left to us, the 
 conquerors of Guacacualco, who at length brought them to peace, for 
 their cuftom was to fubmit during the fummer, and to break into rebel- 
 lion as foon as the torrents made their country inaccelTible. I was on 
 three expeditions againft them. The town of St. Alfonfo is now built 
 there, to keep them in fubje&ion. 
 
 When the governor heard how his friend had been maltreated by 
 Figuero, he fent the officers of juftice to apprehend him; he however 
 cfcaped to the rocks and woods, but they took a foldier who ufed to 
 accompany him, and brought him prifoner to Mexico, where, without 
 a hearing, the governor ordered his right hand to be ftruck off. His 
 name was Cortejo, and by birth he was a gentleman. 
 
 A fcrvant of Sandoval alio at this time wounded a fcrvant of the 
 treafurer, in a quarrel. The treafurer had him arretted, and command- 
 ed his right hand to be cut off. Cortes and Sandoval were at this time 
 at a place called Quernavaca, partly from motives of prudence. On 
 hearing of this infult they ported off to Mexico, and it is faid that Cor- 
 tes ufed fuch expreilions to the treafurer upon the fubjecl:, as to put the 
 latter in fear of his life. He called his friends about him to form a 
 guard for his perfon, and immediately releafed the veedor and factor 
 from jail. By their advice the governor was then induced to iffue an 
 order, for the inflant expulfion of Cortes from Mexico. This being 
 represented to Cortes, he declared his readinefs to obey, fince it was the 
 will <of God, that he who had gained that city, at the expence of his 
 beit. blood, by day and by night, (hould be banifhed from it, by the 
 
 bafe 
 
( 45' ) 
 bafeand unworthy: and that he would fet out immediately, and de- 
 mand juitice from his Majefly. 
 
 Inftantly therefore quitting the city, he went to one of his country 
 refidences at Cuyoacan. from whence in a few days he proceeded to- 
 wards the coaft. At this time the lady of the treafurer, a perfon well 
 worthy of memory for her many virtues, feeing the dangerous confe- 
 quences likely to refult from his abfurd and arbitrary conduct expoftu- 
 lated with him on it, reminding him of the many favours he had re- 
 ceived from Cortes, the ingratitude with which he had repatd htm, and 
 the many friends that Cortes had. Thefe reprefentations are faid to have 
 operated on the mind of the treafurer, fo as to caufe fincere repentance 
 of the fteps that lie had taken. 
 
 At this time arrived in New Spain Fray JuUan Garnos, firft bifhop 
 of Tlafcala, and who in honour to our lord the moft chriman Emperor 
 was named Carolenfe. When this reverend prelate heard of the pro- 
 ceedings of the governor againft Cortes, he was highly difpleafed with 
 them, and two days after his arrival in Mexico where he was received 
 with great pomp, at the requeft of the governor, he undertook to me- 
 diate betwixt them. Many of thefe feditious perfons fuch as there are 
 in all focieties, knowing the diffatisfadtion of Cortes, offered him the.r 
 fervices if he would fet himfelf up as an independent monarch, in New 
 Spain Thefe people he immediately arrefted, threatening to put them 
 to death, and he wrote diredly to the bifhop of Tlafcala, to mform 
 him of the treafon. He had alfo received f.milar offers from Mexico, 
 which he treated in the fame manner. The reports of what was going 
 on however, fo terrified the veedor and factor, who did not know to 
 what extent Cortes might be induced to go, that they became mediant 
 in their felicitations to the governor to accelerate the departure of the 
 bifhop of Tlafcala. This prelate having waited upon Cortes, and found 
 every part of his conduct perfectly to his fatisfadion, wrote back to 
 Mexico to inform the government thereof the refult of his obfervations; 
 
 Mmm 2 l " e 
 
( 45* ) 
 
 the unalterable determination of Cortes to go to Old Spain, and a fevere 
 cenfure from himfelf, upon the mifconduct of thofe who had been the 
 caufe of his quitting Mexico. I do not know whether Cortes returned 
 to that city in order to arrange his private concerns, but he appointed 
 feveral agents for that purpofe, the principal of whom was the licenti- 
 ate Altamirano. He brought with him from Mexico many curiofities 
 of the country for his Majefty, fuch as various kinds of birds unknown 
 in Europe, two tigers, many barrels of ambergris and indurated balfam, 
 and another kind that refembled oil, four Indians expert at playing the 
 flick with their feet, other Indian dancers who had a manner of appear- 
 ing as if they flew in the air, three humpbacked dwarfs of extraordinary 
 deformity, and alfo fome male and female Indians whofe ikins were 
 remarkable for their whitenefs, and who have a natural defeclof vifion. 
 He was alfo attended by feveral young chiefs of the Tlafcalan and Mex- 
 ican nations, whom he confented to take to Europe with him, at their 
 own reqjuefts. 
 
 
( 453 5 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Cortes goes to Europe ; is created Marquis of the Valley 
 of Guaxaca. Account of various tranfatlions and occurrences 
 in Old and New Spain. Death and character of the Marquis 
 of the Valley* 
 
 c 
 
 'ORTES now received letters from the prefident of the Indies, the 
 Duke of Bejar, and feveral other of his friends, informing him of the 
 necefTity of his appearance in Camlle, to do away the malignant accufa- 
 tions of his enemies. Others alfo informed him of the death of his father 
 Martin Cortes. Having performed the funeral obfequies to his father, 
 he ordered two (hips to be purchafed, which he ftored with fuch quan* 
 tities of provisions of every kind, that the overplus when he arrived in 
 Spain, would have fufficed for a two years voyage. 
 
 For making thefe preparations he employed his major domo who 
 was named Efquival. This officer eroding the lake of Mexico to Ayot- 
 cingo in a large canoe with fix Indian rowers and one Negro, and hav- 
 ing fome ingots of gold in his poffeflion, was way-laid and murdered 
 fomewhere on the lake. The manner of his death never was known ■> 
 neither canoe, Indians, or Negro, ever being traced. The body of 
 Efquival was found four days after in a fmall illand, half eaten by birds 
 of prey. There were many fufpicions entertained about this affair; the 
 man was faid to be a great boafter of the favours he received from the 
 ladies. There were alfo other bad ftories told of him, which gave rife 
 to. fufpicions of fuch a nature as I cannot relate; no great enquiry was 
 
 made: 
 
made a;s to his death, God pardon him his fins ! Cortes appointed other 
 officers to complete the preparations for his voyage. He offered by pro- 
 clamation a free paffage to all fuch Spaniards as obtained a permillion 
 from the government to go to Caftille, and a fupply of provifions to 
 them on the voyage. 
 
 All things being ready, and having confelTed and comulgated, he 
 embarked in company with Sandoval, Tapia, and other cavaliers, and 
 after a voyage of forty one days arrived in Europe, difembarking near 
 the town of Palos ; as foon as he fet his foot on fhore he fell on his 
 knees, to return thanks to God for his mercies. His arrival in Old 
 Spain was in the month of December in the year one thoufand five hun- 
 dred and twenty feven. To good fortune fucceeded grief, by the death 
 of the brave Captain Sandoval, after a lingering ficknefs, at his lodg- 
 ings in the houfe of a rope maker at Palos, who, in his prefence, rob- 
 bed him of thirteen bars of gold. This rogue perceiving his weak fitu- 
 ation, fent his fervants on a pretended melTage from Sandoval to Cortes, 
 who was then at Nueftra Senora de la Ravida, and having the houfe to 
 himfelf, went into Sandoval's room, and breaking open his cheft, took 
 out the gold, while our poor friend lay in bed unable to refill: him, and 
 apprehenfive, if he made any outcry, that the fellow would fmother 
 him in the bedclothes. As foon as he had got the gold he made his 
 efcape with it into Portugal, where he could not be purfued. Cortes 
 fhortly after arrived, and was informed of what had happened, but 
 purfuit was too late. Sandoval then grew worfe every hour, and the 
 phyficians recommended confefnon; which being done, and having 
 received the holy facrament, in a fhort time after he gave up the ghoft, 
 but not before he had made a will, whereby he left his property to a 
 fifter who afterwards married a natural fon of the Count de Medelin. 
 Sandoval died univerfally regretted. His funeral was attended by a great 
 train of mourners, among whom was Cortes. God pardon him his 
 ims! amen. 
 
 Cortes 
 
( 455 ) 
 
 Cortes fent an exprefs to his Majefty, and alfo to his patrons at 
 court, informing them of his arrival, and alfo of the death of his friend 
 Sandoval, whofe merits and fcrvices were known to his Majefty, and 
 for whofe lofs he was pleafed to ^exprefs great regret. The Duke of 
 Bejar and the Count of Aguilar, on receiving the intelligence, waited 
 on his Majefty, but found him in poiTeffion of it by the letter of Cortes. 
 His Majefty feemed to have at prefent a conviction of that officer's loy- 
 alty, for which his friend the Duke of Bejar had been three times obli- 
 ged to engage his life, for he was pleafed to order that in all the cities 
 and towns through which Cortes pafled, he fhould be received with 
 the higheft honour.. 
 
 When he arrived at Seville he was entertained there by the Duke 
 of Medina Sidonia, who made him a prefent of feveral beautiful horfes. 
 From thence he proceeded, to attend the nine days devotions to our Lady 
 of Guadeloupe. Donna Maria, wife of the commendador Don Fran- 
 cifco de los Cobos, with many other ladies of great rank arrived at the 
 fame time. As foon as Cortes had paid his devotions, given charity to 
 *he poor, and ordered mafs to be faid, he went attended by all his re- 
 tinue of cavaliers to pay his refpe&s to Donna Maria, the beautiful lady 
 her lifter, and the many others of diftinguifhed rank who were in her 
 company. Here Cortes had an opportunity of exhibiting that polite- 
 nefs, gallantry, and generbfity, in which he furpafled all men. He 
 made prefents of golden ornaments of great value, to all, but more es- 
 pecially to Donna Maria and her fifter : and to each lady he gave a pen- 
 ache of green feathers, richly ornamented with gold. He then produ- 
 ced his Indian dancers who threw the ftick from one foot to another, 
 to the aftonifhment of the fpectators, and in addition to all this, undcr- 
 ftanding that one of the mules belonging to the lifter of Donna Maria 
 was unable to travel, he caufed to be purchafed for her two of the finefl 
 that could be procured for money. He alfo waited the departure of thofe 
 ladies for the court, attending them upon the journey and providing 
 magnificent entertainments for them, the honours of which he did 
 
 with 
 
Mj*lit« 
 
 ■ mmm mmm» ■ s» wwass ■ 
 
 ( 456 ) 
 
 with a grace peculiar to himfelf, infomuch that Donna Maria de Men- 
 doza began to entertain thoughts of an alliance between her fifter and 
 Cortes. However in marriages as in other cafes it is the hand of God 
 which leads us, and therefore no more need be faid upon the fubjecl:. 
 Donna Maria was fo taken with the politenefs and generofity of Cortes, 
 that (he wrote to the commendador of Leon faying, that the fame of 
 Cortes and his heroic actions was far fhort of the judgment which muft 
 be formed of him, by thofe who had the good fortune of his acquain- 
 tance, and brought over her hufband completely to his intereft. 
 
 When our general arrived at court, his Majefty was pleafed to 
 appoint the apartments to receive him, and his friendis came out in a 
 body to meet him on the road. On the enfuing day he went by per- 
 miflion to throw himfelf at his MajeftyY feet, being attended by the 
 Duke of Bejar, the admiral of the Indies, and the commendador of 
 Leon. His Majefty commanded him to rife, and Cortes, after a fhort 
 enumeration of his fervices, and vindication of his conduct from the 
 afperfions of his enemies, prefented a memorial wherein the whole was 
 fully detailed. His Majefty having received it, commanded him to 
 rife, and immediately honoured him with the title of Marquis del Valle, 
 and the order of St. Jago : He alfo gave him an eftate to maintain his 
 new dignity, and confirmed him captain general of New Spain and of 
 the fouth fcas. Cortes, thus loaded with honours, retired from the 
 royal prefence to receive in a few days a (till greater than all. Shortly 
 after his arrival in Toledo he fell dangerouily ill; when the Emperor 
 heard it, he did him the honour of paying him a vifit in perfon. He 
 however recovered in a fhort time, and the particular favour of his 
 Majefty encouraged him to affume a rank and character equal to his 
 high title. One funday that his Majefty was at mafs in the cathedral, 
 and feated according to cuftom with his nobility each in his proper fta- 
 tion, Cortes, defignedly as it is faid, came there late, and after all were 
 feated; and pafting before the whole of them, took his place next to 
 
 the 
 
( 457 ) 
 
 This gave 
 
 the Count de Nafao, who was nearefr. to the Emperor, 
 great offence to manv though others faid it was by the Emperor's deiire. 
 Indeed Cortes began to feel his elevation io much, that it made him 
 not hold fome of his former patrons in the efHmation he ought, 
 al| his attention being beftowed on the Duke of Bejar, the Count de 
 Nafao, and the admiral. Thinking that now the ball was at his foot 
 with the fupport of fuch great men, he applied to the Emperor for the 
 government of New Spain; this requeft, though fupported by his 
 patrons, did not fucceed, his Majefty thinking he had done fuffi- 
 ciently and that fome of his attention was due to thofe conquerors, by 
 whofe afliftance he had gained that country. From this time Cortes 
 did not fecm fo much in favour as before. 
 
 His Majefly was then proceeding on his journey to Flanders. After 
 his departure, the marriage took place between the Marquis del Valle, 
 and Donna Juana de Zuniga, on which occafion he prefented his lady 
 with the mod: magnificent jewels that ever had been in Caftille. Her 
 Majefty Queen Ifabella, from the account given by the lapidaries, ex- 
 prelTed a wifh to have fome, which Cortes accordingly prefented her 
 with, but it is faid that they were not fo fine or {o valuable as thofe 
 which he gave to his lady. 
 
 I will now relate fome other circumftances, fuch as I have heard 
 concerning him while he refided in Caftille. One was, that Queen 
 Ifabella was not his friend on account of thejippearances of ingratitude 
 in his conduct to his patrons, and alfo in confequence of the inferiority 
 of the prefents which he made her. However fhe ordered in the Em- 
 peror's abfence, that he mould have every fupport from the council of 
 the Indies. Cortes at this time obtained permiflion to fit out two fhips 
 on a voyage of difcovery to trfe fouth feas, with a condition that he 
 mould enjoy certain rights and revenues from whatever lands were acqui- 
 red to the crown of Spain. Don Pedro de la Cueva was at this time at 
 court ; this was the officer who was to have gone to Mexico to try, and 
 
 Nnn if 
 
W^J'^T^-j-TV- 
 
 
 
 ( 458 ) 
 
 if found guilty, to execute Cortes. They were now on the mofl ami- 
 cable and intimate footing. Don Pedro told him that even his innocence 
 would have been fufficiently expenfive to him, as the coils of the expe- 
 dition, which he muft have paid, amounted to upwards of three hun- 
 dred thoufand crowns. All thofe, and other particulars we received an 
 account of in private letters, as well from the Marquis i|cl Valle, as from 
 other perfons. He now fent a gentleman to Rome, to kifs the feet of 
 his Holinefs Pope Clement, and with a rich prefent of gold, filvcr, and 
 jewels. He alfo fent fome of the Indians who played with the flick, 
 and a full memorial cf all circumflances concerning the newly difcovered 
 country. He alfo took this opportunity to fupplicate for a partial rcmif- 
 lion of the tithes of New Spain. 
 
 This gentleman, Juan de Herrada, was a brave foldier, who at- 
 tended Cortes in his expedition to Honduras. After he returned from 
 Europe he went to Peru, where Don Diego de Almagro left him in the 
 office of governor to his fon. He was highly in the confidence of this 
 family, and ferved as Maeflre de Campo to the young Almagro; he 
 was alfo captain of the party which killed Don Francifco Pizarro the 
 elder. 
 
 His Holinefs on the receipt of the letters returned thanks to God 
 for the opportunity of making fo many thoufand converts to the holy 
 faith. He alfo praifed the fervices rendered by us, to the church and 
 our monarch, and fent us bulls of indulgence from penalties of our fins, 
 with others for churches and hofpitals. In regard to the tithes, I do 
 not know what was done. The Indians were brought to dance before 
 his Holinefs and the cardinals, who expreffed their high fatisfaclion at 
 their performances. After Herrada had concluded his bufinefs at Rome, 
 he returned with a liberal reward from Pd{>e Clement, who gave him 
 the title and rank of count palatine, and wrote by him, flrongly requeu- 
 ing for him a grant of a confiderable plantation in New Spain, which 
 he never received, and in confequence went to Peru, 
 
 Whil< 
 
( 459 ) 
 
 While Cortes was in Caftille, the members of the royal court of 
 audience arrived in Mexico. Nuno de Guzman formerly governor of 
 Panuco was the prefident. The Oydors were, four licentiates, by name 
 Matienzo, Dclgadillo, Maldonado, (I do not mean Alonzo Maldonado 
 the good who was governor of Guatimala) and Parada. Thefe magif- 
 tra<: 5 from their firit. arrival (hewed a determination to do juftice. They 
 were armed with greater powers than any officers ever fent by his 
 Majefty to New Spain. They were alfo intruded with the manage- 
 ment of the final partition of landed property, wherein his Majefty had 
 particularly charged them to take care of the interefts of the conquerors. 
 On their arrival, they iflued a proclamation, requiring the attendance 
 of an agent from each fettlcment, with memorials and returns of the 
 feveral diftricts. The agents all arrived in the courfc of a few days. I 
 was then in Mexico on my office of procurador findico of the town ot 
 Guacacualco; I polled off to the lafl mentioned place, in order to at- 
 tend at the election of the agents, about which there was a violent con- 
 tefr. but plurality of voices decided it in favour of Captain Luis Marin 
 and myfelf. When we arrived at Mexico we found that two of the 
 oydors were dead of pleurifies, and that the factor Salazar had acquired 
 fo complete an afcendency over the others, that they did nothing but as 
 he advifed them. It was lucky for Cortes that he was not at Mexico; 
 the death of the two oydors would have been certainly laid to his 
 charge. 
 
 The agents now called loudly for a final repartition; but the factor 
 had perfuaded the prefident and oydors, not to agree to that which 
 would be a diminution of their influence, by taking fo much patronage 
 out of their hands. It was alfo fettled, that Salazar mould go to Europe 
 to folicit the government of New Spain for the prefident Guzman. He 
 actually failed, but being overtaken by a florm was fhipwrecked on the 
 coafl near Guacacualco, from whence he returned to Mexico. . The 
 treafurer Eftrada died in a fhort time after his being fuperfeded, which 
 he was more by his own tamenefs than from any right they could prove 
 
 Nnn a ta 
 
from his Majefty's orders, for they were, that he ftiould govern folely ; 
 nor was any thing faid of afTociating Guzman with him ; whereas the 
 latter ufurped the government to himfelf entirely, from the time he was 
 appointed president of the court. He was much regretted by all, hav- 
 ing conducted himfelf in fuch a manner as to give univerfal fatis faction, 
 nor would he have wanted fupport if he had infifted on maintaining 
 his office. 
 
 A commiiTion was appointee! at Guatimala, where Jorge de Alva- 
 rado was eltablifhed, but I do not know the refult of it. 
 
 In Mexico they proceeded with great feverity againfl the Marquis 
 del Valle. The factor efpecially took the opportunity to revile and 
 flander him in the groiTeft manner, and fouleit exprefhons. The Mar- 
 quis's friend the licentiate Altamarano remonftrated with the court upon 
 thefe indecencies, but to no good effect, for the factor, countenanced 
 by Guzman and the reft, became more abufive than before. The court 
 was thereby thrown into confufion; for Altamirano was at laft fo pro- 
 voked as to draw his poniard, and would have put the factor to death 
 had it not been for the interference of thofe prefent. Altimirano was 
 carried to the fortrefs, the other was fent to his houfe, and the whole 
 city was in an uproar. The licentiate, upon our fupplication, was at 
 the end of three days releafed from confinement, and the prefent matter 
 was made up; but a greater florm fucceeded, for at this time there arri- 
 ved in Mexico one Zavalos, a relation of the Captain Pamnllo de 
 Narvaez, who had been fent by the wife of the latter in queft of her 
 hufband, who had gone as governor to the river of Palmas, and was 
 fuppofed to have been loft or dead. When Zavalos arrived in Mexico, 
 inftigated as is fuppofed by the members of the court, he lodged inform- 
 ations againft all the foldiers of Cortes who had been concerned in the 
 attack upon Narvaez. Of courfe nearly the whole of us who were in 
 the city, and myfelf amongit the reft, amounting in all to about two 
 hundred and fifty, were apprehended, brought to trial, and convicted. 
 
 Wc 
 
( 4*« ) 
 
 We were fentenced to pay a fine of a certain quantity of gold, and to be 
 banifhcd to the diflance of five leagues from Mexico. However the 
 fentence was but flightly enforced, the bamfhment being remitted and 
 very few paying the fine. 
 
 jfhe enemies of the Marquis del Valle now took a new ground of 
 attack againft him, which was, that he had embezzled the treafure of 
 Montezuma and Guatimotzin, and that he was anfwerable to the fol- 
 diers, not only for that which he had appropriated to his own ufe, but 
 alfo for that which he had fent to Europe as a prefent to his Majefty, 
 and which had been captured by the corfair Juan Florin. A long ca- 
 talogue of other demands followed, every one of which he was con- 
 demned* upon, and his property fold for the payment. One Juan Xu- 
 ares his brother-in-law was alfo at this time brought forward, to demand 
 juftice in open court for the murder of his fitter Donna Catalina, offer- 
 ing to produce witnefles of the manner of her death. Many of us the 
 friends of the Marquis, feeing the attacks that were made againft him a 
 met by appointment and under the licence of an alcalde, at the houf e f 
 one Garcia Holguin, where we entered into a refolution to reno' jnCie a ]i 
 claim to the treafure; but when the oydors heard our bufr, ie ^- t hey 
 ordered us all to be arretted, as they alleged, for meeting without per- 
 mifTion. We produced t© them the licence" which Wj fad obtained 
 for the purpofe, but they, to keep up appearances, b-^nithed us to the 
 diftance of five leagues from Mexico. We were ho,v7£ver allowed to re- 
 turn; though we ftill thought ourfelves hardly tv^ted enough. 
 
 New matter for confufion was now brought forward; a proclama- 
 tion was iflued that all perfons of Indian jefcent, or of that of Moors, 
 who had- been burned or * enfanbenited ty the holy inquifition, as far as 
 the fourth degree from their anceftor<x who had thus fuffercd, mould 
 quit New Spain within four months from the date thereof, on pain of 
 lofing one half of their properties It was moll wonderful to fee what 
 holts of accufers and informers, ftarted up at once on this occafion, and 
 
 what 
 
 * £>an jienito; a drefs put on criminals. 
 
^Avfetii 
 
 
 
 
 ( 462 ) 
 
 what flandcrs and infamies were brought forward. At laft it ended in 
 the cxpuliion of two individuals. 
 
 The court was generous in fulfilling his Majefty's commands, in 
 regard to the old conquerors, who were all well provided for; the great- 
 eft error it committed was, the exceffive licenfe given to the branding 
 (laves. So many were made in the province of Panuco that it became 
 almoft depopulated. The prefident Guzman, who was of a noble and 
 liberal difpoiition, made a new year's gift of a whole diflrict named 
 Guazpaltepeque, to Albornoz who was newly returned from Spain. 
 He brought with him his Majefty's patent, under which he erected 
 fome fugar works in Cempoal, which went to ruin after a few years. 
 The oydor Delgadillo was cenfured on account of his free gifts, for it 
 was noticed that fome rent was referved to himfelf in them, and the 
 confequent extortions and oppreflions of thofe he patronifed were excef- 
 five. The conduct of Guzman was equally reprehenfible ; as to the 
 other oydor, Matienzo, he was fuperannuated. The abufes of this court 
 came at length to fuch an excefs, that it was thought proper by the 
 higher powers in Europe, completely to fupercede it, and fubflitute 
 one compofed of perfons of more difcretion. Old Matienzo who was 
 the leaft objectionable, was fent to Panuco to enquire into and remedy 
 the abufes which had been committed there. This officer ordered 
 accounts or lifts of the flaves to be drawn out, to prevent them 
 from being arbitrarily tranfported from one province to another, and he 
 revoked the grants which the prefident and the other oydor had made 
 to their friends and clients, beftowing the plantations upon thofe per- 
 fons who were pointed out by his Majefty's inftructions. Every one 
 then who had acquired the plantations which the) were to deliver up, 
 infifted that they had been granted as a reward of former merits, the 
 proofs of which they endeavoured to adduce, and utterly difclaimed all 
 patronage or protection from the prefident and oydor. The confufion 
 was extreme. However many if not almoll: all fuccceded in keeping 
 
 what 
 
( 4«3 ) 
 
 what they had got, the only perfons deprived being Albornoz of his 
 new year's gift, one Villaroel, and VillegasJfc 
 
 As foon as the members of the court heard that they were to be 
 fuperceded, they refolved to difpatch agents to Caftille with plenty of 
 witnefTes, fuch as were fit and well prepared for their purpofe, to vouch 
 for the propriety of their conduct It was determined to proceed to the 
 election of the agents who were to be fent on tills occafion, and for this 
 purpofe all the veteran conquerors, with many other perfons of confider- 
 ation, met in the great church, where the perfon was to be chofen by 
 vote. Guzman and the oydors recommended the factor Salazar, and 
 although they had committed fome improprieties, yet as they had in 
 the main acted fo well by us in the diftribution of property, we were 
 all well inclined to vote for the perfon recommended by them, and 
 which they expected us to do. When we had all afTembled for the 
 purpofe in the great church, there was fuch a noife and outcry {^t up 
 by perfons who had no bufinefs there, but had crouded in, that it was 
 hardly pofiible to proceed to the election. It was ordered that all who 
 had not been fummoned mould quit the place, but it was to no effect; 
 they would not go, and at laft the queftion was obliged to be put to the 
 whole. Since thofe who had no bufinefs there would neither quit the 
 place nor be filent, it may be judged what kind of an election it was. 
 When we perceived how matters were going, it was. agreed amongft 
 us to adjourn until the following day, at the houfe of the prefident of 
 the council, and none w r ere fummoned but perfons of one way of think- 
 ing. Of courfe it was amicably decided. In confequence of an adjufl- 
 ment, two agents were to be chofen, one, Anthonio de Carvajal, on 
 the part of the oydors, and another, Bernardino Vafquez de Tapia, on 
 that of Cortes. However it appeared to me that both were equally de- 
 voted to the views of the prefident; and it was natural enough, for 
 the latter had rendered much more fervice to our interefr. in his fhort 
 *ime, than Cortes had done during the long period of his-, power. But 
 iuch is the natural loyalty of the Spaniards, that we were more attached 
 
 to 
 
^■■P 
 
 HHHHRMT 
 
 
 ( 4*4 ) 
 
 to Cortes, from his having been our captain, than he was to our inter- 
 efts, although he had hisj^ajefty's orders to attend to them. Of this 
 a proof now occurred,, for the president and oydors intrigued for an ap- 
 plication to be made to his Majefty, in manner of a petition,, againft 
 the appointment or return of Cortes to New Spain, at any future time. 
 The grounds upon which they moved it were, the dangers that would 
 ,occur from public difturbances and factions, which might end in the 
 lofs of the country. This we oppofed with all our might, and Alva- 
 rado, being at this time arrived in Mexico with the office of governor 
 and adelantado of Guatimala, and a commandery of St. Jago, it was 
 agreed between him and the friends of Cortes, to lay before his Majefty 
 a ftatement of the whole affair, with the views of the members of the 
 council; and it hereby appearing to the fupreme court of the Indies, 
 that all thcle meafures were guided by paflion and intereft, it confirmed 
 the original determination to fupercede Guzman and the oydors. The 
 prefence of Cortes in Spain alfo at this period was highly favourable- 
 to his interests, and he now was rapidly proceeding to the pinnacle of 
 his fortune. 
 
 When Nuno de Guzman had received certain intelligence from 
 Old Spain of his beinr funerceded, he determined to pd unon an exne- 
 dition to the province of Xaiifco, now called New Gallicia. For this 
 purpofe he collected the greateft force that he was able in Mexico, partly 
 of volunteers, and partly of fuch as he compelled to join him by the 
 weight of power of which he was not yet deprived. Thofe who did 
 not ferve perfonally he compelled to find, or pay for fubftitutes, and 
 thofe who had horfes were obliged to give them for half their . value. 
 He brought with him a number of Mexicans as foldiers, or to convey 
 his baggage, and cruelly opprefTed the provinces through which he 
 paffed. In Mechoacan he obtained a great quantity of gold, which 
 the inhabitants had collected and a mailed for ages pail; it was much 
 lowered in value by a mixture of iilver. The unfortunate chief of the 
 province, not being able to gratify his avarice to its full extent, he firft 
 
 commanded 
 
( 4«5 ) 
 
 commanded him to be put to the torture by burning his feet, and after- 
 wards upon fome trifling and falfe allegations caufed him to be hanged, 
 which was one of the wickedeft and cruelleft. actions ever committed 
 by an officer, and as fuch it was canfidered by every Spaniard in his 
 army. He brought from this province alfo a number of natives loaded 
 with booty, to the city of Compoftello, which he founded at a heavy 
 expence to his Majefty and the inhabitants of Mexico. Here Guzman 
 remained until his arreft. 
 
 As I have before related, in confequence of the injuflice practifed 
 by the former court of audience, his Majefty was pleafed to fupprefs it 
 and cancel all its grants. He alfo appointed a new one, compofed of 
 wife and upright members, whereof D. Sebaftian Ramirez de Villaef- 
 cafa bifhop of St. Domingo was prefident, and the licentiates Maldo- 
 nado de Salamanca, Zainos de Toro, Vafco de Quiroga de Madrigal 
 afterwards bifhop of Mechoacan, and Solomon de Madrid wereoydors. 
 Thele officers being arrived, the court opened its fittings, which was 
 notified by a proclamation, in confequence whereof there afTembled fuch 
 crouds of complainants, from city, towns, and country, of all defcrip- 
 tions, fettlers, agents, and native chiefs, alledging acts of partiality 
 and oppreffion againfl the former court, and demanding juftice, that 
 the members were quite aftonifhed. The demands of the agents of 
 Cortes for what had been unjuftly alienated from him, if they had 
 been all to be now repaid, would have amounted to above two hundred 
 thoufand crowns. Nuno de Guzman being abfent, the whole blame 
 was laid upon him by the other members of the old court, who alledged 
 that they were compelled to act as he thought proper to order them. 
 He was accordingly fummoned to appear, which he did not think pro- 
 per to do, and in the prefent circumftances it was judged moft expedi- 
 ent to refer the affair to the fupreme court in Europe : which being 
 done, a civil officer named Torre, a licentiate and native of Badajos, 
 was fent with full power, to the province of Xalifco, and with orders 
 to tranfmit Guzman to Mexico and commit him to the common goal. 
 
 Ooo He 
 

 C 466 ) 
 
 He had alfo a commiffion to indemnify us in the cofrs which we had 
 been fined upon the affair of Narvaez, and thofe at the time that we 
 were arrefted, as I have already related. But I will now take leave for 
 the prefent of the licentiate Torre, and return to the affairs of the 
 court. 
 
 The properties of Delgadillo and Matienzo were fold to pay the 
 damages of thofe who had gained their caufes againft them, and their 
 perfons were imprifoned for the deficiency. A brother of Delgadillo 
 who was alcalde major in Guaxaca, was fined and imprifoned for the 
 fame reafon; he died in jail, as did another who was alcalde amongft 
 the Zapotecans, and certainly the new judges were fo wife and juft, 
 that they confidcred nothing but what was in compliance with the will 
 of God and his Majefty. They alfo (hewed a laudable anxiety for the 
 converfion of the Indians to our holy faith, and immediately prohibited 
 the branding them for Haves, and made many other good regulations. 
 After four years thus employed, the oydors Solomon and Zaynos peti- 
 tioned for leave to retire, being both of an advanced age, and very 
 wealthy, and his Majefty in consideration of their eminent fervices, 
 was pleafed to grant their requeft. The prefident alfo, by command of 
 his Majefty, repaired to Europe, to give an account of fhe affairs of 
 this country. He was then bifhop of St. Domingo, but was advanced 
 in fuceeffion through the fees of Toro, Leon, and Cuenca, with fuch 
 celerity, that the bulls had hardly a day's interval between them. He 
 was alfo prefident of the royal chancery of Valladolid, and while in pof- 
 feflion of thefe honours he was feized by death, and placed in glory 
 among the virtuous, according to the promife of our holy faith, for he 
 was a true and upright judge. He had been before his promotion to a 
 bifhopric, inquifitor in Seville. The good conduct of the oydor Mal- 
 donado was rewarded with the government of the provinces of Guati- 
 mala, Honduras, and Viragua, and with the title of adelantado of 
 Yucatan, and the oydor Quiroga obtained the bifhopric of Mechoacan. 
 Such were the rewards of the good judges! Delgadillo and Matienzo 
 
 returned 
 
( 46 7 ) 
 
 returned to Caftille in poverty, where, as I have heard, they died in 
 the courfe of two or three years. 
 
 At this time his Majefty was pleafed to appoint to the vice-royalty 
 of New Spain, the molt illuftrious and worthy cavalier of praife worthy 
 memory, D. Anthonio de Mendoza brother to the Marquis of Mon- 
 tejar. There alfo came as oydors the doctor Quefada, the licentiate 
 Tejada de Logrono, and the licentiate Loayfa native of Cuidad Real; 
 he was an old man, and ftayed three or four years in Mexico; and du- 
 ring that time having collected a good fum of money, he took his leave 
 of the country at the expiration of it, and returned to his home. There 
 was alfo another licentiate who came out as oydor, who was named 
 Santillana; but the licentiate Maldonado had not then vacated his office. 
 All were excellent magistrates. As foon as they had opened the court, 
 free enquiry was proclaimed into the conduct of their predecefTors, which 
 was found to be in every refpect conformable to jultice. 
 
 The Viceroy, on his arrival, knowing that the licentiate Torre was 
 fent out with orders to arreft Nuno de Guzman, to fave Guzman from 
 that infult fent to him to come to Mexico, which he having complied 
 with, the Viceroy alligned him apartments in his palace, and treated 
 him with much politenefs. Jult about this time Torre arrived with 
 his Majefty's orders to arreft. Guzman, but with directions to commu- 
 nicate them to the Viceroy. It feems that the licentiate did not find the 
 fupport to his flrong meafures that he expected, and this exafperating 
 his natural violence, he in confequence went to the Viceroy's palace, and 
 there furioufly feized, and dragged Guzman to the common jail, faying 
 he did it by his Majefiy's order, and that he cared for nothing further. 
 Here Guzman remained for feveral days, and was at lait releafed on the 
 interceilion of the Viceroy. It was well known that Torre had flrong 
 powers given to him to act difcretionarily in regard to Guzman. 
 
 This licentiate was much addicted to card playing, although he 
 
 Ooo 2 did 
 
V,£' f --'ttfAjv 
 
 ■ 
 
 ( 468 ) 
 
 did not game deeply, playing only at triumpho and primero for paftime. 
 His propenfity being however well known, fome friend of Guzman's 
 took advantage of it, to mortify and turn him into ridicule, and the 
 method which was taken to do it was as follows. The civilians at 
 that time wore gowns with loofe hanging fleeves, into one of which 
 fbmebody malicicufly put a pack of cards, and contrived it in fuch a 
 manner, that as Torre was walking acrofs the crouded fquare of Mexico, 
 in company with feveral perfons of quality, a dexterous twitch being 
 given, the cards began to drop from his fleeve, leaving a long trail of 
 them after him as he went on. Thofe who faw it laughed and called 
 the attention of others to the cards coming out of the licentiate's fleeve ; 
 but when he found out what the joke was, and that he was the fubject 
 of it, being naturally choleric, it enraged him exceedingly, and he 
 went off faying he faw clearly it was their intention to prevent his do- 
 ing jullice, but he would, though he died for it; and that his Majefty 
 mould know the indignity that had been offered to his officer. Either 
 from vexation, or a calenture natural to the climate, with which he was 
 feized juft after this, he died in the courfe of a few days, whereby 
 the affair of Guzman, luckily for him, was refpited for the prefent. 
 
 Cortes having now been a long time in Caftille, married to the 
 niece of the Duke of Bejar, advanced to the rank of marquis, captain ge- 
 neral of New Spain, and admiral of the South Seas, became anxious to 
 return to his eftates in this country. He now embarked from Old Spain 
 with his family and twelve reverend fathers of the order of mercy, and 
 after a profperous voyage arrived at the port of Vera Cruz, where he 
 did not experience the kind of reception he formerly met with. From 
 thence he proceeded to Mexico, to prefent his patents to the Viceroy, 
 and enter upon his offices. He alfo at this time made application upon 
 a particular point relative to his Majefty 's grant of lands and towns. 
 This point, which I do not well underftand, I mull: leave to better 
 judges. The grant ran thus; mentioning the diftrict, it enumerated 
 the inhabitants, By the word "vecinos," or neighbours, conjidered to 
 
 belong 
 
( 4«9 ) 
 
 belong to it, and who were to be his tributaries. Cortes underflood 
 that the head of the family only was confidered as the vaflal or «' vecino," 
 or that one only mould be counted for each houfe, but the oydor, doctor 
 Quezada who was fent to allot his diftrict, infifted that every male 
 adult, mailer or head of family, fon, fervant, or flave, was to be counted 
 in the number, and as there were frequently twelve or fifteen of thofe 
 to one houfe, the Marquis was much difappointed, and feveral lawfuits 
 enfued. The matter was reported to his Majefty, but continued m 
 fufpence for feveral years, during which time the Marquis received his 
 full rents, without any moleftation. He retired to a place upon his 
 eflate named Quernavaca, where he eftablifhed his refidence, never 
 returning to Mexico * 
 
 While Marcos de Aguilar had the government of New Spain, the 
 Marquis del Valle fitted out four fliips at Zacatula. They were well 
 provided, loaded with various articles of merchandize, and commanded 
 by Alvarado de Saavedra, who with two hundred and fifty foldiers took 
 his courfe for the Molucca and Spice Iflands, and China. This was by 
 his Majefty's command, as I can teftify, the royal letters having been 
 fhown to me and many others. He was further ordered to caufe fearch 
 to be made during the courfe of his voyage, for a fquadron which had 
 failed from Caftille for China, under the command of Don Garcia de 
 Loayfa, commander of St. John of Rhodes. At the time that Saave- 
 dra was preparing for his expedition, a veffel arrived belonging to. this 
 fleet, from the pilot and crew of which Saavedra acquired all the inforr 
 mation he wanted, and taking one pilot and two failors from this veffel 
 with him, he fet (ail- in December, of one thoufand five hundred and 
 twenty feven or twenty eight, and fuftained many misfortunes, hard- 
 fhips, and lofTes, in the way to the Molucca Iflands. I do not know the 
 particulars, but in three years afterwards I met with a failor who had 
 been on board this fleet, and who told me many ftrange and furprifing 
 things of the cities and nations he had feen, during his voyage. Thefe 
 are the countries to which they, are now fending expeditions from 
 
 Mexico, 
 

 ( 470 ) 
 
 Mexico. I alio heard that the Portugueze had made prifoner Saavedra 
 or fome of his people, and brought them to Cafliile. 
 
 In the month of May, one thoufand five hundred and thirty two, 
 the Marquis del Valle fent two (hips from the port of Acapulco, to 
 make difcoveries in the South Seas. They were commanded by a cap- 
 tain named Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, who, without going far to 
 fea, or doing any thing worthy of relating, had the misfortune of a 
 mutiny among the troops, in confequence whereof, one fhip, of which 
 the mutineers took poffeffion, as is faid, but very improbably, by the 
 approbation of Hurtado himfelf, returned to New Spain, to the great 
 difappointment of Cortes. As for Hurtado, neither he nor his veffel 
 were ever more heard of. 
 
 After this, Cortes fent off two other veffels, one of which was 
 commanded by a gentleman named Diego Bezerra de Mendoza ; he was 
 of the Bezerras of Badajos or Merida; the other was commanded by 
 one Hernando de Grijalva. The principal pilot was one Ximenes, a 
 Bifcayan, and a great cofmographer. The orders from the Marquis 
 were, flrft to go in fearch of Hurtado, and in cafe of not finding him, 
 to go upon a voyage of difcovery of new iflands. efpecially thofe which 
 were reported to be rich in pearls. The Bifcayan pilot, before they 
 failed, was always telling the others how he would bring them to coun- 
 tries where they fhould all make their fortunes. Many were weak 
 enough to believe him. The firft night after they left the port of Gu- 
 antepeque, a gale of wind rofe and feparated the veffels, which never 
 afterwards joined company, Grijalva not choofing to be under the com- 
 mand of Bezerra, who was very haughty. He had alfo another motive, 
 in wifhing to keep the merit of any difcoveries he fhould make, to him- 
 felf. After failing two hundred leagues, he came to an ifland which 
 was uninhabited, and which he named Santo Tome. Bezerro and his 
 pilot Ximines had a quarrel upon their voyage, and the former having 
 made himfelf very odious by his domineering difpofition, the pilot 
 
 formed 
 
( 47i ) 
 
 formed a plot for the aflaffination of him and feveral more, which he 
 put in execution one night as the captain and the others were fleeping. 
 The fanguinary views of the coafpirators went much farther, but the 
 interceffion of two Francifcan friars faved the lives of many who were 
 already bleeding from their treachery, but whom, together with the 
 friars, they determined to land in Xalifeo. Ximines taking- the com- 
 mand upon the death of Bezerra, and continuing his route, difcovered 
 an ifland to which he gave the name of Santa Cruz. It was faid that 
 pearls were found on its coafts. It was inhabited by favages, and here 
 he determined to put the friars and thofe whofe lives had beenfparedat 
 their interceffion on more, which he accordingly did, and being in want 
 of water, he went to the more at the fame time in fearch of it ; they 
 had been on the ifland but a very fhort time when the natives came 
 down upon them, and put every perfon they found to death, in view 
 of thofe on board the (hip. 
 
 This gave the Marquis great vexation. He now determined not 
 to truftany one, but to go in perfon, having three (hips ready to launch 
 in the port of Guantepeque. When the Spaniards of thofe countries 
 faw that he intended to embark upon a voyage of difcovery, they 
 thought fuccefs was certain, and numbers prepared to follow him as 
 foldiers, above one hundred and thirty of whom were married men, 
 and brought their wives with them. They, were in all above three 
 hundred and twenty, the women included. The Marquis left Mexico 
 accompanied by Andres de Tapia and feveral other officers, fome eccle- 
 fiaftics, phyficians, furgeons, and an apothecary, and having embarked, 
 in the month of May, one thoufand five hundred and thirty fix, or feven, 
 he kt fail for the Ifland of Santa Cruz, with as many colonifte and 
 foldiers as the veffels could contain ; and having arrived there after a 
 profperous voyage, he fent back the fhips to bring the remainder of his 
 people. The fecond voyage was not fo fortunate. They met with 
 gales of wind, in which they were feparated near the river of St. Peter 
 and St. Paul, one veffel only arriving at the Ifland of Santa Cruz, 
 
 where 
 
 / 
 

 ( 472 ) 
 
 where the Marquis anxioufly expected them, as tlie provisions, of 
 which he began to be in great want, were on board, Ofthofe veflels 
 which did not join him at Santa Cruz* one was branded on the coaft 
 of Xalifco, and the people on board being tired of the bufinefs quitted 
 her there, moll of them returning to New Spain. This was the one 
 which contained the provisions:* The other came to a bay which they 
 named, fiom the quantity of guayavas, Guayaval. 
 
 During this time the Marquis and thofe with him were famifhing 
 upon this uncultivated ifland. Twenty three of the foldiers died from 
 abfolute diftrefs, and the reft were finking every day, and curving his 
 expedition; and difcoveries. Their fituation and murmurs compelled 
 him at length to go in fearch of his {hips', and he accordingly embark- 
 ed with fifty foldiers, and judging that they muft have been driven on 
 the coaft in the ftorms, he fearched in that direction, and after fome 
 time founc one as before mentioned, ftranded on the coaft of Xalifco, 
 and abandoned by the people. The other was met with by him amongft 
 fome rock?. Having got them repaired and afloat, with much trou- 
 ble, he brought them to his Ifland of Santa Cruz, and a quantity of 
 provisions oeing now ferved out to the famifhed foldiers, they eat there- 
 of in fuch a manner that the half of them died- 
 
 The )vlarquis, in order to avoid fuch a fcene of diftrefs, embarked 
 in purfuit )f new difcoveries, and during this voyage fell in with the 
 land of Caifornia. He was by that time as heartily tired of the bufi- 
 nefs as am one, but he could not bear the thoughts of returning after 
 fuch experces and lofles, without having effected fomething, left his 
 misfortunes mould be afcribed to the curfes of the conquerors of Mexico, 
 his ancient companions. 
 
 The VTarchionefs del Valle, hearing of the lofs of one of the vef- 
 lels on the coaft, grew very apprehenfive, and accordingly fitted out 
 two fhips, which iailed under the command of one Ulloa, in fearch of 
 
 the 
 

 ( 473 ) 
 
 the marquis and his fquadron, with letters from his lady and the Vice- 
 roy earneftly foliciting his return. UJloa was fortunate enough to light 
 upon him, and the Marquis fuifered himfelf to be prevailed upon, and 
 returned to Mexico by the port of Acapulco, leaving Ulloa in command 
 of the fquadron. His return rejoiced the Spaniards, who feared always 
 that the native chiefs, not being awed by* him, would break out into 
 revolt. In a fhort time after his arrival, the people whom he had left 
 in California returned, but I cannot fay whether in confequence of or- 
 ders from the government or not. 
 
 After the Marquis had repofed for a few months, he fitted out 
 another expedition of two (hips under the command of Francifco de 
 Ulloa, already named by me, who failed from the port of Natividad in 
 the month of June, of I forget what year, with orders to examine the 
 coaft. of California, and to fearch for Captain Hurtado who never had 
 been heard of. Ulloa employed in this voyage about feven months, at 
 the expiration of which he returned to Xalifco, without having effected 
 any thing ; and going for a few days on more to repofe, a foldier who 
 bore a malice againft, him took an opportunity to way-lay and allaffinate 
 him, and thus ended the difcoveries of the Marquis del Valle, in which 
 he expended, as I have heard him declare, above three hundred thou- 
 fand crowns. 
 
 In order to get fome allowance from his Majefty for this lofs, he 
 determined to go to Caftille; he had alfo other bufinefs which called 
 him there, fuch as the difpute about his vafTals, and the reflitution of 
 his property which had been feized by Nuno de Guzman, now prifo- 
 ner in Old Spain. I will conclude this account by obferving, that it 
 appears that the Marquis never profpered from the time of his firftcon- 
 quefl of New Spain, and his ill fortune is afcribed to the curfes with 
 which he was loaded. 
 
 The Viceroy and court of royal audience had fent out a military 
 
 Ppp force 
 

 ( 474 ) 
 
 force commanded by an officer named Francifco Vafquez Coronado, 
 who married the virtuous and fair daughter of the treafurer Eftrada. 
 Coronado left his government of Xalifco to an officer named Onate, and 
 after he had been for fome months in the country to which he was fent, 
 and which was named Celibola or the feven cities, a Francifcan friar 
 named Marcos de Nica, returned from thence to Mexico to give an ac- 
 count of the country to the Viceroy. He defcribed it as confifting of 
 fine plains full of herds of cattle, but which were quite different in 
 their appearance from thofe of Caftille. The houfes he defcribed as hav- 
 ing two flories and flairs, and the towns as being populous. He alfo 
 reprefented, that as it lay near the Pacific Ocean, a fupply of neceffaries 
 could be fent to the Spanifh force, conveniently, in that direction. It 
 was for this reafon that three fhips were fent thither under the command 
 of Hernando de Alarco, an officer in the Viceroy's houfehold. 
 
 I muft not omit to mention the particulars of the great armament 
 prepared by Don Pedro de Alvarado, in the year one thoufand five hun- 
 dred and thirty feven, in the port of Acaxatla on the Pacific Ocean. 
 This fleet was fitted out by Alvarado in confequence of permilTion ob- 
 tained from his Majefty, by whom he was granted certain rents and 
 advantages, in fueh countries as he fhould difcover towards the weft : 
 that is to fay China, the Moluca, and Spice Iflands. 
 
 Alvarado being always zealous for his Majefty's fervice, as appear- 
 ed by his conduct in Mexico and Peru, was anxious that this expedi- 
 tion fhould exceed any other that had ever been fitted out. It confifted 
 of thirteen fail, amply provided. The port at which the preparations 
 were made was above two hundred leagues diftant from that of Vera 
 Cruz, from which all the iron, and moft other neceiTary articles were 
 to be brought by land carriage. The confequence was, that the money 
 expended would have built eighty fuch (hips in Seville. All the wealth 
 Alvarado brought from Peru, what he got from the mines of Guati- 
 mala, with the rents of his eftates and the prefents of his friends and 
 
 relations, 
 
( 475 ) 
 
 relations were infufficient, although the merchandize was taken upon 
 credit. The expence attending the fhips was nothing in comparifon to 
 that of his army, confifting of fix hundred and fifty foldiers with their 
 officers, and a number of horfes, of which latter a good one could not 
 be procured for lefs than three hundred crowns. Alvarado failed fome 
 time in the year one thoufand five hundred and thirty eight, for the 
 harbour of the Purification in the province of Xalifco, where he was to 
 take in water, and embark more foldiers. When the Viceroy heard of 
 this great armament, he became anxious to have a (hare in it, and went 
 with Alvarado to view his fleet, after which they returned to Mexico. 
 
 Alvarado wifhed to have a relation of his own, named Juan, (not 
 the Juan de Alvarado of Chiribito) as general, and the Viceroy was 
 anxious that an officer named Villalobos mould have the command, 
 conjointly with him. Things were in this ftate when Alvarado was 
 obliged to return to his fleet at the port of Natividad ; and being there, 
 and juft ready to fet fail, he received a letter from Chrifloval de Onate 
 who was left in command at Xalifco, in the abfence of Francifco Co- 
 ronado, requeuing his immediate affiftance to fave him and the fettle- 
 ment from the deftruction with which they were threatened, by the 
 force of the neighbouring Indians of Cochitlan. Alvarado fet off with 
 his troops to their relief, and found them in a moll: defperate fituation 
 indeed. The infurgents rather decreafed the violence of their attacks 
 upon the appearance of Alvarado's force, but ftill hoftilities were carried 
 on, and one day that Alvarado was purfuing fome of the enemy among 
 the rocks and mountains where they had retreated, a foldier who was 
 on horfe-back at a considerable height above him on the fide of a moun- 
 tain, and whofe horfe had loft his footing, came, horfe and all, rolling 
 down the precipice, and ftriking Alvarado, brought him down with 
 them. By this accident he was fo much bruifed, that in confequence 
 thereof, and of being removed too fuddenly to the town of the Pacifica- 
 tion, he was feized with fainting fits, and in the courfe of a few days 
 gave up the ghoft. God pardon his fins ! fome fay that he made a 
 
 Ppp 2 will 
 

 ; -*w 
 
 ( 476 ) 
 
 will previous to his death, but it never appeared. He was buried with 
 as much ceremony as could be beftowed upon his funeral, and his re- 
 mains were, as I have heard, afterwards removed to the town of Piri- 
 pito by Juan de Alvarado his relation. 
 
 As foon as the news of his death was known to his fleet and army, 
 numbers difcharged themfelves, and returned to their homes with what 
 they had received. In Mexico he was greatly regretted. The Viceroy 
 fent off immediately the licentiate Maldonado, to take proper fteps to 
 prevent any confufion likely to enfue, and fhortly after following in 
 perfon, collected what remained of the foldiers, and marching againft 
 the infurgents in the rocks, after a tedious expedition fucceeded in redu- 
 cing them. The lofs of Alvarado was feverely felt in his family. As 
 fbon as the fatal intelligence arrived in Guatimala, the Bifhop D. Fran- 
 cifco Marroguin of excellent memory, and all the clergy, aflifted in 
 rendering him the funeral honours. His majordomo alfo, to (hew his 
 forrow, caufed the walls of his houfe to be painted black, which colour 
 they remained ever after. Many cavaliers waited upon his lady Donna 
 Beatrix de la Cueva and her family, in order to confole them, for their 
 diftrefs was very great. They told her that (he mould give thanks to 
 God, (Ince it was his will to take her hufband, to which (he as a good 
 chriftian afTented, but obferved, that (he wi(hed to be free from this 
 melancholy world, and all its misfortunes. 
 
 Thefe circumftances I mention, becaufe the hiftorian Gomara attri- 
 butes the unfortunate event which (hortly afterwards befell her, to her 
 having fpoken blafphemoufly, in faying that God could do her no 
 more injury than (he had already fuffered. She met with her death in 
 the following manner. A deluge of water and mud broke from the 
 Volcano which is at the diftance of about half a league from Guatimala, 
 and bringing with it great quantities of large (tones and trees, over- 
 whelmed the houfe of Donna Beatrix, who was at the time praying 
 with her women. As to the words which Gomara afcribes to her, (he 
 
 never 
 
( 477 ) 
 
 never uttered them, nor was her death a judgment of God in any ref- 
 pect. But I muft obferve the particularities of the fate of this family. 
 Although Alvarado and his four brothers had ferved his Majefty fo 
 zealoufly, not any part of his property defcended to his children. D. 
 Pedro de Alvarado died as I have related, by an uncommon accident in 
 Cochitlan; his brother George died in the city of Madrid, in the year 
 one thoufand five hundred and forty, being then foliciting his Majefty 
 for fome reward; Gomez de Alvarado died in Peru, Gonzalo de Alva- 
 rado in Mexico or Guaxaca, I forget which, and Juan on his voyage 
 to the Ifland of Cuba. His eldeft fon going with his relation Juan de 
 Alvarado the younger to wait on his Majefty, and folicit a recompence 
 for his father's fervices, the fhip wherein they went was loft, and nei- 
 ther they nor it were ever heard of after they fet fail. Don Diego the 
 younger fon, feeing his fortunes defperate, returned to Peru, where he 
 died in battle, and the lady of Pedro de Alvarado, with the female part 
 of his family, one only excepted, were drowned by a torrent from a 
 Volcano. Now curious readers reflect on what I have related of the 
 fate of this family, and may our Lord Jefus Chrift take them into his 
 holy glory ! amen. The only furvivor, Donna Leonora* one of his 
 daughters who was faved from the torrent, has caufed to be built two 
 fepulchres in the great church of this city of Guatimala, to receive the 
 bones of her relations. 
 
 In about a year after the death of D. Pedro de Alvarado, the Vi- 
 ceroy collected the beft of the thirteen (hips which compofed his fleet, 
 and fent them under the command of an officer named Villalobos, to 
 make difcoveries to the weft ward, but what the refult was, I never 
 heard. As to the expences incurred by Alvarado he never recovered 
 any part of them, nor his family after him. 
 
 The Marquis del Valle being in Spain at the time of the expe- 
 dition againft Algiers, and attending his Majefty in it, with his 
 eldeft fon, and alfo Don Martin his fon by Donna Marina, the fleet 
 
 was 
 
■•ryW,-* j*v*.v« 7">;t' ?i£>;.w;;fyvi;^:r, h 
 
 C 478 ) 
 
 was difperfed in a ftorm. The vefTel on board which the Marquis was 
 being ftranded, he, his fons, and the other cavaliers reached the fhore 
 with very great difficulty. His fervants have related, that before he 
 quitted the vefTel, he tied round his arm in a handkerchief a quantity 
 of jewels of ineftimable value, which he wore according to the cuftom 
 of great lords, as we fay "para no menefter," or becaufe they are not 
 wantirg, but in the confufion of quitting the vefTel by fome accident 
 they were all loft. On account of this difafter to the fleet, the council 
 of war were of opinion to raife the fiege immediately. To this council 
 the Marquis was not fummoned, but he is faid to have declared, that 
 had he been prefent at it he would have given his vote for the continu- 
 ation of the fiege, and that if it had been his fortune to have had fuch 
 brave foldiers as thofe who firft accompanied him to Mexico, he 
 would entertain no doubt of fuccefs. 
 
 The Marquis was now grown old, and he was worn down by fa- 
 tigues j he was therefore very anxious to return to New Spain, but a 
 treaty of marriage was on foot between his eldeft daughter Donna Maria 
 Cortes, for" whom he had fent to Mexico, and Don Alvaro Pinez Ofo- 
 rio fon and heir to the Marquis of Aftorga. The lady was to have a 
 fortune of a hundred thoufand ducats, and the Marquis had gone as far 
 as Seville to meet her on her arrival in Spain, but the match was bro- 
 ken ofX as it is faid, by the fault of Don Alvaro. The Marquis was 
 greatly difpleafed, and being in a bad ftate of health before, he declined 
 fo rapidly that he found it necefTary to retire from Seville to Caftileja de 
 la Cueia, to attend to his foul, and make his laft teftament. Having 
 arranged all his affairs for this, and the next world, it was the Lord's 
 will to take him from this troublefome ftate, on the fecond day of De- 
 cember one thoufand five hundred and forty feven. He was buried 
 with great pomp in the chapel of the Dukes of Medina Sidonia, but 
 his remains were afterwards, according to his will, brought to New 
 Spain , and interred in Cuyoacan or Tezcuco, I am uncertain which. 
 In regard to his age, I will give the beft account that I am able. In 
 
 the 
 
( 479 ) 
 
 the year one thoufand five hundred and nineteen, when we went with 
 bim from Cuba to New Spain, he ufed to tell us that he was thirty- 
 four years of age; from one thoufand five hundred and nineteen, to one 
 thoufand five hundred and forty feven, is a period of twenty eight years, 
 which makes him at the time of his death exactly fixty two years old. 
 
 The legitimate children of the Marquis del Valle were, Don Mar- 
 tin the prefent Marquis, Donna Maria before mentioned who married 
 the Count de Luna de Leon. Donna Juana, who married Don Hernan- 
 do Enriquez heir to the Marquis of Tariffa, and Donna Catalina de 
 Arrellano, who died in Seville. Thefe ladies came with the Marchi- 
 onefs from Mexico ; her brother Fray Anthonio de Zuniga being fent 
 for them. One daughter named Donna Leonora, was married in Mex- 
 ico, to a rich Bifcayan named Juanes de Tolofa, which alliance gave 
 great offence to the young Marquis. He alfo left two natural fons, one 
 by Donna Marina, named Don Martin, who was commander of the or- 
 der of St. Jago. The other, Don Luis, who was a commander of the 
 fame order, was the fon of a lady, by name, De Hermofilla. He had 
 alfo three natural daughters, one by an Indian woman of Cuba, was 
 
 named Donna Pizarro ; the others were by a Mexican woman. Thefe 
 
 ladies were all left great fortunes. The Marquis alfo having due time, 
 took care of his foul, by difcharging his fins; endowing an hofpital 
 in Mexico, and a monaftery of nuns in his own town of Cuyoacan. 
 
 The motto and arms which were granted to him were well adapted 
 to a valiant warrior. The former being in Latin I will fay nothing 
 about, becaufe I do not underftand that language. His arms were the 
 heads of feven kings in a chain, reprefenting Montezuma, Cacamatzin, 
 Guatimotzin, Tulapa, Coadlavaca, and the princes of Tacuba and 
 Cuyoacan. 
 
 I will now proceed to defcribe the perfon and difpofition of the 
 Marquis. He was of a good flature and ftrong built, of a rather pale 
 
 complexion, 
 

 ( 480 ) 
 
 complexion, and ferious countenance. His features were, if faulty, 
 rather too fmall ; his eyes mild and grave. His beard was black, thin, 
 and fcanty; his hair in the fame manner. His bread and fhoulders 
 were broad, and his body very thin. He was very well limbed, and 
 his legs rather bowed ; an excellent horfeman, and dexterous in the ufe 
 of arms. He alfo poiTefTed the heart and mind, which is the princi- 
 pal part of the bufinefs. I have heard that when he was a lad in Hif- 
 paniola, he was very wild about women, and that he had feveral duels 
 with able fwordfmen, in which he always came off with victory. He 
 had the fear of a fword- wound near his under lip, which appeared 
 through his beard if clofely examined, and which he received in fome 
 of thofe affairs. In his appearance, manners, tranfactions, converfa- 
 tion, table, and drefs, every thing bore the appearance of a great lord. 
 His cloaths were according to the fafhion of the time ; he was not fond 
 of filks, damafks, or velvets, but every thing plain, and very hand- 
 fome; nor did he wear large chains of gold, but a fmall one of prime 
 workmanfhip, bearing the image of our Lady the BlefTed Virgin with 
 her precious fon in her arms, and a Latin motto ; and on the reverfe, 
 St. John the Baptift with another motto. He wore on his finger a ring 
 with a very fine diamond, and in his cap, which according to the fafh- 
 ion of that day was of velvet, he bore a medal, the head and motto of 
 which I do not recollect; but latterly he wore a plain cloth cap, with- 
 out any ornament. 
 
 His table was always magnificently attended and ferved, with 
 four major domos or principal officers, a number of pages, and a great 
 quantity of plate both gold and filver. He dined heartily at" mid-day, 
 and drank a glafs of wine mixed with water, of about half a pint. He 
 was not nice in his food, nor expenfive, except on particular occafions 
 where he faw the propriety of it. He was very afiable with all his 
 captains and foldiers, efpecially thofe who accompanied him in his firfl 
 expedition from Cuba. He was a Latinift, and as I have been told, a 
 bachelor in laws. He was alfo fomething of a poet, and a very good 
 
 rhetorician; 
 
( 48i ) 
 
 rhetorician; very devout to our Hoi} Virgin, and his advocates St. Peter, 
 St. Jago, and St. John the Baptift in particular; and charitable to the 
 poor. When he fvvore he ufed to fay, "by my conference!" and when 
 he was angry with any of us, his friends, he would fay, "oh!" may 
 you repent it." When he was very angry, the veins in his throat and 
 forehead ufed to fwell, and when in great wrath, he would not utter a 
 fyllable to any one. He was very patient under infults or injuries; for 
 fome of the foldiers were at times very rude and abufive with him; but 
 he never refented their conduct, although he had often great reafon to 
 do fo. In fuch cafes he ufed only to fay, "be filent," or, "go away 
 " in God's name and take care not to repeat this condud:, or I will have 
 " you punifhed." He was very determined and headftrong in all bu- 
 flnefs of war, not attending to any remonftrances on account of danger; 
 an inftance of which he mewed in the attack of thofe fortreffes called 
 the rocks of the Marquis ; which he forced us to fcale, contrary to our 
 opinions, and where neither courage, counfel, or wifdom, could give 
 any rational hope of fuccefs. Another inftance was given by him of 
 his obflinacy in regard to the expedition againft De Oli. I repeatedly 
 advifed him to go by the mountains; but he perfifled in adhering to the 
 coaft, whereas if he had gone in the direction that I propofed he would 
 have found towns the whole way, of which the following route is a 
 proof; Guacacualco, the high road to Chiapa, from that to Guatimala, 
 and from thence to Naco. Where we had to erect a fortrefs, Cortes 
 was the hardeft labourer in the trenches; when We were going into 
 battle, he was as forward as any. 
 
 Cortes was very fond of play, both at cards and dice, and while 
 playing he was very affable and good humoured. He ufed frequently 
 at fuch times, thofe cant expreffions which perfons who game are ac- 
 cuftomed to do. In military fervice he practifed the moft flrict atten- 
 tion to difcipline, conflantly going the rounds in perfon during the 
 night, vifiting the quarters of the foldiers, and feverely reprehend- 
 ing thofe whom he found without their armour and appointments, and 
 
 Qqq not 
 
j£jciv 
 
 ^'^iG'l'-l/Xf, i^^^'^^^V 
 
 Mj^zi^k £& 
 
 ( 482 ) 
 
 not ready to turn out; repeating to them the proverb, that "it is a bad 
 M fheep which cannot carry its own wool." On our expedition to Higu- 
 eras I perceived that he had acquired a habit which I had never before 
 obferved in him, and it was this; after eating, if he did not get his 
 iielta or fleep, his ftomach was affedted, and he fell fick. For this 
 reafon, when on the journey, let the rain be ever fo heavy, or the fun 
 ever fo hot, he always repofed for a fhort time after his repaft, a carpet 
 or cloak being fpread under a tree, on which he lay down, and having 
 flept a fhort time he mounted his horfe and proceeded on his journey. 
 When we were engaged in the wars during the conqueft of New Spain, 
 he was very thin and flender, but after his return from Higueras he 
 grew fat, and acquired a belly. He at this time trimmed his beard 
 which had not begun to grow white, in the fhort fafhion. In his early 
 life he was very liberal, but grew clofe, latterly; fome of his fervants 
 complaining that he did not pay them as he ought, and 1 have alfo to 
 obferve that in his latter undertakings he never fucceeded. Perhaps fuch 
 was the will of heaven, his reward being referved for another place; 
 for he was a good cavalier, and very devout to the Holy Virgin, and 
 alfo to St. Paul and other Holy Saints. God pardon him his fins; and 
 me mine; and give me a good end which is better than all conquefts 
 and vidories over Indians. 
 
( 4«3 ) 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Enumeration and account of the valiant companions xahopaf 
 fed over to the conquefl of New Spain with the mojh adventu- 
 rous and magnanimous Don Hernando Cortes Marquis of 
 the Valley. Advantages refultingfrom the conquefl — Tranf- 
 atlions at court. Concluding obfervations of the author. 
 
 AN the lift of the conquerors of Mexico the firft is the Marquis Don 
 H. Cortes; with him came the following officers and foldiers. Don 
 P. de Alvarado, commander of St. Jago, adelantado and governor of 
 Guatimala, Honduras, and Chiapa; he was about thirty four years 
 of age when he came to this country, of a handfome perfon, very chear- 
 ful countenance, and mild look ; for which reafon he was called by the 
 Mexicans, "Tonatio," which fignifles the fun; he was very active, and 
 a good horfeman ; of a generous difpofition, and courteous manners, 
 very fplendid in his drefs, wearing a gold chain with a medal round 
 his neck, and a diamond ring on his finger. 
 
 F. de Montejo was of the middle ftature, of a chearful counter 
 nance, and gay difpofition; at the time of his arrival here he was about 
 thirty five years of age; he was fitter for bufinefs than war, and of a 
 liberal turn, expending more than he received; he arrived to the dignity 
 of adelantado and governor of Yucatan, and died in Caftille. 
 
 Captain G. de Sandoval was at the time of his arrival here about 
 twenty two years of age; he was joint governor of New Spain for about 
 eleven months ; in this officer courage and judgment were combined; 
 
 Qqq 2 he 
 

 ■hi • 
 
 ( 484 ) 
 
 he was robuft in body, his legs rather bowed, and his countenance 
 mafculine; his hair and beard were curled, and of a light brown; his 
 voice was rough, and fomewhat terrible, and he ftammered a little; he 
 was a plain man, and one who did not know much of letters, not 
 avaritious of gold, but attentive to his bufinefs like a good officer, fee- 
 ing that his foldiers did their duty well, and taking good care of them. 
 He was not fond of rich drefles, but went plain and like a foldier. He 
 had the beft horfe that ever was feen; he was a cheftnut, with a ftar 
 in his forehead, and his near foot white; his name was Motilla; he 
 became a proverb, fo that when any horfe was extraordinarily good, we 
 11 fed to fay he was as good as Motilla. Sandoval was an officer fit for 
 any ftation; he was a native of Medellin, and an hidalgo; his father 
 was an alcalde of a caflle. 
 
 Don C. de Oli was a Hector in battle, but his judgment was 
 not equal to his valour, and he required to be kept under command. 
 The captains De Alvarado, De Sandoval, and De Oli, were in 
 high eftimation with his Majefty, who was pleafed to fay that he had 
 three in New Spain who might be compared with the greateft the world 
 had produced. Cortes alfo ufed to talk highly of his officers and fol- 
 diers, but what Bernal Diaz del Caftillo thinks upon the fubject is this; 
 that if what Cortes afterwards faid in their favour, he had written at 
 firft to his Majefly, he would have done right; but at that time he 
 made no mention of our valiant actions, nor even our names; but only 
 faid, "this I did; this I ordered to be done;" whereas I think the leaf! 
 he mould have done was to make mention of us. I will now return to 
 my enumeration of our officers and foldiers. 
 
 J. V. de Leon, native of Old Caftille, was about twenty feven 
 years of age, well proportioned, and robuft; his beard was red and 
 curled, his voice rough and fierce, and he Hammered a little; he was 
 a cavalier of good manners, and generous, fharing what he had with 
 his companions ; he killed a perfon of coniequence in the Ifland of Hif- 
 
 paniola. 
 
( 48* ) 
 
 paniola, for which he was obliged to conceal himielf, and the officers 
 of juflice never were able to apprehend him, he made fuch refiftance 
 He was raoft valiant both on horfeback and on foot; he died at the 
 bridge. 
 
 D. de Ordas, from the neighbourhood of Campos, was about 
 forty years of age; he was captain of the foldiers armed with fword 
 and buckler, not being a horfeman; he was very valiant, and wife, 
 ftrong, and of good ftature, of a mafculine countenance, and black 
 thin beard. In fpeaking there were certain words which he could not 
 pronounce; he was generous, and of good manners. He was com- 
 mander of St. Jago, and governor of Maranion, where he died. 
 
 Captain L. Marin was valiant, and (tout built; bow legged, with 
 a red beard, and a full and chearful countenance, flightly marked with 
 the fmall pox. He was about thirty years of age, and a native of St. 
 Lucar, lifping a little, like the Sevillians. He was a good horfeman.,. 
 and of mild manners ; he died in Mechoacan. 
 
 Captain P. de Ircio was of middle ftature, chearful countenance,, 
 and duck legged; a great boaiter of his exploits, but by what we could 
 perceive in him good for very little; he was always repeating certain 
 ftaries of the Count de Urena, and Don Pedro Giron; we ufed to call 
 him Agrages without deeds; he was for a time captain under Sandoval 
 during the fiege, and died in Mexico. 
 
 A. de Avila was of a good perfon and countenance, clear and fen^ 
 fible in his converfation, very valiant, and about thirty three years of 
 age. He was free with his companions, but proud, fond of command- 
 ing, and impatient of controll, with a considerable mare of envy, and 
 turbulence, infomuch that Cortes could not bear to have him near him; 
 he therefore took care that he fhould be employed in fuch. affairs as 
 would draw him to a diftance;. he was uncle to the cavaliers the fons of 
 
 Benavides ? 
 

 ( 4«6 ) 
 
 Benavides, who were beheaded in Mexico; he died in that city or in 
 Yucatan. 
 
 A. de Monjarez was of middling ftature, and a good countenance; 
 he acted as captain during the fiege, but was always an invalid; he 
 was aged about thirty years, and died a natural death. 
 
 C. de Olea was a native of Medina Del Campo, and a moll: va- 
 liant foldier; he was about twenty fix years of age, of the middle fta- 
 ture, with a mafculine but pleafing countenance; his hair and beard a 
 little curled, and a clear voice; this foldier's bravery was fuch that we 
 all held him in the higheft honour; he faved the life of Cortes at Suchi- 
 millico, when the enemy had feized and were carrying him off to fa- 
 crifice ; and a fecond time upon the caufeway of Mexico when he was 
 in a ftill more defperate fituation, being wounded and in the hands of 
 a number of the Indians, the brave De Olea, though mortally wound- 
 ed, with his fword killed and beat off every one of thefe who were up- 
 on Cortes, thus faving his generaPs life, and lofing his own at the 
 fame time. When the perfon of this valiant foldier recurs to my mind, 
 and the manner he ufed to fight at our fides, the tears flow from my 
 eyes, for he was my towns-man, and we were related to the fame 
 families. 
 
 G. Dominguez, and Lares, were foldiers of high renown, and 
 might be put in comparifon with Olea; the firft died by the fall of his 
 horfe, the fecond at the battle of Otumba. 
 
 A. de Tapia was aged about twenty four years, of a pale com- 
 plexion and grave countenance; he was a valiant captain, and died m 
 Mexico, a natural death. 
 
 J. de Efcalante was a captain; he died at Villa Rica. F. dc 
 Lugo, a brave officer, acted as captain occafionally ; he was the natu- 
 ral 
 
( 48? ) 
 
 ral fori of a wealthy gentleman at Medina del Campo ; he died a natu- 
 ral death. Gregorio de Monjaraz; a good foldier; loft his hearing 
 during the fiege, and died a natural death. Four brothers of Don P. de 
 Alvarado. J. Xaramillo was an officer of merit; he died a natural 
 death. Chriftoval Flores, a worthy foldier. Chriftoval de Gamboa, 
 equerry to Cortes. One Calcedo, a wealthy man. Francifco de Bonal, 
 a good foldier. Maldonado, furnamed "the broad," a good foldier. Fran- 
 cifco Alvarez Chico, a man of bufinefs. Francifco de Torrazas, ma- 
 jor domo to Cortes, a perfon of merit. Chriftoval del Corral, our 
 enfign; an officer of merit. Anthonio de Villaroel, fome time enfign. 
 Alonzo de Grado; one fitter for bufinefs than war; by his importunities 
 he induced Cortes to give him the daughter of Montezuma in marriage. 
 Francifco Flores, a very noble perfon. De Solis. There were four of 
 this name; one was furnamed, "cafquete," or V rattle- fkull;" another 
 called himfelf "De la Huerta;" but we called him "filk coat," be- 
 caufe he prided himfelf on his drefs. Another was named "De atras 
 la Puerta," becaufe he always fat behind the door of his houfe, obferv- 
 ing the paiTengers in the ftreet. Bernardino Vafquez de Tapia; a perfon 
 of wealth and confequence. Juan Lopez de Ximena, alcalde major of 
 Vera Cruz. Juan de Cuellar, a good horfeman, married the handfomc 
 daughter of the Lord of Tezcuco, named Donna Anna. Another Cu- 
 ellar related to F. Verdugo. Santos Hernandez, whom we ufed to call 
 " the good old ranger." Pedro Moreno Medrano, alcalde in Vera 
 Cruz, a good foldier, and an upright judge. Roman Lopez, a perfon 
 of eminence. Juan de Limpias Caravajal, grew deaf during the liege, 
 where he was captain of a velTel. Melchor de Galvez. Villandrando, 
 faid to have been related to the Count of Ribadeo. OiTorio, a good 
 foldier. Rodrigo de Caftaneda, a good foldier. Juan de Naxara, a 
 good foldier. Ojeda, who loft an eye during the fiege. Alonzo Her- 
 nandez Puertocarrero, coufin to the Count of Medellin. Hernando 
 Burgueno, a good foldier. Tirado de la Puebla, a man of bufinefs. 
 Hernandes de Alanis, a very brave foldier. Navarrete. Juan Flamenco. 
 Francifco del Barco, promoted to be a captain. Juan Perez, who killed 
 
 his 
 
Hi 
 
 ■■■■■^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H 
 
 ( 488 ) 
 
 Iris wife:, the daughter of La Baguera. Najara, "the hump backed," 
 a moll waliant foldicr. Madrid, "the hump backed;" a very valiant fol- 
 dier. Juian de Inhiefta. De Alamilla, a good crofsbow-man. Moron; 
 a fine muifician. De Varela; a good fold ier. De Villafuerte; a perfon 
 of confequence, married to a relation of the firft wife of Cortes. Gu- 
 tierrez. Pacheco; a perfon of diilinclion. Hernando de Lerma, or 
 de Lema; a captain. Suarez the elder, who killed his wife with a 
 blow of a hand-mill. Lafios, who had a fuit about his diftricT:. Garci 
 Caro. One Ximenes. Amaya. Two Carmenos, brothers. One 
 Vargas. Polanco. Juan de Aragon. St. Eftevan. Bernardino de 
 Coria. Rodorigo Rangel. Almodova, his fon, and nephew. A 
 reverend. father of the order of mercy, named Fra Bartholome de Olmc- 
 do; a great theologian, a fine finger, and a virtuous man. Two ne- 
 phews of Alonzo Hernandez de Palo. Chriftoval Diaz; a good crofs- 
 bow-man. Juan Siciliano. Diego de Coria. Juan Sedeno. Sara- 
 gofTa, father to the fcrivener in Mexico. Diego Martin de Agamante, 
 a good foldier. Diego Hernandez, loft his fight; he was an afiiflant 
 fhipwright. Alvaro Lopez. One Yanez who went to Higueras; du- 
 ring his abfence his wife took another hufband with whom he left her. 
 Martin de Alpedrino, Juan Alvarez Rubazo, Gonzalez Sanchez, brave 
 men, all Portuguezc. One Avila. One Efpinofa, furnamed "De la 
 " buena bencdicion," from his often ufing the word. Peron de Toledo. 
 One San Juan. Aparicio Martin. Ixguierdo; a good foldier. Mor- 
 rales, an old man, lame of a leg, alcalde in ordinary at Villa Rica, and 
 a ftrict doer of juftice. Arevalo, Juan Leon, Madrigal; inhabitants 
 of Villa Rica ; never were on fervice. Navarro. Manzanilla, an In- 
 dian of the iflands. Benito Vejel, a drummer who had ferved in Italy. 
 Alonzo Romero. Pedro Lopez ; a good foldier. Juan Garcia, Hcr- 
 nan Martin, and another; fmiths. Alvaro Gallego. Pedro de Tapia. 
 Lorenzo Ginoves. Ochoa; a rich and eminent perfon. Martin Vaf- 
 quez, a man of eminence. Sebaftian Rodriguez, a crofsbow-man and 
 Trumpeter. Penalofa. Juan Perez Artiaga, furnamed "Malintzin;" 
 a rich man. Pedro Gonzalez Sabiote, a good foldier. Aguilar whofn 
 
 we 
 
( 489 ) 
 
 we found at the point of Cotoche ; a good foldier. Pedro Valenciano. 
 One Tariffa. Another of that name called by us "the meritorious," 
 becaufe he was always bragging of what he had done, and that he had 
 not been properly rewarded; a prating fellow. Pedro Sanchez Farfan; 
 a brave fold ier; he acted as captain. Efcobar the bachelor, apothecary, 
 furgeon, and phyfician; he went mad. Juan de Caceres the rich. 
 Gonzalo Hurones. Ramirez the elder. Aftorga. Toftado. Pedro 
 Valencia. Fray Juan de las Varillas, of the order of mercy; a good 
 theologian, and a virtuous man. Thofe enumerated above all died 
 naturally. Francifco de Saucedo, called "the gallant." Francifco de 
 Morla, a very brave foldier. De Lares, a good foldier and horfeman. 
 Another of that name. De Solis, an old man. Benitez, a brave 
 man. Juan Ruano, a good foldier. < ; Two nephews of Gonzales de 
 Najara. Gonzalo Dominguez, very brave and an excellent horfeman. 
 One De Mora, a good foldier. Juan Alvarez Chico. A good foldier 
 who had loft one hand in Caftille by the courfe of juftice. One To- 
 billo, lame, as he faid by a wound received while ferving under the 
 great captain. Gonzalo Lopez de Ximena. One Pilar, a good linguift. 
 Alonzo Luis, a good foldier; being very tall he was called "the infant." 
 Alonzo de Monroy, a good foldier, fon of a commander of St. Stephen; 
 he went under the name of Salamanca. Juan Rico de Alanis, a good 
 foldier. Martin de Vendabal. Pedro Gallego. Three foldiers of the 
 name of Truxillo, brave men. De Valladolid. De Angulo. Fran- 
 cifco Gutierrez. Santa Clara. One Ximenes. Two brothers of the 
 name of Florin. One Vargas. One De Cieza, remarkable for pitch- 
 ing a bar. Bartholome Pardo. Arbolanche, a very brave foldier. A 
 nephew of one Almodovar. Two brothers by name Martinez; brave 
 men. Sancho de Avila who is faid to have brought fix thoufand crowns 
 in gold to Caftille from St. Domingo, having had the luck to fall on 
 fome very rich mines there; he loft the whole at play and then joined 
 us. Alonzo Hernandez de Palo, Alonzo de la Mefta, and Rabanal 
 Montanez, good foldiers. Retamales: Gines Nortes, a brave foldier. 
 Luis Alonzo, an excellent fwordfman. Alonzo Catalan, a good foldier. 
 
 R rr Canillas, 
 
( 49° ) 
 
 Canillas, a drummer, and a good foldier, having fervcd in Italy. Her- 
 nandez, fecretary to Cortes. Juan Diaz, belonged to the general's houfe- 
 hold. Balnor. Cardenas, who faid he was ion to a commander. 
 Arguello, a good foldier. Vafquez, a brave ibid ier. Arroyudo. Pizarro; 
 a relation of Cortes, acted as captain; his name was not then remarkable, 
 nor had Peru been heard of. Magellanes, a brave foldier, a Portugueze, 
 as was another, a goldfmith. One Avila. Two of the name of Efpi- 
 nofo. One of the name of San Juan, called "the lofty," from his 
 prefumptuoufnefs. Caceres, a good foldier. Efcanola the younger. 
 Alonzo de Talavera, a good foldier. An Indian of the iflands named 
 Manzanilla. Galleguillo, a very little man. A fmith whofe name I 
 forget. Paredes. Gonzalo Mexia Rapapello, who faid he was de- 
 fcended from the corfair of that name in the reign of King John. Lu- 
 cas Ginoves. Cervantes, a buffoon. Plazuela. Alonzo Perez Maite, 
 a brave foldier, married to a handfome Indian of the iflands. Alonzo 
 de Efcobar, a perfon of confideration, formerly page to Velafquez. 
 Ponce. Mendez. An old crofsbow-man a great card player whofe 
 name I forget. The page Orteguilla and his father. Gaena. Luis 
 Farfan. Morillas. One of the Toftados. Porras, a fine ringer, with 
 a very fair complexion. Ortiz; he played on the fiddle and taught 
 dancing. Serrano, a good foldier. Quintero. Andres de Mola. 
 Alberza, a good foldier. Moft of thefe loft their lives at the bridge, were 
 fkcrificed, or fell in battle. 
 
 Simon de Cuenca was killed at Xicalonga, with ten morefoldiers. 
 Francifco de Medina died in the hands of the Indians with fifteen more. 
 One De la Scrna, who difcovered filver mines, I do not know what is 
 become of him. Martin Lopez, the fhip carpenter who rendered fuch 
 eminent fervices; he is now living in Mexico. One Granado is now 
 living in Mexico. Villa Lobos returned rich to Caftille. Juan del Rio 
 returned to Caftille. Juan Gomez returned rich to Caftille. Herman 
 Lopez de Avila, a truftee of the effects of the dead, returned very rkh 
 to Caftille, Pedro Efcudiro, Juan Cermeno, and his brother, all good 
 
 foldiers. 
 
( 49* ) 
 
 foldiers. Gonzalo de IJmbria a pilot. Francifco de Orozco; had been 
 a foldier in Italy, and a<5ted as captain during the fiege of Mexico; I 
 know nothing more of him. Mefa had been a canonier in Italy; was 
 drowned in croffing a river, after the conqueft. Luis Velafquez, and 
 Martin Valenciano, died in . the expedition to Higueras. Alonzo de 
 Barrientos, Juan del Puerto a good foldier, died o difeafe. Pedro de 
 Guzman, a brave foldier; it is (aid that on his journey to Peru, he and 
 his whole family, fervants and horfes, were frozen to death. Carde- 
 nas; this was he who talked of the two kings; he was very trouble- 
 fome to Cortes, The Emperor made him a grant of lands worth a 
 thoufand crowns a year, with which he returned to Mexico, but fhortIy_ 
 after, died. Los Villanuevas; two brothers; Portuguezc; I do not 
 know what became of them. Villocinda, a brave foldier, put on the 
 Francifcan habit. Alonzo de Herrera, a good foldier, he fought with 
 Captain Figuero, and to avoid the vengeance of the treafurer, fled to the 
 Indians of Maronon, by whom he was killed. Figuero was drowned 
 going to Caftille. Maldonado de Medellin, I do not know what be- 
 came of him. 
 
 Lencero, a good foldier, had an inn on the road to Vera Cruz, 
 turned friar. Sindos de Portillo, poffefTed large eftates, which he fold, 
 giving the money to the poor, and taking orders, led a holy life. 
 Quintero a good foldier, attained great wealth, which he renounced for 
 God's fake, and taking the Francifcan habit, led a holy life. Alonzo 
 de Aguilar owned the inn between Vera Cruz and La Puebla; a rich 
 man; he fold all his property for the ferviceof God, and putting on the 
 Dominican habit, led a holy life. Burguillos, a rich man, renounced 
 his property, and entered the order of St. Francis, which he afterwards 
 quitted. Efcalante, a good foldier, of a gay difpofition ; he put on the 
 Francifcan habit, but afterwards quitted the monaftery, and entered 
 again into the military fervice; but, in the courfe of a month, refumed 
 his friar's habit, and led a holy life. Gafpar Diaz, a wealthy man, 
 renounced all for God's fake, and retired to the pine woods of Guaxo- 
 
 Rrr 2 cm go* 
 
^^^H m 
 
 ( 49* ) 
 
 cingo, where, in the mod retired part, he made a hermitage for him- 
 feif; in this courie of life he reduced his hody to a very weak ilate, by 
 failing and penance, and the fame of his aufterities reaching the Bifhop 
 Juan de Zumarraga, he entreated him not to carry them to fuch an ex- 
 treme. Several other perfons alfo joined him, being induced by his 
 example to lead holy lives; at the end of about four years, it was God's 
 will to take them all from this world, to his heavenly glory. Lerma; 
 a very valiant foldier ; it was he who rendered fuch eflential fervice to 
 Cortes, in once faving his life ; Lerma was afterwards obliged to fly, 
 and feek refuge among the Indians from this very Cortes whom he had 
 preferved, and who was exafperated againft him, for reafons which, 
 from regard to his honour, I will not mention; we never knew what 
 became of him, but our fufpicions were very bad. Pinedo, a good 
 foldier, had been educated in the haute of Velafquez; on the arrival of 
 Narvaez, quitting Mexico to join him, he was way-laid and killed on 
 the road by Indians ; Cortes was fufpected of having a hand in his 
 death. 
 
 One Lopez, returned to Hifpaniola. Alaminos and his fon, Ca- 
 macho dc Triano, Alvarez de Huelva, Sopuerto del Condado, Cardi- 
 nal, Umbria, Galdin, and feveral others, all pilots; Sopuerto, only, 
 remained in Mexico; the reft being in dread of Cortes, becaufe they 
 had offered their fervices to Garray. Enreque, drowned himfelf, from 
 defpair and fatigue on a march. Zemudio, a very brave foldier, re- 
 turned to Old Spain, on account of having wounded feveral perfons in 
 frays; he was there given the command of a company; he died in 
 Locaftil with many other Spanifh cavaliers. Tariffa, the third of that 
 name, called by us "of the white hands," becaufe he was not fit either for 
 war or labour; or any thing elfe except to prate about what had hap- 
 pened to him in Seville; he and his horfe were drowned on the march 
 to Higueras. Efcobar, a brave man but very turbulent; he was hang- 
 ed for fedition and for violating a married woman. St. Jago, returned 
 rich to Caftille. Alonzo de Efcobar, a perfon of eftimation, formerly 
 
 page 
 
( 493 ) 
 
 page to Velafquez. Saldanha and two more whofe names I forget 
 were killed in Tabafco. De Rojas, went to Peru. Guillen de la Loa, 
 Andrez Nunez, Maiffe Pedro el de la Harpa, and three more; the firfl 
 died by a cannon (hot, the others by the enemy, or courfe of nature. 
 Alonio Rodriguez, left good mines in Cuba; was killed at the rocks, 
 together with Gafpar Sanchez, a brave man, nephew to the treafurer 
 of Cuba, and fix of the foldiers of Narvaez. Pedro de Palma, firffc 
 huihand of Elvira Lopez "the tall," was hanged together with a fol- 
 dier named Trebejo, and a prieft, for fcdition, by Avila or Las Cafas, 
 after the death of De Oli, under whom they ferved; I was (hewn the 
 tree whereon they were executed, when returning from Migueras with 
 Captain Marin. Many fea-faring men alfo came with us, and beha- 
 ved very bravely in the wars, but not recollecting their names I do not 
 put them down; I fhould run indeed into too great prolixity if I were 
 enumerate and defcribe all the valiant foldiers who palTed over with Cor- 
 tes; but they were worthy to be recorded in letters of gold. 
 
 Laft of all I put down myfelf, having been in this country ante- 
 cedent to the coming of Cortes twice, and the third time with him, as 
 I have related; and I give thanks and praife to our Lord God, and his 
 Holy Mother the Virgin Mary, who preferved me from being facrificed 
 like the moil of my companions, that I might now relate and make 
 manifefl our heroic actions, and enumerate by name our valiant captains 
 and foldiers, who conquered this new world, thereby to prevent all 
 the honour and merit from being unjuftly afcribed to one perfon. 
 
 Of thofe who came with Narvaez, although feveral were very va^- 
 liant men, I will fay nothing, becaufe my intention in writing this 
 hiftory, was but to record the heroic actions of the foldiers of Cortes. 
 I will therefore only defcribe Narvaez himfelf . 
 
 Narvaez was about forty two years of age, of tall ftature and large 
 limbs, a full face, and red beard, and agreeable prefence; very fonorous 
 
 and 
 
BBBBBiHIimHMHBBBHBWHBHWm 
 
 ( 494 ) 
 
 and lofty in his fpeech, as if the found came out of a vault; a good 
 horfeman, and faid to be valiant. He was a native of Valladolid, or 
 Tudela de Duero, and married to a lady named Maria de Valenzuela. 
 He had a confidcrable property in the Ifland of Cuba, where he was a 
 captain. One of his eyes was beaten out in the attack which we made 
 upon him.. This gentleman was faid to be very clofe in his difpofition. 
 He went to Cafrille to lay his complaints againfr. us before his Majefty, 
 and obtained a royal grant of a government in Florida, where he was 
 loft and all his property. Thofe who read the particulars of fo many 
 gallant officers and foldiers, fuch as I have now defcribed them, fre- 
 quently afk me how it happened that I fhould remember them per- 
 fectly, after the lapfe of fo many years. To which I reply, that it is 
 natural enough that I fhould recollect the names of five hundred and 
 fifty companions who were always together, in expeditions, in watches, 
 in battles, and in fkirmifhes, and converting with each other how fuch 
 a one had been killed at fuch a place, and how others were carried off 
 to be facrificed. For this was the manner in which we communicated 
 with each other, efpecially after we had come out of a bloody and 
 doubtful battle. And there have been generals who knew the foldiers 
 of their armies perfonally, even when there were as many as thirty 
 thoufand men; fo fays hiftory of Mithridates king of Pontus, and 
 another king of the Epirots, and of Alexander, and Hannibal of Car- 
 thage, and in our times of the valiant Gonzalo de Cordova called the 
 great captain, and many others. I fay farther, that I have their figures 
 fo perfectly pourtrayed in my imagination, that I could draw them as 
 it were to the life, each of them in the manner he entered into battle, 
 like the great Apelles, and thefe famous modern painters Michael An- 
 gelo, or the far celebrated Burgales, who is faid to be another Apelles. 
 Glory be to God, and the Holy Virgin, who faved me from being 
 facrificed to idols, to make thofe things known ! 
 
 Having enumerated the foldiers who pafTed with Cortes, and rela- 
 ted in what manner they died> I have now to obferve, that we were for 
 
 the 
 
( 495 ) 
 
 the moft part hidalgos, although fome were not of fuch clear lineage 
 as others, for all cannot be alike in this world, either in rank or in 
 virtues. But whatever may have been the dignity of our birth, we 
 made ourfelves much more illuftrious by our heroic actions in the con* 
 quell: of this country, at our own proper coil, and without any fupport 
 fave that of our Lord Jefus C brill who is the true aid and fuccour. If 
 we look into the antient hiflory of our own country, we (hall then fee 
 that many cavaliers arofe to dignity and honours, by valiant and faith- 
 ful fervices to their king ; and I have obferved that thofe who thus 
 obtained thefe titles and dignities, did not go into the field without 
 receiving pay and falaries for their fervice; and yet they were rewarded 
 with houfes and caftles, and lands, and privileges, to them and their 
 defcendents in perpetuity. Alfo when his Majefty Don Jayme won 
 parts of his kingdom from the Moors, he made grants thereof to thofe 
 cavaliers who had aflifted him in the conqueft, from which period they 
 derive their honours and blazons. Thofe alfo who ferved under the 
 great captain and the Prince of Orange were rewarded in like manner, 
 and we, even without his Majefty's knowledge, by our valour gained 
 him this great country. I have here recalled this to recollection, that 
 the world may confider and fee our manifold, and good, and notable, 
 and loyal fervices, to God and the King, and all Chriftendom, and 
 let them be put in a ballance and weighed, and let it be decided if we 
 are not as worthy of rewards and remunerations, as thofe cavaliers 
 whom I have mentioned above. And as amongft thofe whom I have 
 enumerated there were many valiant companions, I was held in no 
 inconfiderable degree of eflimation in my day as a foldier. 
 
 Now curious reader reflect on my life, and in how many battles 
 and dangers I have been, flnce I firfk came to this country, and how I 
 was twice in the hands of the enemy who were carrying me off to facri- 
 fice, and God gave me force to efcape out of their clutches; befides the 
 diftrehes by hunger, thirft, and fatigue, which occur to all who under- 
 take difcoveries in unknown countries, 
 
 It 
 
'^^fxl^x&h'TiM&ky^ vf>* I &f&*$ ^M 
 
 ( 496 ) 
 
 It is now proper that I fliould relate the good effects of our exer- 
 tions for the fervice of God and his Majefly, by our illuftrious conquefts, 
 in which moft of our companions loft their lives, being facrificed to the 
 idols Huitzilopochtli and Tezcatcpuca. In the firit place, we purged 
 the land of its wickednefs and evil cuftoms, as for inftance that of hu- 
 man facrifice. By the accounts taken by certain reverend Francifcan 
 fathers, the nrfr. who came here after Fray Bartholome de Olmedo, it 
 appears, that in the city of Mexico, and fome adjacent towns in the la] •, 
 they facrificed every year above two thoufand five hundred human being 3, 
 young and old. Of courfe in the whole extent of the country the num- 
 ber thus put to death annually, mult have been much greater. Their 
 various horrid practices of this nature exceed the powers of my pen to 
 defcribe. Their curfed adoratories were fo many that I beflow on all of 
 them a hearty malediction; it feems to me that they refembled what 
 We have in Caftille, for as we fee there in every city, holy churches, 
 and hermitages, and chapels, fo they had in this country their houfes 
 of idols, devils, and diabolical figures. Befides thefe, each native, 
 male or female, had two altars, one by the place where he or fhe ilept, 
 the other at the door of the houfe, with chefls containing idols large 
 and fmall, ftones, and ftone knives, with books made of the bark of 
 trees, in which were noted down their records of paft times. They 
 were much addicted to abominable practices, efpecially upon the coalt, 
 and in the fultry provinces, where boys wore female attire. They eat 
 human flefh, as we do beef which we buy in the market, and in every 
 town they had wooden cages, wherein they kept and fattened thofe 
 men, women, and children, who were deftined for that purpofe, as 
 was the cafe with all thofe whom they took in their wars. Inccft was 
 common amongft them; and they were drunkards in an extreme. In 
 the province of Panuco in particular, they took the wine into their 
 bodies in the manner a medicine is administered, by means of a hollow 
 cane; an unheard-of beaftlinefs ! They had as many wives as they 
 pleafed, and all thefe, and other abominations, it was the will of our 
 Lord Jefus Chrift that we mould be the inftruments to fweep from the 
 
 land, 
 
( 497 ) 
 
 land, fubftituting in their places, a good policy and the holy doctrine. 
 It is true that after the lapfe of two years, when the country was Sub- 
 jugated and civilized, certain worthy fathers Francifcans, of good ex- 
 ample and doctrine came here, and were followed in three or four) ears 
 by fathers of the order of St. Dominic, who completed what others 
 liad begun, but if it is duly confidered it will appear that the meed and 
 honour of deftroying the evil cuftoms of the land, in juftice belongs to 
 us the true conquerors, in preference to any other perfons, even though 
 they mould be of the holy profeSTion. 
 
 Since the destruction of idolatry, by the will of God, and with 
 his holy aid, and the good fortune and Sacred chriflianity of the moft 
 christian Emperor Don Carlos of glorious memory, and of our monarch 
 and moll: fortunate fovereign, the invincible King of Spain, our lord 
 Don Philip his dear and much beloved fon, to whom may God grant 
 years, and much increafe of dominion, to be enjoyed by him during 
 his fortunate and holy life, and to be tranfmitted from him to his pof- 
 terity, there have been baptized in this country, all the natives, whofe 
 fouls formerly were funk and loft in the infernal pit. At prefent alfj 
 as there are here many reverend fathers of the different orders, they go 
 through the country preaching and baptizing, whereby the holy Evan- 
 gelifts are firmly planted in the hearts of the natives, who confefs every 
 year, and thofe Sufficiently advanced in the knowledge of the faith co- 
 mulgate. The churches alfo and their altars are richly adorned, with 
 all requisites for holy worShip, as, croiTes, and candlefticks, wax can- 
 dles, chalices, cups, plates, and velTels for incenfe, all of Silver. The 
 ornaments of the altars and crofTes are of velvet and damafk, and other 
 rich materials of various colours and workmanfhip, aud embroidered 
 with gold, {ilk, and pearls. The funerals alfo are diftinguiShed by their 
 emblematic reprefentations of Skulls and bones, and with their palls, 
 fome good, and others not fo. Each town alfo has its bells, according 
 to its ability. There are choirs alfo in the chapels, of good voices 
 which Sing in concert, tenors, and trebles, and counter-altos. In fome 
 
 S s s places 
 
^kv,:.-***^ 
 
 cixx:atjM-V 
 
 ( 498 ) 
 
 places are organs, and moft have flutes, hautbois, fackbuts, dulcimers, 
 with trumpets bale and treble, more in this one province of Guatimala 
 than there are in my native country, which is Old Caftille. It is a thing 
 worthy to thank God on to fee the devotion which the natives exhibit 
 when at holy mafs, efpecially if it is faid by fathers of the orders of St. 
 Francis, or of Mercy, who are appointed to the cures of parifhes. All 
 the natives alfo, men, women, and children, are taught the holy ora- 
 tions in their mother tongue, and when they pafs a crofs, crucifix, or 
 altar, they bow, and falling on their knees fay a Pater Noftcr or Ave 
 Maria. We, the conquerors alfo taught them to keep wax candles 
 lighted before the holy altars and croffes, for before our arrival they did 
 not know the ufe of wax in making candles. We alfo taught them to 
 behave with refpect to the reverend fathers, and when they came to 
 their towns, to go out to meet and receive them with lighted wax can- 
 dles, ringing the bells, and giving them plentifully to eat; and thus 
 they do. They have alfo other holy and good cuftoms, for on the day 
 of our Lady, or of Corpus ChrifTi, and other folemn feafts, when we 
 make proceflions, moll: of the neighbours of this city of Guatimala go 
 in procelTion with crofTes and lighted candles, bearing the image of the 
 faint who is their patron or patronefs, as richly dreffed as they can 
 afford; and they go finging the litanies, and other holy orations, and 
 found their flutes and trumpets. 
 
 The natives of thefe countries have alfo learned the trades ufed 
 amongft us in Caftille, and have their fhops, manufactories, and jour- 
 neymen, and gain their livelihood thereby. The gold and filverfmiths 
 work both in caft metal, and by the hammer, and excel, as do the lapi- 
 daries and painters. The engravers execute full: rate works, with their 
 fine inftruments of iron, efpecially upon emeralds, whereon they repre- 
 fent all the acts of the holy paflion of our redeemer and Saviour Jefus 
 Chrifl, in fuch a manner that thofe who had not feen them execute it, 
 would not believe that fuch works could be done by Indians ; infomuch 
 that according to, my judgment, that famous painter of ancient times 
 
 the 
 
( 499 ) 
 
 the renowned Apelles, or the modern ones named Michael Angelo and 
 Berruguete, and another a native of Burgos who is in great fame, being 
 as they fay a fecond Apelles, could not with their fubtle pencils equal 
 the works which are done by three Mexican artifls named Andres de 
 Aquino, Juan de la Cruz, and El Crefpillo. In addition to all thefe 
 things, the fons of the chiefs ufed to be grammarians, and were learn- 
 ing very well, until they were forbidden by the holy fynod, under an 
 order of the moll reverend archbifhop of Mexico, but many of them 
 are now, notwithstanding, literate. They are alfo weavers of fdk, 
 fluffs, and cloths, and manufacturers thereof, through all the various 
 ftages. They have alfo learned to be hatters and foap boilers. Two 
 trades only could never be acquired by them ; one is, that of making 
 glafs, the other that of the apothecary ; but this is not owing to any 
 defect of natural genius, for they are furgeons, and herbalifts, jugglers, 
 and makers of puppets, and of violins. Tillers of land they were be- 
 fore our arrival; and now they rear itock, and break bullocks, and 
 plow, fow wheat, manure, reap, fell, and make bread and bifcuit. 
 They have planted their lands and inheritances with the fruit trees of 
 Old Spain, and fell the fruit, cutting down the unwholefome peach 
 trees, and overloading plantains, to make room for quince, apple, and 
 pear trees, which they hold in high estimation. We have taught them 
 alfo laws and juflice, and in confequence, they every year elect their 
 ordinary alcaldes, regidors, notaries, alguazils, fifcals, and major do- 
 mos. They have their halls of common council, with bailiffs, where 
 they meet two days in the week, judging, and fentencing, and for 
 fome offences punifhing and whipping; but for murder and higher 
 crimes, they refer them to the governor's, if there is no court of royal 
 audience. 
 
 I have further been told by perfons well informed upon the fubject, 
 that in Tlafcala, Tezcuco, Cholula, Guaxocingo, Tepeaca, and other 
 great cities, when the natives go to council, gilt maces are borne before 
 the governors and alcaldes, as is done before the viceroys, and they do 
 
 Sss 2 juftice 
 
'Atfsivfi 
 
 &}2-. 
 
 H 
 
 ^H i&'isjf.v; 
 
 ( 500 ) 
 
 juftice with as much zeal and activity as is ufed among us, priding 
 themfelves thereon, and being very anxious to obtain a knowledge of 
 our laws. 
 
 All the caciques have horfes and are rich, and ride, handfomely 
 caparifoned and attended by their pages, through and about their re- 
 fpective towns. In fome towns alio they exercife with the lance on 
 horfeback, run at the ring, and have bull fights, efpecially on the 
 days of Corpus Chrifti, St. John, St. James, our Lady in Auguft, or 
 the patron or patronefs of the town. Many alfo of them will face 
 the bulls be they ever fo fierce, and are excellent horfemen, efpecially 
 thofe of a place named Chiapa de los Indios. Thofe who are caciques 
 now breed horfes, and ufe them and mules for ordinary purpofes, con- 
 veying by their means, wood, maiz, and lime for fale. Many of the 
 natives have likewife taken up the trade of arrieros or carriers, as is 
 in practice in Caftille. To conclude, they excel in all manufactures, 
 not excepting that of tapeftry. 
 
 Other advantages and profits are alfo derived from our illuftrious 
 fervices. By them our mother country has obtained gold, iilver, pre- 
 cious {tones, grain, wool, farfaparilla, and hides; all which are annu- 
 ally tranfmitted thither to the benefit of his Majcfty's revenue. I do 
 not include the prefents we at various times lent, and that which is 
 exported by merchants and pallengers, for fince the time that the wife 
 King Solomon built the holy temple of Jerufalem with the gold and 
 filver which he caufed to be brought from the Iltands of Tarlis, Ofir, 
 and Saba, ancient or modern hiftory do not record fuch treafures to have 
 been derived from any country, as what have been fent from New 
 Spain; and this I fay, becaufe although it is notorious that from Peru 
 many millions in gold and filver have been obtained, yet at the time of 
 the conquefl of this country Peru was unknown, nor was it gained un- 
 til ten years after. We alfo from the firft continued to fend to his Ma- 
 jefly moft rich prefents, for which and other reafons, I rate this 
 
 country 
 
( s°> ) 
 
 country higher in eftimation, becaufe we well know that Peru has 
 been involved in cruel civil wars, whereas we have remained, and will 
 continue to do fo, our breafts proftrate on the earth in fubmiiTion and 
 allegiance to our lord the King, and ready to expofe and devote our lives 
 and fortunes in his fervice. 
 
 Let the curious reader confider the number of cities of New Spain, 
 which from their being fo many, I will not detail; our ten bifhoprics, 
 not including the archbifhopric of the noble eity of Mexico, the three 
 courts of royal audience, together with the fucceffion of governors, 
 archbifhops, and bimops, our holy cathedrals and monafteries, Domi- 
 nican, Francifcan, Mercenarian, and Auguftin, our hofpitals with the 
 extenfive remi (lions and pardons attached to them, and the Santa Cafa 
 of our Lady of Guadeloupe with the holy miracles there performed every 
 day, and let us give thanks to God, and to his bleiTed mother our Lady, 
 for giving us grace and fupport to conquer thefe countries, where io 
 much chriftianity is now eltablifhed. 
 
 .1 
 
 Let it be alfo remembered, that in Mexico there is a univerfity 
 
 wherein are ftudied and learned grammar, theology, rhetoric, logic, 
 philofophy, and other fciences. There is alfo a printing prefs for books 
 both in Latin and Romance, and in this college they graduate as licen- 
 tiates and doctors; to which I might add many other inflances to en- 
 hance the value of thefe countries, fuch as the mines of filver, and other 
 difcoveries, whereby profperity and grandeur redound to the mother 
 country. If all which I have now faid does not* fuffice, let the wife 
 and learned read my hiftory from beginning to end, and they will then 
 confefs, that there never exifted in the world men who by bold atchieve- 
 ment have gained more for their Lord and King, than we the brave 
 conquerors ; amongft the mod: valiant of whom I was confidered as one, 
 and am the mofl ancient of all. I fay again that I, — I myfelf, — I, am 
 a true conqueror : and the moll ancient of alK 
 
 I will 
 
■■ 
 
 
 ( 502 ) 
 
 I will now propofe a few queftions by way of dialogue, with the 
 immortal and illuftrious goddefs of Fame, who has feen, and proclaims 
 through the world, our manifold, great, and remarkable fervices, to 
 God, his Majefty and all Chriftendom, and cries with a loud voice, 
 laying, that it is in juftice and in reafon, that we fhould have better 
 eftates and iituations than others who have not ferved his Majefty here 
 or elfewhere. The goddefs alfo enquires where are our palaces, and 
 manfions, adorned with diftinguifhing blazons, with fculptures of our 
 coats of arms, and monumental trophies of our heroic actions, in the 
 fame manner as thofe cavaliers have who' ferved their king in Spain, 
 our atchievements being no w r ay inferior to theirs, but on the contrary 
 of moil eminent merit, and not exceeded by any. The goddefs of 
 Fame alfo enquires for thofe conquerors who efcaped from cruel deaths, 
 and for the tombs and monuments of thofe who fell. 
 
 To thefe queftions I reply as follows, with much brevity. Oh 
 excellent and illuftrious Fame ! defired and fought for by the good and 
 virtuous, but fhunned and hated by the malicious, why do you not 
 exalt us as our merits deferve? know, goddefs, that of five hundred 
 and fifty foldiers who left the Ifland of Cuba with Cortes, at the mo- 
 ment that I am writing this hiftory in the year one thoufand five hun- 
 dred and fixty eight no more than five are living, the reft having been 
 killed in the wars, facrificed to idols, or died naturally. In anfwer to 
 your queftion concerning their tombs and monuments, I tell you that 
 their tombs are the maws of cannibal Indians, who devoured their 
 limbs, and of tigers, ferpents, and birds of prey, which feafted on 
 their mangled bodies. Such were their fepulchres, and fuch their mo- 
 numents ! but to me it appears that the names of thofe ought to be 
 written in letters of gold, who died fo cruel a death, for the fervice of 
 God and his Majefty, to give light to thofe who were in darknefs, and 
 to procure wealth which all men defire. 
 
 The illuftrious goddefs next afks me for an account of thofe who 
 
 came 
 
( S°3 ) 
 
 came with Narvaez, and with Garray; to which I reply, that the 
 number of the foldiers who came with the former was one thoufand 
 three hundred exciufive of the mariners, of whom not more than ten 
 or eleven furvive, the reft having fallen in the wars, and being facri- 
 ficed and devoured. Thofe who came with Garray, according to my 
 account, including the three companies which landed at St. Juan de 
 Ulua previous to the arrival of Garray himfelf, were in all one thoufand 
 two hundred foldiers, moft of whom were facrificed and devoured in 
 the province of Panuco. Fame alfo afks for the fifteen foldiers who 
 accompanied Lucas Vafquez de Aillon who loft his life on the coaft of 
 Florida; to which I reply that they are all dead. I alfo inform you Oh 
 excellent Fame ! that there only remain alive at this moment five of the 
 companions of Cortes, and we are very old, and bowejd down with 
 infirmities, and very poor, and with a heavy charge of fons to provide 
 for, and of daughters to marry off, and grandchildren to maintain, and 
 little rent to do it withall! and thus we pafs our lives, in pain,, in 
 labour, and in forrovv. 
 
 Having now anfwered your queftions illuftrious Fame relative to 
 our monuments, blazons, and palaces, I requeft of you that hencefor- 
 ward you exalt to more effect your moft virtuous and excellent voice, in 
 order that our high proweffes may be made known to the univerfe, and 
 not be obfcured as they are by the flanders of the malignant. To this my 
 requeft moft virtuous Fame replies, that fhe will do fo moft willingly; 
 and alfo, that (he is aftonifhed to find that we have not the beft proper- 
 ties allotted to us in that country which we conquered, and which it 
 was his Majefty's orders fhould be given to us, in like manner as the 
 Marquis Cortes was rewarded, not indeed to the fame extent, but mo- 
 derately. The goddefs alfo fays that the actions of the valiant and 
 magnanimous Cortes are always to be moft highly eftimated, and con- 
 sidered amongft thofe moft celebrated in hiftory. She alfo at the fame 
 time obferves, that in the hiftories of Gomara and the Doctor Illefcas 
 and others, no mention is made of any of us, but they only fay, "Cortes 
 
 " difcovered," 
 
'?i--?^.;«.': 
 
 ! ,ri^-tH-f-H%>i~ 
 
 mm 
 
 ( 504 ) 
 
 difcovered," and "Cortes conquered/' the captains and foldiers remaining 
 unnoticed; but (he has been very happy to find that all which I have 
 narrated in my hiftory is ftrictly conformable to the truth, and that I 
 follow matter of fact clofely and literally, without running into fervile 
 praifes, and that I do not depreciate many valiant captains and foldiers 
 to exalt one, as is the cafe with Gomara and the other hiftorians. The 
 good goddefs alfo promifes me, that (he will proclaim thefe truths' 
 wherever (he (hall be, and further, that if this my hiftory is published, 
 it (hall be credited, and its authenticity acknowledged wherever it is 
 feen or heard, and that it (hall obfeure and annull all others. 
 
 Befides what I have here propofed by way of dialogue, a certain 
 doctor, an oydor of the court of royal audience of Guatimala, aiked me 
 how it happened that when Cortes wrote to his Majefty, and alfo when 
 he Went the firft time to Caftille, he did not folicit for us, fince we 
 were, under God, the means whereby he acquired his marquifate and 
 government. To this I then replied, and now fay, that when his 
 Majefty gave him the government, he therewith received the better part 
 of this whole country, believing that he was to remain abfolute mafter 
 thereof, and to have unlimited liberty to beftow or deprive as he thought 
 proper; and this, it is fuppofed, was the reafon why he would not and 
 did not write on the fubject. Alfo, at the time his Majefty gave him 
 his marquifate, he folicited the government in the fame manner that 
 he had held it before; but it was then refufed him, and he did not 
 think of afking any thing that might be ferviceable to us, but only to 
 himfelf. 
 
 Further, the veedor and factor, together with other cavaliers of 
 Mexico had reprefented to his Majefty, that the Marquis had taken for 
 himfelf the beft provinces and towns of New Spain, and had afligned 
 others to his friends and relations newly come from Caftille, leaving 
 very little for the royal patrimony ; whereupon, as we afterwards learned,, 
 his Majefty was pleafed to order that all the overplus (hould be divided 
 
 amongft 
 
( S°S ) 
 
 amongft us, the companions of Cortes, but the Emperor was at that 
 time in Barcelona, preparing to embark for Flanders. Had Cortes im* 
 mediately after the conqueft divided this country into five parts, and 
 afTigned one of the richeft and befl of the fifths for his Majefty ; allot- 
 ted one (hare and a half for himfelf, for churches, monasteries, and 
 municipal properties, as alfo for a fund wherefrom his Majefty could 
 reward cavaliers who ferved him in Italy or againft the Turks and 
 Moors; and divided the other two fifths and a half, by grants in per- 
 petuity to us, we fhould have been all fatisfactorily provided for. As 
 our Caefar was fo chriftian a monarch, and as the conqueft of this coun- 
 try coft him nothing, he would have readily granted us thefe favours. 
 But we at that time did not know how to apply for juftice, nor to 
 whom to reprefent our fervices or our injuries, except to Cortes himfelf, 
 who did in the bufinefs as he thought fit. We therefore remained with 
 the little which had been afTigned us, until we faw that Don Francifco 
 de Montejo who went to wait upon his Majefty in Europe obtained the 
 appointments of adelantado and governor of Yucatan, eftates in Mexico, 
 and other rewards. Diego de Ordas alfo, who went to court, obtained 
 an encomienda of St. Jago, and diftricts in New Spain. Then Don 
 Pedro de Alvarado went to kifs his Majefty's feet and was made adelan- 
 tado and governor of Guatimala and Chiapa, commander of the order 
 of St. Jago, and obtained diftricts of lands. Laft went Cortes, who 
 was created a marquis, and appointed captain general of the South Sea. 
 
 When we the conquerors therefore faw, that thofe who did not 
 reach his Majefty's prefence had no one to fpeak in" our favour, we 
 fent to petition that whatever lands thenceforward fell vacant, fhould be 
 diftributed in perpetuities amongft us, according as our claims were 
 fubftantiated, as was the cafe before the firft court of royal audience 
 held in Mexico, whereof Nuno de Guzman was prefident. His Ma- 
 jefty's exprefs directions to Nuno de Guzman were, to throw the whole 
 property of New Spain into a mafs, and then to make the divifions 
 more equal, deducting in due proportion from the immoderate grants of 
 
 Ttt Cortes. 
 
HH 
 
 ■i 
 
 V 506 ) 
 
 Cortes. Alfo, that to us, the true conquerors mould be given the bcir. 
 diflricts and of moft rent, leaving the cities and great towns for his Ma- 
 jetty's property. The Emperor alfo ordered that the vaiTals of Cortes 
 mould be counted, leaving no more with him than his patent fpecifled; 
 but what was to be done with the furplus I do not recollect. The rea- 
 fon why Nuno de Guzman and the oydors did not make this repartition 
 in perpetuity was, that they were milled by bad advifers, whom, not 
 to dishonour, I will not name, but the perfons I have alluded to told 
 them, that if the conquerors once found themfelves provided for, they 
 would ceale to refpect and be dependent on them, as was the cafe while 
 they were compelled to fupplicate for a fubfiftence. As alfo, by retain- 
 ing, they kept the power of bellowing the vacant lands at their plea- 
 fiire, and to the advantage of their own private intereft. It is"true that 
 as districts fell vacant, Guzman and the oydors conftantly afligned them 
 to conquerors, and eolonifts, to their fatisfaction ; and if that court was 
 fuperceded, it was on account of the difputes with Cortes, and of mark- 
 ing free Indians for flaves* 
 
 In the year one thoufand five hundred and fifty, I being in Old 
 Spain, the licentiate De la Gafca came from Peru, and with him D. 
 Martin el Regente a Dominican friar; and repairing to the court which 
 was then at Valladolid, his Majefty promoted the aforefaid father to the 
 bifhopric of Las Charcas. At this period a council was formed, com- 
 pofed of D. Fray B. de las Cafas bifhop of Chiapa, D. Vafco de Qui- 
 roga bifhop of Mechoacan, and other cavaliers who came as agents from 
 New Spain and Peru, together with fome hidalgos who were brought 
 by bufinefs to the court, and to this council I was alfo called, as being 
 the moft ancient of the conquerors of New Spain. 
 
 De la Gafca and the other Peruvians had brought with them great 
 quantities of treafure, as well for their own ufe as for his Majefty, the 
 latter being fent from Seville to Augufta in Germany where the Empe- 
 ror then, was, and in his company our moft happy Don Philip king of 
 
 the 
 
( $°1 ) 
 
 the Spains, our lord his dear and much beloved fon, whom God 
 guard. At that time certain of the Peruvian cavaliers waited on his 
 Majefty with the treafure, and to petition that he would caufe the 
 allotment of lands in perpetuity to be made. It feems alfo, that previ- 
 ous to this time a petition to the fame effect had been prefented from 
 New Spain by Gonzalo Lopez, and Alonzo de Viilanueva, who had 
 been'fent as procuradors or agents from Mexico. It fo happened that 
 juft then the bifhopric of Palencia fell vacant, and was beftowed on the 
 licentiate De la Gafca who was alfo made Conde de Pernia, on account, 
 as was faid at the cqurt, of the fervices rendered in Peru, which was 
 then at peace. 
 
 His Majefty was pleafed, in regard to the repartition of lands in 
 perpetuity, to order, that the Marquis de Mondejar prefident of the 
 royal council of the Indies, the licentiates Gutierre Velafquez, Tello 
 de Sandoval, Gregorio Lopez and Briviefca, and the Doctor Hernan 
 Perez de la Fuente, oydors of that court, together with cavaliers of other 
 royal councils mould aftemble, to confider, and fee how the repartition 
 fhould be made, as was bell for the fervice of God and for his Majefty *s 
 intereft. 
 
 When thefe cavaliers were met in the houfe of Pero Gonzalez de 
 Leon, where was eftablifhed the royal council of the Indies, it was 
 propofed in that very illuftrious affembly, that the perpetual repartition 
 mould take place in New Spain and in Peru; I am not certain that 
 Grenada and Bobotan were included, but am inclined to think that they 
 were, and the reafons offered in fupport of the meafure were holy and 
 good. It was argued that if the lands were granted in perpetuity, the 
 proprietors would for their own interefts treat the natives better, and 
 pay more attention to the converfion of them to our holy faith. That 
 if they fuffered from ficknefs or misfortune they would be attended to 
 like their children, and the rents alleviated. The proprietors would 
 alfo go into improvements, planting vines and breeding cattle; difputes 
 
 Ttt a ,and 
 
■■■■■ 
 
 ( 5°8 ) 
 
 and litigations about lands and boundaries would ceafe, and the office 
 of vifitadors or infpectors would be unneceilary. The minds alio of 
 the foldiers would be tranquillized, in knowing that the prefidents and 
 governors had not the power of beftowing lands when they fell vacant, 
 on their clients and favourites. His Majefty alio in doing this would 
 exonerate his royal confcience, in recompeniing thofe who had ferved 
 him faithfully. To thefe, many other good reafons were added. It 
 was alfo propofed to deprive the turbulent and rebellious in Peru of their 
 diftricts. After all this had been well debated and confidcred in the 
 illuftrious aiTembly, we proceeded to give our opinions in favour of the 
 perpetual repartition. 
 
 It was then oppofed by the Bifhop of Chiapa, his ailociate Fray 
 Rodrigo of the order of St. Dominic, the Bifhop of Palencia, the Mar- 
 quis of Mondejar, and two oydors of the royal council of his Majefty. 
 The Marquis of Mondejar did not however fpeak upon the occaiion, 
 but remained as it were on the look out to fee which party was likely to 
 carry the queftion. The arguments ufed by the others againfl the 
 repartition were, that many in Peru had now life eftates, who fo far 
 from deferving perpetuities, merited confiscation, and that if peace was 
 once eftablifhed in that country, if the foldiers who were unprovided 
 for faw that there was no fund for that purpofc, they would become 
 mutinous and caufe new troubles. The Bifhop of Mechoacan who was 
 of our party hereupon afked the licentiate De la Gafca, how it had hap- 
 pened that he did not chaftize the mutineers as he very well knew them ; 
 whereas on the contrary he had given them lands. To this the other 
 replied, laughing, that he had hanged and quartered many of them, 
 and thought it no fmall atchievement to have efcaped from amongft: 
 them fafe and found. More was alfo faid on this fubject. 
 
 It was propofed, and approved by many prefent, that the few of 
 the real conquerors of New Spain who now remained, including thofe 
 who came with Cortes s with Narvaez, and with Garray, mould re- 
 ceive 
 
( 5°9 ) 
 
 ceive perpetuities, referring the other matter to future confederation. As 
 foon as this proposition was made, the other party moved that all fur- 
 ther proceedings mould be poftponed until the return of his Majefty to 
 Caftille, becaufe in an affair of fuch importance his prefence was necef- 
 fary. It was then urged by the Bifhop of Mechoacan and other cava- 
 liers, as well as myfelf, that the perpetuities might be granted in New 
 Spain, leaving the Peruvian procuradors to act as they thought fit,, this 
 being conformable to his Majefty's declarations and inftructions in our 
 favour. This now brought on much debate ; for we infifted that what- 
 ever reafons might be againft the granting perpetuities in Peru, could 
 be of no avail againft us in New Spain, confidering our great fervices 
 to his Majefty and all Chriftendom. But all we faid was of no effect 
 with the members of the royal council of the Indies, the Bifhop Fray 
 Bartholome de las Cafas, Fray Rodrigo his aflbciate, and the Bifhop of 
 Las Charcas. They faid that on the return of his Majefty from Au- 
 gufta in Germany every thing fhould be arranged to the fatisfaction of 
 the conquerors, and thus the affair dropped for the prefent.. 
 
 Intelligence of thefe matters being conveyed by exprefs to Mexico, 
 the conquerors there propofed to fend procuradors, to apply totiis Ma- 
 jefly for our intereft, exclufively. In confequence, after my return 
 from the court I was written to, here, in this city of Guatimala, by 
 Captain Andres de Tapia, P. Moreno Medrano, and J. de Limpias 
 Caravajal "the deaf," giving me an account of their intention, and of 
 thofe conquerors concerned with them, amongft whom I was put down 
 as one of the moil ancient. I accordingly went round with the letter to 
 the other conquerors fettled in this city, to raife a fum by iubfeription 
 for the purpofe. This project failed from want of money. It was 
 then determined that the conquerors in Mexico, conjointly with <the 
 whole of the community, fhould fend procuradors to Caftille; but nei- 
 ther was this carried into effect. At a fubfequent period, our uncon- 
 quered king and lord Don Philip, whom God preferve, and may he 
 live many years in augmentation of power, was pleafed to command by 
 
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 his royal ordinances that the conquerors and their poflerity mould be 
 provided for, attending in the firft initance to thofe who were married, 
 as may be feen in the royal cedules. 
 
 When I had written out fairly this my hiftory, two licentiates re- 
 quefted me to lend it to them for their perufal, in order that they might 
 know in detail the occurrences which happened in the conqueft of New 
 Spain, and alio that they might fee what difference exifted between my 
 account, and thofe of Gomara and the Doctor Illefcas, relative to the 
 heroic actions of the Marquis Del Valle. I accordingly prefented this 
 book to them for their perufal, with the refpeel: which is due to fcho- 
 lars from a poor illiterate perfon like myfelf, -defining them at the fame 
 time to make no alteration whatever herein, as what I had written was 
 the Uriel: truth. As foon as the)' had read it, one of them who was a 
 great rhetorician, and vain of his knowledge, began to praife the book, 
 and exprefTed his furprife at my memory, and at my being able to carry 
 in it fuch a feries of matter, from the time I firft came to thefe coun- 
 tries. 
 
 The licentiates alfo obferved, that in regard to my ftile or language, 
 it was conformable to that in ordinary ufe in Old Caftille, and that as 
 fuch it was the more agreeable, not being embarrafTcd with flowery 
 affected phrafes, fuch as are made ufe of by hiftorians in general. 
 They alfo obferved that it feemed to them as if I praifed myfelf greatly, 
 in the battles which I give an account of, whereas I ought to have left 
 that to be done by others ; and that I fliould have given my witnefTes, 
 tcftimonies, and quotations, as authorities for what I w r rote, and not 
 have faid drily, "that I did; this I faw;" it not being conformable to the 
 cuftom of hiftorical writing ; for I am not a witnefs for myfelf. To 
 thefe obfervations I then replied, as I do now, that in the year one 
 thoufand five hundred and forty the Marquis Del Valle Wrote a letter to 
 his Majefty giving an account of me and my fervices, how I had come 
 twice to this country on voyages of difcovery previous to his expedition, 
 
 how 
 
( 5<i ) 
 
 how he had often been an eye witnefs of my conduct as a brave foldier 
 in battle as well in Mexico as in other places, how I accompanied him 
 in his expedition to Honduras and Higueras, and many other particu- 
 lars which to avoid prolixity I will not relate. The moil illuftrious 
 viceroy alfo, Don Alonzo de Mendoza wrote to his Majefty informing 
 him of what he had learned relative to me from the captains by whofe 
 fide I fought, and his account was in all refpects conformable to that of 
 the Marquis Del Valle. Proofs to the fame purport were alfo prefented 
 on my part to the royal council of the Indies in the year one thoufand 
 five hundred and forty. 
 
 Now, faid I, gentlemen licentiates, are not the Marquis Del Valle, 
 the viceroy D. A. de Mendoza, and my proofs, good witnefTes? but 
 if they will not fuffice, 1 will produce you the Emperor our lord Don 
 Carlos the fifth, who by his royal letter, fealed with his royal feal, 
 commanded all viceroys and prefidents, that refpecting the many and 
 good fervices which I had rendered, benefits mould be conferred upon 
 me and mine. The original letters are now in my pofTeffion, and the 
 copies depofited at court in the archives of the fecretary Ochoa de Luy- 
 ado. Such was my anfwer to the obfervation of the licentiates. 
 
 But to return to my fubject, if more teflimony is wanting look at 
 New Spain which is three times larger than our Caftille, and more 
 thickly inhabited by Spaniards, and the great wealth which it fends to 
 Caftille. But I have obferved that the hiftorians Gomara and Illefcas 
 never chofe to relate our heroic actions, leaving all our value and ho- 
 nours in the dark, where they would have remained were it not for this 
 my true hiftory, and afTigning fuch great merit to Cortes ; in which, 
 although they were right to a certain degree, yet they ought not at the 
 fame time to have forgotten us. 
 
 Of the achievements of Cortes a part alfo of the honour falls to 
 me, for I was one of the mofl forward in every battle by his fide, as I 
 
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 was in many others when he fent me under different captains to conquer 
 provinces, as is found written in my hiitory, how, when, and where. 
 
 Alfo when Cortes returned to Europe the mil: time, to kifs his 
 Majefty's feet, he informed him that he had many valiant captains and 
 companions in the Mexican wars, and who he helieved did not yield to 
 the moll: famous in ancient hiftory. Of this praife a proportionate fhare 
 falls to me. Further, at Algiers, he faid much in praife of his com- 
 panions the conquerors. Of this I come in for my portion, as I was 
 one of them. 
 
 As to what the licentiates faid, that I praife myfelf fo much, and 
 that I ought to leave it to be done by others, I fay, in common life it is 
 the cuftom of neighbours to fpeak of each other as each deferves ; but 
 he who never was in the wars with us, nor faw them, nor heard of 
 them, how can he fpeak of us ? were the birds which flew over our 
 heads while in battle to give accounts of us? or the clouds? who then 
 was to fpeak our praifes but we ourfelves ? Indeed gentlemen licentiates 
 faid I had you found that I detracted from the honour due to one of our 
 valiant captains or foldiers, and afcribed it to myfelf, then you might 
 juitiy blame me. But the fact is that I do not praife myfelf fo much 
 as I ought. 
 
 I will now make a comparifon, although on one fide the fubject 
 of it is very high, and on the other a poor foldier like myfelf. Hilto- 
 rians fay that the great emperor and warrior Julius Caefar was in fifty 
 three pitched battles. I fay that I was in many more battles than Julius 
 Caefar, as may be feen in this my hiftory. Hiftorians alfo fay that Ju- 
 lius Caefar was brave and active in battle, and that when he had time, 
 he at night committed to writing with his own hand, his heroic actions, 
 although he had many hiftorians, not chufing to entruft, the office to 
 them. Truly this happened many years ago, and may or may not be 
 the cafe; whereas what I reiate occurred yefterday as it may be faid. 
 
 It 
 
( si's, ) 
 
 It is therefore not extraordinary if I relate the battles in which I fought, 
 that in future ages it fhould be faid, "thus did BernalDiaz delCaftillo," in 
 order that my Ions and their pofterity fhould enjoy the praifes of their 
 anceftor, in the manner that many cavaliers and lords of vaffals in the 
 prefent day, do the fames and blazons of their predeceifors. I will 
 however drop this fubject left the detracting malicious, to whomthefe 
 things are odious, fhould charge me with digreiling too much. There 
 are alfo conquerors now living to contradict me if I were in error, and 
 the world is fo malevolent that any fuch thing could hardly pafs with- 
 out animadverfion ; but the narrative itfelf is the belt, teftimony of its 
 veracity. , 
 
 I will now enumerate and particularife the various battles and other 
 matters of warfare in which I was prefent. They are as follows. At 
 the point of Cotoche, with Captain F. H. de Cordova. At Champo- 
 ton, a battle, wherein half our companions were killed. In Florida, 
 where we landed to procure water. Under Captain J. de Grijalva, a 
 fecond battle in Champoton. In my third voyage under Cortes, at 
 Tabafco, two pitched battles. On our arrival in New Spain, the 
 battle of Cingapacinga. Shortly after, three pitched battles with the 
 Tlafcalans. The affair of Cholula. On our entry into Mexico I was 
 at the feizure of Montezuma; I do not mention it as an affair of war, 
 but on account of its great boldnefs. In four months after, the attack 
 upon Narvaez whom we under Cortes defeated with two hundred and 
 feventy fix men, he having one thoufand three hundred. The relief of 
 Alvarado who was befieged by the Mexicans, when they made war 
 upon us during eight days and nights, and killed above eight hundred 
 and feventy foldiers; I confider fix battles as having happened during 
 this period, at which I was prefent. The battle of Obtumba. A battle 
 at Tepeaca. Under Cortes a battle at Tezcuco. Two field battles, in 
 one of which I was wounded in the throat by a lance. Two actions 
 concerning the fields of maize. In the expedition round the lake when 
 we made that rafh and inconfiderate attack upon the fortrefles named the 
 
 Vvv rocks 
 
( 5 X 4 ) 
 
 rocks of the marquis. The battle of Cucrnavaca. Three battles at 
 Suchimillco. The liege of Mexico which lafted ninety three days, du- 
 ring which I was engaged, as I find by my account, in above eighty 
 battles and fkirmifhes. After the conqueit when I Was fent to pacify 
 the provinces of Guacacualco, Chiapa, and the Zapotecans. In Cha- 
 mula and Cuitlan, two engagements. In Teapa and Chimatan two 
 engagements; here I was wounded badly in the throat. I forgot to 
 mention in its place, how, after our flight from Mexico we were pur- 
 fued for nine days, and fought four battles. In the Expedition to Hi- 
 gucras and Honduras, an action at Culacotu, where my horfe which 
 coll: me fix hundred crowns was killed. After my return to Mexico I 
 went againft the Zapotecans and Minxes in the mountains. I do not 
 mention numberlefs other engagements and dangers in which I have 
 been, as it would be endlefs to detail them all. Nor do I chufe to fay 
 how I was one of the firft who came to lay fiege to Mexico, three or 
 four days at leaf! before Cortes. 
 
 I have therefore according to this account been prefent in one hun- 
 dred and nineteen battles and engagements; and it is not extraordinary 
 if I praife myfelf, as what I fay is the mere truth. Nor are thefe 
 old ftories or hiftories of Romans, of many ages pail; for evident 
 and true are the many and notable fervices which I have rendered; firft 
 to God, then to his Majefty, and all Chriflendom ; and I give thanks 
 and praifes to our Lord Jefus Chrift, that I efcaped from all dangers, to 
 make thefe things manifeft; and I alfo fay, and praife myfelf thereon, 
 that I have been in as many battles and engagements as, according to 
 hiilory, the Emperor Henry the fourth. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
Notes and Errata. 
 
 The author frequently miftakes dates; it Has been therefore judged neceflary 
 to infert them in the heads of chapters according to the moft correal accounts. 
 
 Page 25. chapter 3. although the appointment of Cortes took place before, the 
 fleet did not fail for the continent until 15 19. 
 
 Page 31. Line 19. inflead of "who took Guatimotzin" read whom Guatimotzin 
 
 took. 
 
 74. 18. inflead o/"got" read gone. 
 
 76. 3. from the bottom, inflead of "his" read this. 
 
 145. 7. between "to" and "which" infert, the flat fummit of. 
 
 147. 3. from the bottom "invalids" note, fuffering by the difeafe 
 
 aferibed to Hifpaniola. 
 
 227. — — 8. injlead of "hundred" read thoufand. 
 
 243. 17. after "friends" infert to whom they were given by us. 
 
 253. 16. in (lead of "Guatimotzin now" read Coadlavaca, late. 
 
 . 440. 2. injlead o/"our" read their. 
 
 ibid. 4. injlead of "we" read they. 
 
 — — 450. — — 14. injlead of "Figuero" read Herrera. 
 
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