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HISTORY

HERNAIDO CORTEZ.

BY JOHN S. C. ABBOTT.

iHtSftj) JinarabfnQS.

NEW YORK;
HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS,
PEARL STREET, FRANKLIN SQUARE.
1855.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year one thousand
eight hundred and fifty-five, hy
Harper & Brothers,
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern DiBtrict
of New York.

PREFACE,

The career of Hernando Cortez is one of the
most wild and adventurous recorded in the an
nals of fact or fiction, and yet all the prom
inent events in his wondrous history are well
authenticated. All truth carries with itself an
important moral. The writer, in this narrative,
has simply attempted to give a vivid idea of
the adventures of Cortez and his companions in
the Conquest of Mexico. There are many in
ferences of vast moment to which the recital
leads. These are so obvious that they need
not be pointed out by the writer.
A small portion of this volume has appeared
in Harper's Magazine, in an article furnished by
the writer upon the Conquest of Mexico.

CONTENTS.

Chapter Paga
I. THE DISCOVERY OF MEXICO  13
II. EARLY LIFE OF CORTEZ   28
III. THE VOYAGE TO MEXICO  '.  57
IV. FOUNDING A COLONY   84
V. THE TLASCALANS SUBJUGATED   117
VI. THE MARCH TO MEXICO  150
VII. THE METROPOLIS INVADED   _  184
VIII. BATTLE OF THE DISMAL NIGHT  _. 214
IX. THE CAPITAL BESIEGED AND CAPTURED  246
X. THE CONQUEST CONSUMMATED  281
XI. THE EXPEDITION TO HONDURAS  . 305
XII. THE LAST DAYS OF CORTEZ    .. 330

ENGRAVINGS.

Page
AMERICA DISCOVERED  . .   16
CORTEZ TAKING LEAVE OF THE GOVERNOR  47
CUBA     _   52
THE FIRST MASS IN THE TEMPLES OF YUCATAN  61
FIRST CAVALRY CHARGE HEADED BY CORTEZ  73
INTERVIEW BETWEEN CORTEZ AND THE EMBASSA
DORS OF MONTEZUMA _   94
ROUTE OF CORTEZ    105
DESTROYING THE IDOLS AT ZEMPOALLA  120
MASSACRE IN CHOLULA     161
FIRST VIEW OF THE MEXICAN CAPITAL  168
THE MEETING OF CORTEZ AND MONTEZUMA  177
THE CITY OF MEXICO   190
THE FALL OF MONTEZUMA  222
THE BATTLE UPON THE CAUSEWAY  232
THE CAPTURE OF GUATEMOZIN  260

HERNANDO CORTEZ.

Chapter I.
The Discovery of Mexico.
The shore of America m» 1492.
THREE hundred and fifty years ago the
ocean which washes the shores of America
was one vast and silent solitude. No ship
plowed its waves ; no sail whitened its surface.
On the 11th of October, 1492, three small ves
sels might have been seen invading, for the first
time, these hitherto unknown waters. They
were as specks on the bosom of infinity. The
sky above, the ocean beneath, gave no promise
of any land. Three hundred adventurers were
in these ships. Ten weeks had already passed
since they saw the hills of the Old World sink
beneath the horizon.
For weary days and weeks they had strained
their eyes looking toward the west, hoping to
see the mountains of the New World rising in
the distance. The illustrious adventurer, Chris
topher Columbus, who guided these frail barks,

14 Hernando Cortez.
Doubt and alarm. A light appeara.
inspired by science and by faith, doubted not
that a world would ere long emerge before him
from the apparently boundless waters. But
the blue sky still overarched them, and the
heaving ocean still extended in all directions
its unbroken and interminable expanse.
Discouragement and alarm now pervaded
nearly all hearts, and there was a general clam
or for return to the shores of Europe. Chris
topher Columbus, sublime in the confidence
with which his exalted nature inspired him, was
still firm and undaunted in his purpose.
The night of the 11th of October darkened
over these lonely adventurers. The stars came
out in all the brilliance of tropical splendor. A
fresh breeze drove the ships with increasing
speed over the billows, and cooled, as with
balmy zephyrs, brows heated through the day
by the blaze of a meridian sun. Columbus
could not sleep. He stood upon the deck of
his ship, silent and sad, yet indomitable in en
ergy' gazing with intense and unintermitted
watch into the dusky distance. It was near
midnight. Suddenly he saw a light, as of a
torch, far off in the horizon. His heart throb
bed with an irrepressible tumult of excitement.
Was it a meteor, or was it a light from the long-

AMERICA DISCOVERED,

The Discovery of Mexico. 17
He watches the light. The shpre is seen.
wished-for land ? It disappeared, and all again
was dark. But suddenly again it gleamed forth,
feeble and dim in the distance, yet distinct.
Soon again the exciting ray was quenched, and
nothing disturbed the dark and sombre outline
of the sea. The long hours of the night to
Columbus seemed interminable as he waited
impatiently for the dawn. But even before any
light was seen in the east, the dim outline of
land appeared in indisputable distinctness be
fore the eyes of the entranced, the now immor
talized navigator. A cannon — the signal of the
discovery — rolled its peal over the ocean, an
nouncing to the two vessels in the rear the joy
ful tidings. A shout, excited by the heart's in-
tensest emotions, rose over the waves, and with
tears, with prayers, and embraces, these enthu
siastic men accepted the discovery of the New
World. The bright autumnal morning dawned in rich
est glory, presenting to them a scene as of a ce
lestial paradise. The luxuriance of tropical
vegetation bloomed in all its novelty around
them. The inhabitants, many of them in the
simple and innocent costume of Eden before the
fall, crowded the shore, gazing with attitude and
gesture of astonishment upon the strange phe-
B

18 Hernando Cortez.
The Spaniards land and are hospitably received. 
nomena of the ships. The adventurers landed,
and were received upon the island of San Salva
dor as angels from heaven by the peaceful and
friendly natives. Bitterly has the hospitality
been requited. After cruising around for some
time among the beautiful islands of the New
World, Columbus returned to Spain to aston
ish Europe with the tidings of his discovery.
He had been absent but seven months.
A quarter of a century passed away, during
which all the adventurers of Europe were busy
exploring these newly-discovered islands and
continents. Various colonies were established
in the fertile valleys of these sunny climes, and
upon the hill-sides which emerged, in the ut
most magnificence of vegetation, from the bosom
of the Caribbean Sea. The eastern coast of
North America had been during this time sur
veyed from Labrador to Florida. The bark of
the navigator had discovered nearly all the isl
ands of the West Indies, and had crept along
the winding shores of the Isthmus of Darien, and
of the South American continent as far as the
River La Plata. Bold explorers, guided by in
telligence received from the Indians, had even
penetrated the interior of the isthmus, and from
the summit of the central mountain harrier had

The Discovery of Mexico. 19
Mexico is discovered. Arts and sciences of the Mexicans.
gazed with delight upon the placid waves of the
Pacific. But the vast indentation of the Mex
ican Gulf, sweeping far away in an apparently
interminable circuit to the west, had not yet
been penetrated. The field for romantic adven
ture which these unexplored realms presented
could not, however, long escape the eye of that
chivalrous age.
Some exploring expeditions were soon fitted
out from Cuba, and the shores of Mexico were
discovered. Here every thing exhibited the
traces of a far higher civilization than had hith
erto been witnessed in the New World. There
were villages, and even large cities, thickly
planted throughout the country. Temples and
other buildings, imposing in massive architec
ture, were reared of stone and lime. Armies,
laws, and a symbolical form of writing indicated
a very considerable advance in the arts and the
energies of civilization. Many of the arts were
cultivated. Cloth was made of cotton, and of
skins nicely prepared. Astronomy was suffi
ciently understood for the accurate measure
ment of time in the divisions of the solar year.
It is indeed a wonder, as yet unexplained,
where these children of the New World ac
quired so philosophical an acquaintance with

20 Hernando Cortez.
The mines of precious metals. Code of laws.
the movements of the heavenly bodies. Agri
culture was practiced with much scientific skill,
and a system of irrigation introduced, from
which many a New England farmer might learn
many a profitable lesson. Mines of gold, sil
ver, lead, and copper were worked. Many ar
ticles of utility and of exquisite beauty were
fabricated from these metals. Iron, the ore of
which must pass through so many processes
before it is prepared for use, was unknown to
them. The Spanish goldsmiths, admiring the
exquisite workmanship of the gold and silver
ornaments of the Mexicans, bowed to their su
periority. Fairs were held in the great market-places
of the principal cities every fifth day, where
buyers and sellers in vast numbers thronged.
They had public schools, courts of justice, a
class of nobles, and a powerful monarch. The
territory embraced by this wonderful kingdom
was twice as large as the whole of New En
gland. The code of laws adopted by this strange
people was very severe. They seemed to cher
ish but little regard for human life, and the al
most universal punishment for crime was death.
This bloody code secured a very effective po-

The Discovery of Mexico. 21
Punishments. Slavery. Military glory.
lice. Adultery, thieving, removing landmarks,
altering measures, defrauding a ward of prop
erty, intemperance, and even idleness, with
spendthrift habits, were punished pitilessly with
death. The pubhc mind was so accustomed to
this, that death lost a portion of its solemnity.
The rites of marriage were very formally enact
ed, and very rigidly adhered to.
Prisoners taken in war were invariably slain
upon their religious altars in sacrifice to their
gods. Slavery existed among them, but not
hereditary. No one could be born a slave.
The poor sometimes sold their children. The
system existed in its mildest possible form, as
there was no distinction of race between the
master and the slave.
Military glory was held in high repute. Fa
naticism lent all its allurements to inspire the
soldier. Large armies were trained to very-
considerable military discipline. Death upon
the battle-field was a sure passport to the most
sunny and brilliant realms of the heavenly
world. The soldiers wore coats of mail of wad
ded cotton, which neither arrow nor javelin could
easily penetrate. The chiefs wore over these
burnished plates of silver and of gold. Silver
helmets, also, often glittered upon the head.

22 Hernando Cortez.
Mexican mythology. The three states of existence.
Hospitals were established for the sick and the
wounded. Their religious system was an incongruous
compound of beauty and of deformity — of gen
tleness and of ferocity. They believed in one
supreme God, the Great Spirit, with several
hundred inferior deities. The god of war was
a very demon. The god of the air was a re
fined deity, whose altars were embellished with
fruits and flowers, and upon whose ear the warb
ling of birds and the most plaintive strains of
vocal melody vibrated sweetly.
There were, in their imaginations, three states
of existence in the future world. The good,
and especially those, of whatever character, who
fell upon the field of battle, soared to the sun,
and floated in aerial grace and beauty among
the clouds, in peace and joy, never to be dis
turbed. The worthless, indifferent sort of peo
ple, neither good nor bad, found perhaps a con
genial home in the monotony of a listless and
almost lifeless immortality, devoid of joy or
grief. The wicked were imprisoned in ever
lasting darkness, where they could do no far
ther harm.
It is an extraordinary fact that the rite of in
fant baptism existed among them. This fact

The Discovery of Mexico. 23
Infant baptism. Worship. The temples and altars.
is attested by the Spanish historians, who wit
nessed it with their own eyes, and who have re
corded the truly Christian prayers offered on
the occasion. As the infants were sprinkled with
water, God was implored to wash them from
original sin, and to create them anew. Many
of their prayers dimly reflected those pure and
ennobling sentiments which shine so brilliant
ly in the word of God.
Their worship must have been a costly one,
as the most majestic temples were reared, and
an army of priests was supported. One single
temple in the metropolis had five thousand
priests attached to its service. The whole
business of youthful instruction was confided
to the priests. They received confession, and
possessed the power of absolution.
The temples were generally pyramidal struc
tures of enormous magnitude. Upon the broad
area of their summits an altar was erected,
where human victims, usually prisoners taken
in war, were offered in sacrifice. These awful
ceremonies were conducted with the most im
posing pomp of music, banners, and military
and ecclesiastical processions. The victim of
fered in sacrifice was bound immovably to the
stone altar. The officiating priest, with a sharp

24 Hernando Cortez.
Mode of offering sacrifice. - city of Mexico.
instrument constructed of flint-like lava, cut
open his breast, and tore out the warm and pal
pitating heart. This bloody sacrifice was pre
sented in devout offering to the god. At times,
in the case of prisoners taken in war, the most
horrid tortures were practiced before the bloody
rite was terminated. When the gods seemed
to frown, in dearth, or pestilence, or famine,
large numbers of children were frequently of
fered in sacrifice. Thus the temples of Mexico
were ever clotted with blood. Still more re
volting is the well-authenticated fact that the
body of the wretched victim thus sacrificed was
often served up as a banquet, and was eaten
with every accompaniment of festive rejoicing.
It is estimated that from thirty to fifty thousand
thus perished every year upon the altars of an
cient Mexico. One of the great objects of then-
wars was to obtain victims for their gods.
The population of this vast empire is not
known. It must have consisted, however, of
several millions. The city of Mexico, situated
on islands in the bosom of a lake in the centre
of a spacious and magnificent valley of the in
terior, about two hundred miles from the coast,
was the metropolis of the realm.
Montezuma was king — an aristocratic king,

The Discovery of Mexico. 25
Montezuma. Civilization of the inhabitants.
surrounded by nobles, upon whom he conferred
all the honors and emoluments of the state.
His palace was very magnificent. He was
served from plates and goblets of silver and
gold. Six hundred feudatory nobles composed
his daily retinue, paying him the most obsequi
ous homage, and expecting the same from those
beneath themselves. Montezuma claimed to be
lord of the whole world, and exacted tribute
from all whom his arm could reach. His tri
umphant legions had invaded and subjugated
many adjacent states, as this Roman empire
of the New World extended in all directions its
powerful sway.
It will thus be seen that the kingdom of
Mexico, in point of civilization, was about on
an equality with the Chinese empire of the pres
ent day. Its inhabitants were very decidedly
elevated above the wandering hordes of North
America. Montezuma had heard of the arrival, in the
islands of the Caribbean Sea, of the strangers
from another hemisphere. He had heard of
their appalling power, their aggressions, and
their pitiless cruelty. Wisely he resolved to
exclude these dangerous visitors from his shores.
As exploring expeditions entered his bays and

26 Hernando Cortez.
The Governor of Cuba resolves to subjugate the country.
rivers, they were fiercely attacked and driven
away. These expeditions, however, brought
back to Cuba most alluring accounts of the
rich empire of Mexico and of its golden opu
lence. The Governor of Cuba now resolved to fit
out an expedition sufficiently powerful to sub
jugate their country, and make it one of the vas
sals of Spain. It was a dark period of the
world. Human rights were but feebly discern
ed. Superstition reigned over hearts and con
sciences with a fearfully despotic sway. Acts.
upon which would now fall the reproach of un
mitigated villainy, were then performed with
prayers and thanksgivings honestly offered.
We shall but tell the impartial story of the
wondrous career of Cortez in the subjugation
of this empire. God, the searcher of all hearts^
can alone unravel the mazes of conscientious
ness and depravity, and award the just meed
of approval and condemnation.
Many good motives were certainly united
with those more questionable which inspired
this enterprise. It was a matter of national am
bition to promote geographical discoveries, to
enlarge the realms of commerce, and to extend
the boundaries of human knowledge by inves-

The Discovery of Mexico. 27
Motives for carrying on conquests. Hernando Cortez.
tigating the arts and the sciences of other na
tions. The Christian religion — Heaven's great
est boon to man — was destined, by the clear an
nouncements of prophecy, to fill the world ;
and it was deemed the duty of the Church to
extend these triumphs in all possible ways.
The importance of the end to be attained, it was
thought, would sanctify even the instrumental
ity of violence and blood. Wealth and honors
were among the earthly rewards promised to
the faithful.
Allowances must be made for the darkness
of the age. It is by very slow and painful steps
that the human mind has attained to even its
present unsteady position in regard to civil and
religious rights.
The Governor of Cuba, Velasquez, looked
earnestly for a man to head this important en
terprise. He found just the man for the occa
sion in Hernando Cortez — a fearless, energetic
Spanish adventurer, then residing upon the isl
and of Cuba. His early life will be found in
the next chapter.

"28 Hernando Cortez.
Village of Medellin. Early character of Cortez.

Chapter II.
Early Life of Cortez.
IN the interior of Spain, in the midst of the
sombre mountains whose confluent streams
compose the waters of the Guadiana, there re-
* poses the little village or hamlet of Medellin.
A more secluded spot it would be difficult to
find. Three hundred and seventy years ago,
in the year 1485, Hernando Cortez was born in
this place. His ancestors had enjoyed wealth
and rank. The family was now poor, but proud
of the Castilian blood which flowed in then-
veins. The father of Hernando was a captain
in the army — a man of honorable character.
Of his mother but little is known.
Not much has been transmitted to our day
respecting the childhood of this extraordinary
man. It is reported that he early developed a
passion for wild adventure ; that he was idle
and wayward ; frank, fearless, and generous ;
that he loved to explore the streams and to
climb the cliffs of his mountainous home, and
that he ever appeared reckless of danger. He

Early Life of Cortez. 29
Hernando sent to Salamanca. Life at the university.
was popular with his companions, for warm
heartedness and magnanimity were prominent
in his character.
His father, though struggling with poverty,
cherished ambitious views for his son, and sent
him to the celebrated university of Salamanca
for an education. He wished Hernando to
avoid the perils and temptations of the camp,
and to enter the honorable profession of the law.
Hernando reluctantly obeyed the wishes of his'
father, and went to the university. But he
scorned restraint. He despised all the employ
ments of industry, and study was his especial
abhorrence. Two years were worse than wasted
in the university. Young Cortez was both in
dolent and dissipated. In all the feats of mis
chief he was the ringleader, and his books were
entirely neglected. He received many cen
sures, and was on the point of being expelled,
when his disappointed father withdrew the way
ward boy from the halls of the university, and
took him home.
IHernando was now sixteen years of age.
There was nothing for him to do in the seclu
sion of his native village but to indulge in idle
ness. This he did with great diligence. He
rode horses ; he hunted and fished ; he learned

30 Hernando Cortez.
He turns soldier. Expedition to HiBpaniola.
the art of the swordsman and played the sol
dier. Hot blood glowed in his veins, and he
became genteelly dissolute ; his pride would
never allow him to stoop to vulgarity. The
father was grief-stricken by the misconduct of
his son, and at last consented to gratify the
passion which inspired him to become a soldier.
At seventeen years of age the martial boy
enlisted in an expedition, under Gonsalvo de
Cordova, to assist the Italians against the
French. Young Cortez, to his bitter disap
pointment, just as the expedition started, was
taken seriously sick, and was obliged to be left
behind. Soon after this, one of his relatives
was appointed, by the Spanish crown, governor
of St. Domingo, now called Hayti, but then
called Hispaniola, or Little Spain. This open
ing to scenes and adventures in the New World
was attractive to the young cavalier in the high
est possible degree. It was, indeed, an enter
prise which might worthily arouse the enthusi
asm of any mind. A large fleet was equipped
to convey nearly three thousand settlers to
found a colony beneath the sunny skies and
under the orange groves of the tropics. Life
there seemed the elysium of the indolent man.
Young Cortez now rejoiced heartily over his

Early Life of Cortez. 31
His early love, and unfortunate consequences attending it.
previous disappointment. His whole soul was
engrossed in the contemplation of the wild and
romantic adventures in which he expected to
luxuriate. It is not to be supposed that a lad
of such a temperament should, at the age of
seventeen, be a stranger to the passion of love.
There was a young lady in his native village
for whom he had formed a strong youthful at
tachment. He resolved, with his accustomed
ardor and recklessness, to secure an interview
with his lady-love, where parting words and
pledges should not be witnessed by prudent
relatives. One dark night, just before the squadron
sailed, the ardent lover climbed a mouldering
wall to reach the window of the young lady's
chamber. In the obscurity he slipped and fell,
and some heavy stones from the crumbling wall '
fell upon him. He was conveyed to his bed,
severely wounded and helpless. The fleet sail
ed, and the young man, almost insane with dis
appointment and chagrin, was left upon his bed
of pain.
At length he recovered. His father secured
for him a passage to join the colonists in an
other ship. He, with exultation, left Medellin,
hastened to the sea-shore, where he embarked,

32 Hernando Cortez.
He arrives at Hispaniola. Patronage of the governor.
and after an unusually adventurous and peril
ous voyage, he gazed with delight upon the trop
ical vegetation and the new scenes of life of
Hispaniola. It was the year 1504. Cortez
was then nineteen years of age.
The young adventurer, immediately upon
landing, proceeded to the house of his relative,
Governor Ovando. The governor happened to
be absent, but his secretary received the young
man very cordially.
"I have no doubt," said he to Hernando,
" that you will receive a liberal grant of land
to cultivate."
" I come to get gold," Hernando replied,
haughtily, " not to till the soil like a peasant."'
Ovando, on his return, took his young rela
tive under his patronage, and assigned to him
posts of profit and honor. Still Cortez was
very restless. His impatient spirit wearied of
the routine of daily duty, and his imagination
was ever busy in the domain of wild adventure.
Two Spaniards upon the island of Hispaniola
about this time planned an expedition for ex
ploring the main land, to make discoveries and
to select spots for future settlements. Cortez
eagerly joined the enterprise, but again was he
doomed to disappointment. Just before the ves-

Early Life ~^)f Cortez. 33
Life at Hispaniola. ' Cortez's courage.
— .  _ 
seis sailed he was seized by a fever, and laid
prostrate upon his bed. Probably his life was
thus saved. Nearly all who embarked on this
enterprise perished by storm, disease, and the
poisoned arrows of the natives.
Seven years passed away, during which Cor
tez led an idle and voluptuous life, ever ready
for any daring adventure which might offer,
and miserably attempting to beguile the weari
ness of provincial life with guilty amours. He
accepted a plantation from the governor, which
was cultivated by slaves. - His purse was thus
ever well filled. Not unfrequently he became
involved in duels, and he bore upon his body
until death many scars received in these en
counters. Military expeditions were not un
frequently sent out to quell the insurrections to
which the natives of the island weregoaded by
the injustice and the cruelty of the Spaniards.
Cortez was always an eager volunteer for
such service. His courage and imperturbable
self-possession made him an invaluable co-op
erator in every enterprise of danger. He thus
became acquainted with all the artifices of In
dian warfare, and inured himself to the toil and
privations of forest life.
In the year 1492 the magnificent island of
C

84 Hernando Cortez.
The island of Cuba. The new governor-
Cuba, but a few leagues from Hispaniola, had
been discovered by Columbus. As he approach
ed the land, the grandeur of the mountains, the
wide sweep of the valleys, the stately forests,
the noble rivers, the bold promontories and head
lands, melting away in the blue of the hazy dis
tance, impressed him with unbounded admira
tion. As he sailed up one of the beautiful riv
ers of crystal clearness, fringed with flowers, and
aromatic shrubs, and tropical fruits, while the
overhanging trees were vocal with the melody
of birds of every variety of song and plumage,
enraptured he exclaimed,
" Cuba ! It is the most beautiful island that
eyes ever beheld. It is an elysium. One
could live there forever."
The natives of the favored land were amiable
and friendly. The Spaniards did not for sev
eral years encroach upon their rights, .and no
Spanish colony was established upon their en
chanting shores. It was now the year 1511.
Nineteen years had elapsed since the discovery
of the island. Ovando had been recalled, and
Diego Columbus, the son of Christopher,' S|l
been appointed, in his stead, governor of His
paniola. He took the title of Viceroy, and as
sumed all the splendors of royalty. Die^o Co-

Early Life of Cortez. 35
The filibustering expedition. Resistance.
lumbus devoutly decided that it was manifest
destiny that Cuba should belong to Spain. He
organized * a filibustering expedition to wrest
from the natives their beautiful island. The
command of the expedition was intrusted to
Don Velasquez, a bold adventurer, of much no
toriety, from Spain, who had been residing for
many years at Hispaniola, and- who had been
lieutenant under Governor Ovando.' A foray of
this kind would, of course, excite the patriotic
zeal of every vagabond. Cortez was one of the
first to hasten to the standard of Velasquez.
The natives of the island, unarmed and volup
tuous, made hardly the shadow of resistance,
and three hundred Spanish adventurers, with
but a slight struggle, took possession of this
magnificent domain. The reputation and abil
ity of Cortez gave him a prominent position in
this adventure.
One brave and patriotic Indian chief, who had
fled from the outrages perpetrated at Hispanio
la, urged the Cubans to repel the invaders.
Kough unable to rouse in a mass the peace-
ing islanders, he gathered a small band around
him, and valiantly contended to resist the land
ing. . His efforts were quite unavailing. Gun
powder soon triumphed. The Indians were

36 Hernando Cortez.
Hatuey condemned to death. His conversation.
speedily put to flight, and the chieftain Hatuey
was taken prisoner.
Velasquez ignobly and cruelly condemned
the heroic patriot to be burned alive ; but relig
iously the fanatic invader wished, though he
burned the body, to save the soul. A priest
was appointed to labor for the conversion of the
vietim. " If you will embrace our rehgion," said the
priest, " as soon as the fire has consumed your
body, you will enter heaven, and be happy there
forever." "Are there Spaniards," inquired Hatuey, "in
that happy place of which you speak ?"
" Yes," replied the priest ; "such as are holy."
" Then I will not go there ! " Hatuey energet
ically rejoined. "I will never go to a place
where I shall meet one of that cruel people."
The poor Indian was burned to ashes. The
natives gazed upon the spectacle with horror.
They were appalled, and ventured to make no
farther resistance to their terrible conquerors.
Such is Spain's title-deed to the island t£
Cuba. God has not smiled upon regions thtl
infamously won. May the United States take
warning that all her possessions may be honor
ably acquired. " God helps," says blind unbe-

Early Life of Cortez. 37
The colony. The conspiracy. Cortez imprisoned.
lief, " the heavy battalions ;" but experience has
fully proved that " the race is not always to the
swift, nor the battle to the strong."
One or two colonies were soon established
upon the conquered island. They grew very
rapidly. Velasquez was appointed :gbvernor;
Cortez was his secretary. '.;'#'
Many families were enticed from Spain by
the charms of this most beautiful of the isles
of the ocean. A gentleman came from old Cas
tile with four beautiful daughters. Velasquez
became attached to one ; Cortez trifled grievous
ly with the affections of another. The govern
or reproached him for his infamous conduct.
The proud spirit of Cortez could not brook re
proof, and he entered into a conspiracy to prof
fer complaints against the governor, and to se
cure his removal. It was a bold and a perilous
undertaking. Cortez prepared to embark in an open bciat,
and push out fearlesslybut secretly into the open
sea, to make a voyage of nearly sixty miles to
Hispaniola. There he' was to enter his com
plaints to Diego Cojpmbus. The conspiracy
was detected upon the eve of its execution.
Cortez was arrested, .manacled, thrown into
prison, and was, after trial, sentenced to death

38 Hernando Cortez.
He flees to a church. Arrest and escape.
for treason. He, however, succeeded in break
ing his fetters, forced open his prison window,
and dropped himself down, in the darkness of
the night, from the second story, and escaped to
the sanctuary of a neighboring church. Such a
sanctuary, in that day, could not be violated.
A guard was secreted to watch him. He re
mained in the church for several days. But at
length impatience triumphed over prudence, and,
as he attempted one night to escape, he was
again arrested, more strongly chained, and was
placed on board a ship to be sent to Hispaniola
for execution.
The code of Spanish law was in that day a
bloody one. Spanish governors were almost
unlimited despots. Cortez was not willing to
go to Hispaniola with the cord of a convicted
traitor about his neck. With extraordinary
fortitude, he drew his feet, mangling them sad
ly, through the irons which shackled them.
Creeping cautiously upon deck, he let himself
down softly into the water, swam to the shore,
and, half dead with pain and exhaustion, at
tained again the sanctuary of the church.
He now consented to marry the young lady
with whose affections and reputation he had so
cruelly trifled. The family, of course, espoused

Early Life of Cortez. 39
Cortez is pardoned. His marriage. Voyage of discovery.
his cause. The governor, who was the lover of
her sister, regarded this as the amende honor
able^ and again received the hot-blooded cava
lier to his confidence. Thus this black and
threatening cloud suddenly disappeared, and
sunshine and calm succeeded the storm. Cor
tez returned to his estates with his bride a
wiser, and perhaps a better man, from the se
vere discipline through which he had passed.
Catalina Suarez, whom he married, was an ami
able and beautiful lady of very estimable char
acter. She eventually quite won the love of
her wayward and fickle husband.
"I lived as happily with her," said the
haughty Castilian, "as if she had been the
daughter of a duchess."
Velasquez, like every other Spanish governor
at that time, was ambitious of extending his
dominions. In the year 1517, a number of
restless spirits, under his patronage, resolved to
sail upon a voyage of discovery and conquest.
Three vessels were fitted out for this adven
ture. One hundred and ten men embarked in
the enterprise, under the command of Francisco
Hernandez, of Cordova. Velasquez directed
them to land upon some neighboring islands,
and seize a number of inhabitants, and make

40 Hernando Cortez.
Discoveries. Disasters. * Reports from Yucatan.

slaves of them, to pay the cost of the expedition.
"But when the proposal," says one of the par
ty, "was made known to the soldiers, we to a
man refused it, saying that it was not just,
nor did God or the king permit that free men
should be made slaves. That our expedition,"
the same writer continues, " might be conduct
ed on proper principles, we persuaded a clergy
man to accompany us." In fervent prayer,
commending themselves to God and the Vir
gin, they unfurled their sails, and steered reso
lutely toward the setting sun. They discover
ed the island of Cozumel and the vast promon
tory of Yucatan.* The expedition, however,
encountered many disasters. The natives as
sailed them fiercely. At length the shattered
ships returned, having lost seventy men, and
bringing with them quite a number bleeding and
dying. Cordova died of his wounds ten days
after arriving at Havana.
The tidings, however, of the magnificent dis
covery, and the fabulous report that the coun
try was rich in gold, incited Velasquez to fit
* Yuca is the Indian name of the plant used for bread.
The heap of earth in which it is planted is called tule The
two words repeated together made Yucatul, or Yucatan as it
was expressed by the Spaniards. — Bernal Diaz, p. 10

Early Life of Cortez. 41
Another expedition. It arrives at Mexico. Accounts from Montezuma.
out a second expedition of four ships, under
the command of Juan de Grijalva. Two hun
dred and forty adventurers embarked in the en
terprise. On the 5th day of April, 1518, after
having devoutly partaken of the sacrament of
the Lord's Supper, the anchors were lifted, and
the little squadron sailed from the port of Ma
tanzas. Eight days brought them to Cozumel.
They then passed over to the continent, and
coasted along the shore for many leagues to the
north and west. They made frequent attempts
to land and open intercourse with the natives,
but they were invariaby attacked with the ut
most determination. Though the Spaniards
were generally victorious in these conflicts, they
lost several men, and very many were sorely
wounded. At length they arrived upon the
coast of Mexico, and landed at the point now
called St. Juan de Ulua. Here they were kind
ly received by the natives, and acquired consid
erable gold in exchange for glass beads. They
also obtained vague information of the great
monarch Montezuma, and of the extent and
power of his realms. Greatly elated with this
success, Grijalva sent one of his vessels back
to Cuba with specimens of the gold, and with
most glowing accounts of the grandeur, wealth,

42 Hernando Cortez.
The golden hatchets. Reports carried to Spain.
and power of the newly-discovered empire of
Mexico. To their extreme delight, the voya
gers found that the natives had hatchets appar
ently of solid burnished gold. The excitement
was intense on board the ships. Six hundred
of these hatchets were eagerly bought. At
length the expedition returned to Cuba. The
six hundred golden hatchets were triumphantly
displayed, when, to the unutterable chagrin of
their possessors, they proved to he but copper.
The disappointed adventurers were overwhelm
ed with ridicule. " There was much laughter,"'
says Diaz, who accompanied the expedition,
" when the six hundred hatchets were produced
and assayed."
The tidings of the discovery of Mexico spread,
however, like wildfire over the island of Cuba.
Every bosom which could be moved by avarice
or by the love of adventure was intensely ex
cited. Velasquez promptly dispatched the wel
come intelligence to Spain, and immediately
commenced fitting out another expedition upon
a scale of grandeur hitherto unattempted. No
one heard these tidings with such a thrill of
emotion as Hernando Cortez. Though enjoy
ing a rich estate, his extravagance had involved
him in debt and distress. To retrieve his ru-

Early Life of Cortez. 43
Cortez obtains a commission. nis enthusiasm.
ined fortunes, and to gratify his insatiable love
of adventure, he resolved to leave no efforts un
tried to secure for himself the command of the
expedition. He bribed some of the powerful friends of
the governor to advocate his cause, promising
them a rich share of the booty which he hoped
to obtain. He also offered to contribute large
ly of his own wealth to fit out the naval arma
ment. It was manifest to all that there could not bo
a man better adapted to fill such a post than
Hernando Cortez. The governor was well in
structed in his energy, capacity, and courage.
But he feared these traits of character. Ho
wished for a man who would act as his agent,
who would be submissive to his authority, and
who would transfer the glory of successful
achievement to his name. But Cortez was a
man to lead, not to be led. The governor hes
itated. At last he yielded to the powerful con
siderations which were pressed upon him, ancl
publicly announced Cortez as captain general
of the armada.
As soon as Cortez received this commission,
all the glowing enthusiasm and tremendous en
ergy of his nature were roused and concentrated

44 Hernando Cortez.
Mission and means. The governor alarmed.
upon this one magnificent object. His whole
character seemed suddenly to experience a total
change. He became serious, earnest, thought
ful. Mighty destinies were in his hands.
Deeds were to be accomplished at which the
world was to marvel. Strange as it may seem,
for the heart of man is an inexplicable enigma,
religion, perhaps we should say religious fanat
icism, mingled the elements of her mystic pow
er in the motives which inspired the soul of
this extraordinary man. He was to march the
apostle of Christianity to overthrow the idols in
the halls of Montezuma, and there to rear the
cross of Christ. It was his heavenly mission
to convert the benighted Indians to the religion
of Jesus. With the energies of fire and sword,.
misery and blood, horses rushing to the charge
and death-dealing artillery, he was to lead back
the wandering victims of darkness and sin to
those paths of piety which guide to heaven.
Such was Hernando Cortez. Let Philoso
phy explain the enigma as she may, no intelli
gent man will venture the assertion that Cortez
was a hypocrite. He was a frank, fearless, de
luded enthusiast.
Governor Velasquez soon became alarmed in
view of the independent energy with which Cor-

Early Life Of Cortez. 45
Attempt to deprive Cortez of the command. The squadron sails.
tez pressed forward the enterprise. It was
quite evident that the bold adventurer would
regard no instructions, and that, having acquired
wealth and fame, he would, with his command
ing genius, become a formidable rival. Velas
quez therefore determined, before it should be
too late, to deprive Cortez of the command.
But it was already too late. The energetic
captain received from a friend an intimation of
his peril. With the decision which marked his
character, he that very night, though the ves
sels were not prepared for sea, and the comple
ment of men was not yet mustered, resolved se
cretly to weigh anchor.
The moment the sun went down he called
upon his officers and informed them of his pur
pose. Every man was instantly and silently
in motion. At midnight the little squadron,
with all on board, dropped down the bay. In
telligence was promptly conveyed to the gov
ernor of this sudden and unexpected departure.
Mounting his horse, he galloped to a point of
the shore which commanded a view of the fleet
at anchor in the roadstead. Cortez, from the
deck of his ship, saw the governor upon the
beach surrounded by his retinue. He entered
a boat and was rowed near to the shore. The

46 Hernando Cortez.
Cortez and the governor. St. Jago and Trinidad.
governor reproached Cortez bitterly for his
conduct. "Pardon me," said the captain, courteously ;
" time presses, and there are some things which
should be done before they are even thought of."
Then, with Castilian grace, waving an adieu
to the governor, he returned to his ship. The
anchors were immediately raised, the sails
spread, and the little fleet, the renown of whose
extraordinary achievements was to fill the
world, was wafted from the harbor of St. Jago,
and soon disappeared in the distant horizon of
the sea.
St. Jago was then the capital of Cuba. Cor
tez directed his course to Mocaca, about thirty
miles distant. Hastily collecting such addi
tional stores as the place would afford, he again
weighed anchor and proceeded to Trinidad.
This was an important town on the southern
shore of the island. Here he landed, raised his
banner, and, with alluring promises, invited vol
unteers to join the expedition. He marshaled
and drilled his men, collected military supplies,
and, more than all, by the charms of his daily
intercourse secured the enthusiastic devotion of
his followers.
His men were armed with cross-bows and

Early Life of Cortez. 49
The standard. Providential gifts.
muskets, and he had several small cannon.
Jackets, thickly wadded with cotton, were pro
vided as coats of mail for the soldiers, which
were a great protection against the missiles of
the natives. Neither arrow nor javelin could
pierce them. A black velvet banner, embroid
ered with gold, and emblazoned with a cross,
bore the characteristic device,
"Let us follow the cross. Under this sign,
with faith, we conquer."
Beneath such a standard did these stern men
march upon an expedition of wanton aggres
sion, crime, and woe.
A trading vessel appeared off the coast, laden
with provisions and valuable merchandise. It
was a providential gift of exactly that which
the adventurers needed. Cortez, with gratitude
to God, seized both ship and cargo, and by his
peculiar powers of moral suasion induced the
captain and most of the crew to enlist in his
service. Another ship made its appearance;
it was a renewed token of God's kindness to
his servants ; it was received with alacrity.
Whatever remonstrances the owners might raise
were drowned in thanksgivings and praises.
Every movement of the expedition was inspired
by the fanatical spirit of the Crusades.
D

50 Hernando Cortez.
Orders to arrest Cortez. His speech. The result.
Cortez now, with his force much strengthen
ed, sailed around the western point of the isl
and to Havana. With renewed diligence, he
here resumed his labor of beating up recmits
and of augmenting his stores. Governor Ve
lasquez, informed of his arrival at this port, dis
patched orders to Pedro Barba, commander at
Havana, to arrest Cortez and seize the fleet.
But it was much easier to issue this order than
to execute it. Cortez was now too strong to
be apprehended by any force which Barba had
at his command. Cortez received from a friend
an intimation of the order for his arrest which
had been received from the governor.
He assembled his bold followers around him ;
made a rousing speech, full of eloquence and of
the peculiar piety then in vogue ; painted in
glowing colors the wealth and the renown open
ing before them in the vast realms of Mexico ;
and then portrayed, with biting sarcasm, the
jealousy and the meanness of Velasquez, who
wished to deprive him of the command of the
enterprise. The speech was convincing. His tumultu
ary followers threw up then- hats and filled the
air with acclamations. They declared that they
would acknowledge Cortez, and Cortez only,

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Early Life of Cortez. 53
Cortez writes to Velasquez. The squadron proceeds to Cape Antonio.
as their leader ; that they would follow him
wherever he might guide ; that they would de
fend him with their lives, and that they would
wreak unsparing vengeance upon any enemies
who should attempt to molest him in his glori
ous career. This was the efficient reply which
Cortez made to the order for his arrest.
The reply was not lost upon Barba. He
perceived that it would be folly to attempt to
execute the command of the governor. He
wrote to him accordingly, stating the impracti
cability of the attempt. In fact, Barba had no
disposition to arrest Cortez. He had become
strongly attached to the bold and earnest cap
tain. Cortez himself also wrote a very court
eous letter to the governor, with studied polite
ness informing him that, with the blessing of
God, he should sail the next day, and assuring
the governor of eternal devotion to his interest.
As there was some danger that Velasquez might
send from St. Jago a force sufficiently strong to
cause some embarrassment, the little squadron
the next morning weighed anchor and proceed
ed to Cape Antonio, an appointed place of ren
dezvous on the extreme western termination of
the island.
Here Cortez completed his preparations and

54 Hernando Cortez.
The armament. Personal appearance of Cortez.
collected all the force he desired. He had now
eleven vessels. The largest was of but one
hundred tons. Three were of but seventy tons,
and the rest were open barks. His whole
force consisted of one hundred and ten seamen,
five hundred and fifty-three soldiers, two hun
dred Indians, and a few Indian women for me
nial service. His regular soldiers consisted of
sixteen horsemen, thirty musketeers, and thir
ty-two cross-bowmen. He had also, as the
most formidable part of his armament, fourteen
pieces of artillery, with an ample supply of am
munition. All the soldiers, excepting the mus
keteers and the bowmen, were armed simply
with swords and spears. Sixteen horses form
ed also an exceedingly important part of the
physical force of the army. This noble animal
had never yet been seen on the continent of
America. With great difficulty, a few had been
transported across the ocean from Spain. With
such a force this enthusiastic adventurer under
took the subjugation of a nation of many mill
ions. Cortez was now thirty-three years of ace.
He was a handsome, well-formed man, of me
dium stature, of pale, intellectual features, with
a piercing, dark eye, and frank and winning

Early Life of Cortez. 55
The eve of departure. The harangue.
manners. He was temperate, indifferent re
specting all personal comforts, and reckless of
hardship and peril. He fully appreciated the
influence of dress, and ever appeared in the rich
garb of a Spanish gentleman. He was court
ly yet frank in his manners, and possessed a
peculiar power of attracting to his person all
who approached him.
On the eve of his departure from Cape An
tonio, he again assembled his followers around
him, and thus harangued them :
" The enterprise in which you are engaged
will fill the world with your renown. I am
leading you to countries more vast and opulent
than European eyes have ever yet beheld. It
is a glorious prize which I present to you. But
this prize can only be won by hardship and
toil. Great deeds are only achieved by great
exertions. Glory is never the reward of sloth.
I have labored hard and staked my all on this
undertaking, for I love that renown which is
the noblest recompense of man.
" Do you covet riches more ? Be true to me,
and I will make you masters of wealth of which
you have never dreamed. You are few in num
bers, but be strong in resolution, and doubt not
that the Almighty, who has never deserted the

56 Hernando Cortez.
Result of the speech. The squadron sails.
Spaniard in his contest with the infidel, will
shield you, though encompassed by enemies.
Your cause is just. You are to fight under
the banner of the cross. Onward, then, with
alacrity. Gloriously terminate the work so
auspiciously begun."
This speech was received with tumultuous
cheers. Mass was then celebrated by the ec
clesiastics who accompanied the fleet, and with
many religious ceremonies the squadron was
placed under the protection of St. Peter. The
anchors were raised, the sails were spread, and
a favoring breeze pressed them rapidly over the
waves toward the setting sun. It was the 18th
of February, 1519.

The Voyage to Mexico. 57

The voyage. They reach the island of Cozumel.

Chapter III.
The Voyage to Mexico.
y IGHT and variable winds retarded the
-*-^ progress of the squadron as it was headed
in a southwesterly direction toward the shores
of Yucatan. A terrible tempest succeeded, and
the ships were driven wildly before the storm.
But after the lapse of about a week, as the
storm abated, they were cheered by the sight
of land. The mountains of the island of Cozu
mel rose towering before them. This large isl
and is separated from the main land of Yucatan
by a channel of from twelve to thirty miles in
width. When the natives saw the ships approaching,
they fled from the shores in terror. Such a
fleet must have, indeed, presented to the artless
inhabitants an appalling spectacle. The squad
ron cast anchor in a spacious bay, and those
who first arrived were the first to land. The
captain of one of the vessels, with some of his
crew, entered one of the native temples, and,
seeing the idol decorated with gold, seized the

58 Hernando Cortez.
Treasures seized. The island and its inhabitants.
treasure promptly as lawful prize, and also cap
tured two or three of the natives. Cortez was
indignant at conduct so rash and impohtic. He
severely rebuked the over-zealous captain, or
dered the ornaments to be replaced, and libera
ted the captives and loaded them with presents.
He thus appeased the fears of the natives, and
induced them to return to their dwellings.
They soon became quite reconciled to the stran
gers, and opened with them a lucrative traffic.
The island was not very fertile, and was thinly
inhabited ; but the natives had large and com
fortable houses, built of stone cemented with
mortar. There were several spacious temples,
with lofty towers, constructed of the same du
rable materials. The adventurers were also
exceedingly surprised to find in the court-yard
of one of the temples an idol in the form of a
massive stone cross. It was erected in honor of
the god of rain. It is, indeed, a curious question,
and one which probably will never be answer
ed, how the natives of this new world obtained
those apparently shadowy ideas of Christianitv.
They certainly performed the rite of baptism.
The cross was one of then: idols. Thev also be
lieved in original sin, which was to be in some
way removed by sprinkling an infant with water.

The Voyage to Mexico. 59
Exploring parties to the mam land. Missionary labors.
Cortez remained upon this island about a
fortnight. During this time all his energies
were engrossed in accomplishing the great ob
ject of his mission. He sent two vessels to the
main land to make inquiries about some Span
iards, who, it was reported, had been shipwreck
ed upon the coast, and were still lingering in
captivity. The captain in command of this ex
pedition was instructed to return within eight
days. Several parties were also sent in various
directions to explore the island thoroughly and
ascertain its resources.
But one of the most important objects, in the
estimation of Cortez, to be accomplished, was
the conversion of the natives to the Catholic re
ligion. He had with him several ecclesiastics
— men whose sincerity no candid man can doubt.
The Indians were assembled, and urged, through
an interpreter, to abandon their idols and turn
to the living God. The simple natives under
stood but little of the harangue, except the in
junction to destroy their idols. At this sug
gestion they were horror-stricken. They as
sured Cortez that were they to harm or insult
their gods, destruction in every awful form
would immediately overwhelm them.
The bold warrior wielded bold arguments

60 Hernando Cortez.
The first mass. Miraculous conversions.
His logic was truly military. With his mailed
cavahers he made a prompt onslaught upon the
idols, hewed them down, smashed them to pieces,
and tumbled the dishonored and mutilated frag
ments into the streets. He then constructed a
Christian altar, reared a cross and an image of
the holy Virgin and the holy child, and mass,
with all its pomp of robes, and chants, and in
cense, was for the first time performed in the
temples of Yucatan.
The natives were at first overwhelmed with
grief and terror as they gazed upon their pros
trate deities. But no earthquake shook the isl
and ; no lightning sped its angry bolt ; no thun
der broke down the skies. The sun still shone
tranquilly, and ocean, earth, and sky smiled un
troubled. The natives ceased to fear gods who
could not protect themselves, and without far
ther argument consented to exchange their un
gainly idols for the far prettier idols of the stran
gers. The heart of Cortez throbbed with en
thusiasm and pride as he contemplated his great
and glorious achievement — an achievement, in
his view, unparalleled by the miracles of Peter
or of Paul. In one short fortnight he had con
verted these islanders from the service of Satan,
and had won them to that faith which would

The Voyage to Mexico. 63
Return of the exploring party. Arrival of Aguilar.
secure their eternal salvation. The fanatic sin
cerity with which this deed was accomplished
does not redeem it from the sublimity of absurd
ity. Faith, said these mailed theologians, saves
the soul ; and these pagans have now turned
from their idols to the living God. It is true
that man is saved by faith, but it is that faith
which works by love.
In the mean time the parties returned from
the exploration of the island, and Orday brought
back his two ships from the main land. He
was unsuccessful in his attempts to find the
shipwrecked Spaniards. Cortez had now been
at Cozumel a fortnight. As he was on the
point of taking his departure, a frail canoe was
seen crossing the strait, with three men in it,
apparently Indians, and entirely naked. As
soon as the canoe landed, one of the men ran
frantically to the Spaniards and informed them
that he was a Christian and a countryman. His
name was Aguilar.
Seven years ago, the vessel in which he was
sailing from Darien to Hispaniola foundered in
a gale. The ship's company, twenty in num
ber, took to the boats. For thirteen days they
were driven about at the mercy of the winds
and currents. Seven perished miserably from

64 Hernando Cortez.

History of Aguilar's life at Yucatan.  Escape and capture.
hunger and thirst. The rest reached the bar
barian shores of Yucatan. The natives seized
them as captives, guarded them carefully, but
fed them abundantly with the choicest food,
and inflicted upon them no sufferings, and re
quired of them no toil. Their treatment was
an enigma wliich was soon dreadfully ex
plained. One day four of these captives who were in
the best condition were selected, sacrificed upon
the bloody altars of the idols, and their cooked
flesh served up for a cannibal repast. The
howlings of the savages over the midnight or
gies of this horrible entertainment fell dismally
upon the ears of the miserable survivors. In
their despair they succeeded in escaping, and
fled to the mountain forests. Here they wan
dered for a time in the endurance of awful suf
ferings. At length they were again taken cap
tive by the cacique or chief of another province.
He spared their lives, but made them menial
slaves. Their masters were merciless and ex
acting in the extreme. Under this rigorous
treatment all died but two — Aguilar, a priest,
and Guerrero, a sailor. The sailor, having no
scruples of any kind, and being ready to con
form himself to all customs, gradually acquired

The Voyage to Mexico. 65
Guerrero takes to savage life. Escape.
the good will of the savages. He obtained re
nown as a warrior ; identified himself entirely
with the natives ; tattooed his face ; slit his
ears, his Hps, and his nose, for those dangling
ornaments which ever accompany a barbarian
taste, and took to him a native wife.
Aguilar, however, was a man of more culti
vation and refinement. He cherished his self-
respect, and, resisting all enticements to marry
an Indian maiden, was true to the vows of cel
ibacy which his priestly profession imposed.
Curious stories are related of the temptations to
which the natives exposed him. Weary years
fingered along, presenting no opportunity for
escape. Cortez at last arrived at Cozumel.
Some Indians carried the tidings into the inte
rior. Aguilar received this intelligence with
transport, and yet with trembling. He, how
ever, succeeded in reaching the coast, accom
panied by two friendly natives. He found upon
the beach a stranded canoe, half buried in the
sand. Embarking in this with his two com
panions, they paddled themselves across the
strait, at that place twelve miles wide, to the
island. The frail boat was seen by the party
of Cortez upon the surface of the sea. As soon
as Aguilar landed he dropped upon his knees,
E

66 Hernando Cortez.
Guerrero remains with the savages. Squadron again sails.
and with streaming eyes gave thanks to God
for his escape.
His companion in captivity refused to accom
pany him. "Brother Aguilar," said he, after a
moment's thought, "I am married. I have
three sons, and am a cacique and captain in
the wars. My face is tattooed and my ears
bored. What would the Spaniards think of
me should I now go among them ?" All Agui
lar's entreaties for him to leave were unavailing.
Aguilar appears to have been truly a good
man. As he had acquired a perfect acquaint
ance with the language of the natives, and with
their manners and customs, Cortez received him
as a heaven-sent acquisition to his enterprise.
On the 4th of March the squadron again set
sail, and, crossing the narrow strait, approach
ed the shores of the continent. Sailing direct
ly north some hundred miles, hugging the coast
of Yucatan, Cortez doubled Cape Catoche, and
turning his prow to the west, boldly pressed
forward into those unknown waters which seem
ed to extend interminably before him. The
shores were densely covered with the luxuriant
foliage of the tropics, and in many a bay and
on many a headland could be discerned the
thronged dwellings of the natives.

The Voyage to Mexico. 67
They enter the Tabasco. They ascend the river. Landing postponed.
After sailing west about two hundred miles,
they found the coast again turning abruptly to
the south. Following the line of the land some
three hundred miles farther, they came to the
broad mouth of the River Tabasco, which Gri
jalva had entered, and which Cortez was seek
ing. A sand-bar at the mouth of the river pre
vented the heavily-loaded vessels from passing.
Cortez, therefore, cast anchor, and taking a
strong and well-armed party in the boats, as
cended the shallow stream.
A forest of majestic trees, with underwood
dense and impervious, lined the banks. The
naked forms of the natives were seen gliding
among the foliage, following, in rapidly-accu
mulating numbers, the advance of the boats,
and evincing, by tone and gesture, any thing but
a friendly spirit. At last, arriving at an open
ing in the forest, where a smooth and grassy
meadow extended with gradual ascent from
the stream, the boats drew near the shore, and
Cortez, through his interpreter Aguilar, asked
permission to land, avowing his friendly inten
tions. The prompt answer was the clash of
weapons and shouts of defiance.
Upon this Cortez decided to postpone a for
cible landing until the morning, and retired to

68 Hernando Cortez.
Encampment. Preparation for the conflict. The reception.
a small island in the river which was uninhab
ited. He here encamped for the night, estab
lishing a vigilant line of sentinels to guard
against surprise.
In the early dawn of the next morning the
party were assembled for prayers and for the
celebration of mass. They then, with new zeal
and courage, entered their boats, and ascended
the glassy, forest-fringed stream, upon which
the morning sun shone brightly. Bird-songs
filled the air, and hardly a breath of wind moved
the leaves, glittering in the brilliant sunlight, as
these bronzed men of iron sinews moved stern
ly on to the demoniac deeds of war. The na
tives, in preparation for the conflict, had been
all the night rallying their forces. The shore
was lined with their war-canoes, and the banks
were covered with Indian troops drawn up in
martial array. Gorgeous plumes decorated
their persons, and the rays of the sun were re
flected from their polished weapons. As soon
as the Spanish boats appeared, the vast army
of the natives raised shouts of defiance, and the
ear was almost deafened with the clangor of
their trumpets and drums.
The battle soon commenced. The sky was
almost darkened by the shower of arrows thrown

The Voyage to Mexico. 69
The battle. The charge. Victory. March to Tabasco.
by those upon the land. The warriors in the
canoes fought fiercely with their javelins. The
conflict was bloody, but short. Native valor
could avail but little against European disci
pline and art. The spears, stones, and arrows
of the natives fell almost harmless upon the hel
mets and shields of the Spaniards ; but the bul
lets from the guns of the invaders swept like
hail-stones through the crowded ranks of the
natives, unimpeded by their frail weapons of de
fense. Cortez himself headed a charge which
broke resistlessly into the hostile ranks. Ap
palled by the terrific thunder and lightning of
the musketry, the Indians soon scattered and
fled, leaving the ground covered with their slain.
Cortez now reviewed his troops in triumph
upon the shore. He found that fourteen were
wounded, but none slain. To ^ttend to the
wounded and to rest his exhausted men, he
again encamped. The bloodstained banner of
the cross, which they had so signally dishon
ored, floated proudly over their intrenchments.
Prayers were offered and mass celebrated in
honor of the victory achieved by Christian arms
against idolaters. The next morning the Span
iards marched unresisted to Tabasco, the capi
tal of the province, a large town upon the river.

Hernando Cortez.

Possession taken of the town. Gathering of the natives.
but a few miles above the place where the in
vaders had effected a landing. The inhabitants,
men, women, and children, fled from the place
in dismay.
Cortez took possession of the town in the
name of the King of Spain. But the whole
surrounding region was now aroused. The na
tives, in numbers which could not be counted,
gathered in the vicinity of Tabasco, and organ
ized their forces anew, to repel, if possible, the
terrible foe. They were assembled on the great
plain of Ceutla. Cortez had anticipated this,
and was also gathering his strength for a de
cisive battle. He sent to the ships for six
pieces of cannon, his whole cavalry of sixteen
horses, and every available man. A few only
were left to guard the vessels. This powerful
re-enforcement soon arrived. Thus strength
ened, his whole army was called together to
celebrate the solemnities of mass, and to implore
the blessing of God in extending the triumphs
of the cross over the kingdom of Satan. Thus
they marched forth, with powder, and ball, and
neighing steeds, to the merciless slaughter of
those brave men who were fighting for their
country and their homes.
The Spaniards now advanced to meet their

The Voyage to Mexico. 71

The two armies meet The conflict.
foes. It was a lovely morning, the 25th of
March. The natives, in point of civilization,
raised far above the condition of savages, had
large fields in a high state of cultivation, wav
ing with the rich vegetation of the tropics.
After a march of three or four miles through a
country cultivated like a garden, they arrived
at the ground occupied by the native army.
The lines of their encampments were so extend
ed and yet so crowded that the Spaniards esti
mated their numbers at over forty thousand.
To meet them in the strife Cortez had but six
hundred men. But his terrible engines of de
struction made his force more powerful than
theirs. The natives were ready for the battle.
They greeted their assailants with a war-whoop,
which rose in thunder tones over the plain, and
showered upon them volleys of arrows, sling-
stones, and javelins. At this first discharge,
seventy Spaniards were wounded and one was
slain. The conflict soon raged with a]l imagin
able horrors. The natives fought with the cour
age, of desperation. They seemed even regard
less of the death-dealing muskets. And when
the terrible cannon, with its awful roar, opened
huge gaps in. their ranks, manfully they closed
up, and with new vigor pressed the onset. Tfie

72 Hernando Cortez.
The cavalry charge. Terror of the natives. The flight.
odds were so fearful that for some time it seem
ed quite doubtful on which side victory would
rest. Cortez, heading his cavalfy, swept around the
plain, and, by a circuitous route, came unper-
ceived upon the rear of the tumultuous foe.
The sixteen horsemen, clad in steel, urging
their horses to their utmost speed, with loud
shouts and sabres gleaming in the air, plunged
into the midst of the throng. Their keen-edged
swords fell on the right hand and on the left
upon the almost naked bodies of the natives.
At the same moment, the energies of musketry
and artillery were plied with murderous car
nage. The natives had never seen a horse before.
They thought the rider and the steed one ani
mal. As these terrific monsters, half human,
half beast, came bounding into their midgt, cut
ting down and trampling beneath iron hoofs all
who stood in the way, while at the same time
the appalling roar of the cannonade seemed to
shake the very hills, the scene became too aw
ful for mortal courage to endure. The whole
mighty mass, in uncontrollable dismay, fled
from the presence of foes of such demoniac as
pect and energy. The slaughter of these poor

The Voyage to Mexico. 75
Estimates of the number killed. The declaration.
Indians was so awful that some of the Span
iards extravagantly estimated the number left
dead upon the field at thirty thousand. Though
many of the Spaniards were wounded, but two
were killed.
Cortez immediately assembled his army un
der a grove upon the field of battle to give
thanks to God for the victory. The pomp and
pageantry of war gave place to the pomp and
pageantry of the Church. Canonical robes and
banners fluttered in the breeze, processions
marched, the smoke of incense floated in the
air, and mass, with all its imposing solemnities,
was celebrated in the midst of prayers and
thanksgivings. "Then," says Diaz, "after dressing our
wounds with the fat of Indians whom we found
dead thereabout, and having placed good guards
roun<Lour post, we ate our supper and went to
our repose."
Under the placable influence of these devo
tions, the conqueror sent word to the vanquish
ed that he would now forgive them if they
would submit unconditionally to his authority.
But he declared that if they refused this, he
would ride over the land, and put every thing
in it, man, woman, and child, to the sword.

76 Hernando Cortez.
The natives submissive. The new religion. St. Mary of Victory.
The spirit of resistance was utterly crushed.
The natives immediately sent a delegation to
him laden with presents. To impress these
embassadors still more deeply with a sense of
his power, he exhibited before them the martial
evolutions of his cavalry, and showed them the
effects of his artillery as the balls were sped
crashing through the trees of the forest. The
natives were now effectually conquered, and
looked upon the Spaniards as beings of super
natural powers, wielding the terrors of thunder
and lightning, and whom no mortal energies
could resist.
They had become as little children. This
Cortez thought a very suitable frame of mind
to secure their conversion. He recommended
that they should cast down their idols, and ac
cept instead the gods of papal Rome. The rec
ommendation of Cortez was potent overJJM now
pliant natives. They made no opposition while
the soldiers, whose hands were hardly yet wash
ed of the blood of their relatives, hewed down
their images. With very imposing ceremonies,
the religion of the conquerors was instituted in
the temples of Yucatan, and, in honor of the
Virgin Mary, the name of Tabasco was changed
into St. Mary of Victory.

The Voyage to Mexico. 77
Motives which actuated the adventurers.
In alLthis tremendous crime there was ap
parently no hypocrisy. Human motives will
seldom bear rigid scrutiny. Man's best deeds
are tainted. Cortez was very sincere in his
desire to overthrow the abominable system of '
idolatry prevailing among the natives. He per
haps truly thought that these violent measures
were necessary to accomplish this object, and
that Christianity, thus introduced, would prove
an inestimable blessing. We may abhor his
conduct, while we can still make generous al
lowances for the darkness of his mind and of
the age in which he lived. It requires infinite
wisdom to adjust the balance of human deeds.
Two of the Catholic ecclesiastics, Olmedo and
Diaz, were probably unaffected Christians, truly
desiring the spiritual renovation of the Indians.
They felt deeply the worth of the soul, and did
all theypould rightly to instruct these unhappy
and deeply-wronged natives. They sincerely
pitied their sufferings, but deemed it wise that
the right eye should' be plucked out, and that
the right arm should be cut off, rather than that
the soul should perish. It is a consoling thought,
that " like as a father pitieth his children, so
the Lord pitieth them that fear Him ; for he
knoweth our frame, he remembereth that we

78 Hernando Cortez.
Christian instruction. Principle and practice. The altar.
are dust." The natives were assembled in
their temples ; they came together in immense
multitudes. The priests, through their inter
preter, Aguilar, endeavored to instruct them in
the pure doctrines and the sublime mysteries
of Christianity. If the natives perceived a
marked difference between these precepts and
the awful carnage on the field of Ceutla, it was
not the first time that principles and practice
have been found discordant.
A grand religious ceremony was instituted
to commemorate the conversion of the nation.
The whole army took a part in the solemnities
of the occasion, with all the martial and eccle
siastical pomp which their situation could fur
nish. The natives in countless multitudes join
ed the procession, and gazed with astonishment
upon the scene. Advancing to the principal
pyramidal temple of Tabasco, which was an
enormous structure, with a vast area upon its
summit, they wound around its sides in the as
cent. Upon this lofty platform, beneath the un
clouded sun, with thousands of Indians crowd
ing the region around to witness the strange
spectacle, a Christian altar was reared, the im
ages of the Savior and of the Virgin were erect
ed, and mass was celebrated. Clouds of in-

The Voyage to Mexico. 79
Devotions Baptism. The presents. Marina.
cense rose into the still air, and the rich voices
of the Spanish soldiers swelled the solemn
chant. It must have been an impressive scene.
There must have been some there into whose
eye the tear of devotion gushed. If there were
in that throng — all of whom have long since
gone to judgment — one single broken and con
trite heart, that was an offering which God could
accept. Father Olmedo preached upon the oc
casion "many good things touching our holy
faith." Twenty Indian girls who had been
given to the Spanish captains for wives were
baptized. Cortez having thus, in the course of a week,
annexed the whole of these new provinces of
unknown extent to Spain, and having convert
ed the natives to Christianity, prepared for his
departure. The natives, among their propitia
tory offerings, had presented to Cortez, as we
have mentioned, twenty young and beautiful
females whom they had captured from hostile
tribes, or who in other ways had become then-
slaves. Cortez distributed these unenlightened
maidens among his captains, having first select
ed one of the youngest and most beautiful of
them, Marina, for his wife. Cortez had a wor
thy spouse upon his plantation at Cuba. No

80 Hernando Cortez.
Indulgences. Character of Marina.
civil or religious rites sanctioned this unhallow
ed union ; and he was sufficiently instructed
to know that he was sinning against the laws
of both God and man ; but the conscience of
this extraordinary adventurer had become in
volved in labyrinths utterly inexplicable. He
seemed to judge that he was doing so much for
the cause of Holy Mother Church that his own
private sins were of little comparative moment.
His many good deeds, he appeared to think,
purchased ample indulgence.
But Marina was a noble woman. The rela
tion which she sustained to Cortez did no vio
lence to her instincts or to her conscience. She
had never been instructed in the school of
Christ. Polygamy was the religion of her land.
She deemed herself the honored wife of Cortez,
and dreamed not of wrong. Marina was in all
respects an extraordinary woman. Nature had
done much for her. In person she was exceed
ingly beautiful. She had winning manners, and
a warm and loving heart. Her mind was of a
superior order. She very quickly mastered the
difficulties of the Castilian tongue, and thus
spoke three languages with native fluency 
the Mexican, the Yucatanese, and the Spanish.
"I am more happy," said she one day, "in

The Voyage to Mexico. 81
Her career. Her devotion to Cortez.'
being the wife of my lord and master Cortez,
and of having a son by him, than if I had been
sovereign of all of New Spain."
Her career had been eventful in the extreme.
She was the daughter of a rich and powerful
cacique, who was tributary to the Emperor of
Mexico. Her father died during her infancy,
and her mother married again. A son by her
new husband gradually estranged the affections
of the unnatural mother from her daughter.
These feelings increased, till she regarded the
child with deep dislike, and secretly gave her
away to some slave-drivers, circulating the re
port that the child was dead. The slave-mer
chants brought her from her distant home,
where the language of Mexico was her native
tongue, and sold her to one of the chiefs of Ta
basco. Here she acquired the language of Yu
catan. There was much in the energy, magnanimity,
fearlessness, and glowing temperament of Cor
tez to rouse a woman's love. Marina became
devotedly attached to him. She watched over
his interests with a zeal which never slumber
ed; and when she became the mother of his
son, still more tender ties bound her to the con
queror of her race. In subsequent scenes of
F

82 Hernando Cortez.
Departure from Tabasco. Blessings left behind.
difficulty and danger, her acquaintance with the
native language,' manners, and customs made
her an invaluable acquisition to the expedition.
After a few days spent at Tabasco, the hour
for departure came. ¦
The boats, decorated with the banner of the
cross, and with palm leaves, the symbols of hap
piness and peace, floated down the beautiful
river to the squadron riding at anchor at its
mouth. Again spreading the sails, and catch
ing a favorable breeze, the adventurers were
wafted rejoicingly on toward the shores of Mex
ico. The newly-converted natives were left to
meditate upon the instructions which they had
received — to count the graves of the slain — to
heal, as they could, the goiy wounds and splin
tered bones of their friends, still writhing in an
guish, and to wail the funeral dirge in the deso
late homes of the widow and the orphan. Sel
dom, in the history of the world, has such a
whirlwind of woe so suddenly burst upon any
people. How long they continued to cherish a
religion introduced by such harbingers we are
not informed.
The sun shone brightly on the broad Mexi
can Gulf, and zephyrs laden with fragrance from
the luxuriant shores swelled the flowing sheets.

The Voyage to Mexico. 83
They coast along the shore. Arrival at San Juan de Ulua.
As the fleet crept along the land, the temples
and houses of the natives, and their waving
fields of grain, were distinctly visible from the
decks. Many a promontory and headland was
covered with multitudes of tawny figures, dec
orated with all the attractions of barbarian
splendor, gazing upon the fearful phenomena
of the passing ships. Cortez continued his
course several hundred miles, sweeping around
the shores of this magnificent gulf, until he ar
rived at the island of San Juan de Ulua. He
was seeking this spot, which Grijalva had visit
ed, and here he dropped his anchors in one of
the harbors of the empire of Mexico.

84 Hernando Cortez.

The fleet anchors. Arrival of the canoes.

Chapter IV.
Founding a Colony.
IT was a beautiful afternoon in April when
the fleet sailed majestically into the Mexican
bay. Earth, sea, and sky smiled serenely, and
all the elements of trouble were lulled into re
pose. As the ships glided over the smooth
waters to their sheltered anchorage, a scene, as
of enchantment, opened around the voyagers.
In the distance, on grassy slopes, and in the
midst of luxuriant groves, the villages and ru
ral dwellings of the natives were thickly scat
tered. The shores were covered with an eager
multitude, contemplating with wonder and awe
the sublime spectacle of the fleet.
Hardly were the anchors dropped ere two
canoes shot from the shore, filled with natives.
The ship in which Cortez sailed was more im
posing than the rest, and the banner of Spain
floated proudly from its topmast. The Mexi
cans steered promptly for this vessel, and, with
the most confiding frankness, ascended its sides.
Two of the persons in these boats were men of

Founding a Colony. 85
The two chiefs. The legend. The presents.
high distinction in the Mexican empire. As
Marina understood their language perfectly, and
the liberated Spanish captive Aguilar was thor
oughly acquainted with the language of the Ta-
bascans, there was no difficulty in the inter
change of ideas. One of these men was the
governor of the province in which Cortez had
landed ; the other was commander-in-chief of
all the military forces in that province. It has
been mentioned that Grijalva had previously
landed at this spot, and given it the name of
San Juan de Ulua. The Mexicans had thus
some knowledge of the formidable strangers
who were invading the New World, and in va
rious ways tidings, for now the quarter of a
century, had been reaching their ears of the ap
palling power of this new race.
Perhaps to this fact is to be attributed the
general and discouraging impression which then
prevailed, that a fearful calamity which nothing
could avert was impending over the nation ;
that it was the decree of destiny that a strange
race, coming from the rising of the sun, should
overwhelm and desolate their country.
The two chiefs brought Cortez a present of
bread, fruit, fowls, flowers, and golden orna
ments. The interview was conducted by the

86 Hernando Cortez.
The interview. The government of the empire. Cortez lands.
interchange of the most formal social ceremo
nies of Mexico and of Spain. Cortez invited his
guests to remain and dine. The communica
tion between them was necessarily slow, as Ma
rina interpreted their speech to Aguilar, and
Aguilar to Cortez. The Spanish commander,
however, thus ascertained the most important
facts which he wished to know respecting the
great empire of Mexico. He learned that two
hundred miles in the interior was situated the
capital of the empire, and that a monarch
named Montezuma, beloved and revered by his
subjects, reigned over the extended realm. The
country was divided into provinces, over each
of which a governor presided. The province in
which Cortez had landed was under the sway
of Governor Teutile, who resided about twenty
miles in the interior.
Cortez, though uninvited, immediately, with
great energy and boldness, landed his whole
force upon the beach. He constructed a forti
fied camp, and planted his heavy artillery upon
the surrounding hillocks to sweep all the ap
proaches. Characteristically it is recorded that,
having posted their artillery, they raised an al
tar, and not till after that was done did they
erect barracks for themselves. The fri dl

Founding a Colony. 87
Scene on the shore. Visit of Governor Teutile.
natives aided the Spaniards in building huts,
brought them presents of flowers and food, and
entered into an active traffic, in which both par
ties exulted in the great bargains which they
made. Thus the Mexicans warmed the vipers
who were fatally to sting them.
It was indeed a novel scene, worthy of the
pencil of the painter, which that beach present
ed day after day. Men, women, and children,
boys and girls, in all the variety of barbaric
costume, thronged the encampment. Mexicans
and Spaniards mingled merrily in all the peace
ful and joyful confusion of a fair. The rumor
of the strange visitors spread far and wide, and
each day increasing multitudes were assembled.
The intelligence was speedily communicated
to Governor Teutile. With a numerous reti
nue, he set out from his palace to visit his unin
vited guests, and to ascertain their object and
purposes. The governor entered the Spanish
camp accompanied by the commander-in-chief
of all the provincial forces. Each party vied
in the external demonstrations of respect and
friendship. The eyes of the Spaniards glisten
ed with avarice as Teutile spread before Cortez
many valuable ornaments of massive silver and
gold, wrought in exquisite workmanship. The

88 Hernando Cortez.
Cortez's speech. Teutile's uneasiness. His reply.
sight inflamed them with more intense desires
to penetrate a country where such treasures
could be obtained. After a splendid repast
given by the Spaniards, Cortez said to his vis
itors, " I am the subject of Charles V., the most
powerful monarch in the world. My sovereign
has heard of the greatness and the glory of Mon
tezuma, the Emperor of Mexico. I am sent to
his court to convey the respects of my sover
eign, to offer suitable presents, and to confer
with him upon matters of great moment. It is
therefore my desire to proceed immediately to
the capital, to accomplish the purposes of my
mission." Teutile could not conceal the uneasiness with
which he heard this avowal. He knew that
Montezuma and all the most intelligent men of
the nation contemplated with dread the power
and the encroachments of the Europeans, now
so firmly established on the islands of the Ca
ribbean Sea. With embarrassment he replied,
" I hear with pleasure of the magnificence of
your sovereign. Our monarch is not less glo
rious. No earthly king can surpass him in
wealth or goodness. You have been but a few
days in these realms, and yet you are impatient

Founding a Colony. 89
Embassadors to be sent to Montezuma. Picture writing.
to be admitted, without delay, into the presence
of Montezuma. Our king will doubtless hear
with pleasure from your sovereign, and receive
his embassador honorably. But it will be first
necessary to inform him of your arrival, that
he may communicate to you his royal pleas
ure." Cortez was exceedingly annoyed by this de
lay. Deeming it, however, important to secure
the friendship of the Mexicans, he consented to
wait until the return of the couriers who were
immediately to be sent to Montezuma. The
natives were not acquainted with the alphabet,
but they had in use a sort of picture writing,
delineating upon fine cotton cloth pictures of
scenes which they wished to represent. Teu
tile requested that his painters might be per
mitted to take a sketch of the Spaniards and
their equipage. Consent being obtained, the
painters commenced their work, which they ex
ecuted with remarkable rapidity and skill. The
fleet in the harbor, the encampment upon the
shore, the muskets, the artillery, the horses, all
were delineated true to Hfe. They were so ac
curate in the figures and portraits of Cortez and
his leading companions that the Spaniards im
mediately recognized them.

90 Hernando Cortez.
Military review.  The manceuvres.
When Cortez observed this remarkable skill,
that he might impress Montezuma the more
deeply with a sense of his power, he ordered his
whole force to be assembled for a military re
view. The trumpets pealed forth the martial
summons which the well-drilled bands so per
fectly understood. The troops instantly form
ed in order of battle. Infantry, artillery, cav
alry, all were at their posts. The most intri
cate and beautiful manoeuvres were performed.
Martial music contributed its thrilling charms :
banners floated in the breeze ; helmets, cuirass
es, swords, and polished muskets gleamed in
the rays of the unclouded sun. Mounted horse
men bounded over the plain in the terrific charge,
and the artillerymen, with rapid evolutions,
moved to and fro, dragging over the sands their
lumbering yet mysterious engines of destruc
tion, whose awful roar and terrific power the
Mexicans had not yet witnessed. It was a gor
geous spectacle even to eyes accustomed to such
scenes. The Mexicans, in countless thousands,
gazed upon it in silent amazement. But when,
at the close, Cortez placed his cannon in bat
tery, and ordered a simultaneous discharge,
aiming the heavily-shotted guns- into the dense
forest, the bewilderment of the poor natives

Founding a Colony. 91
Terror of the natives. Departure of the runners. Police regulations.
passed away into unspeakable terror. They
saw the lightning flash, they heard the roar,
louder than the heaviest thunders. As the iron
storm was shot through the forest, the limbs of
the gigantic trees came crashing to the ground.
Dense volumes of sulphurous smoke enveloped
them. Even the boldest turned pale, and the
timid shrieked and fled.
Cortez was much pleased in seeing how deep
ly he had impressed his visitors with a sense
of his power. The painters made a very accu
rate delineation of the whole scene to be trans
mitted to Montezuma. They then, with much
ceremony, departed. •
The police regulations of Mexico were in
some respects in advance of that which then
prevailed in Europe. For the rapid transmis
sion of intelligence from the remotest bounds of
the empire to the capital, well-trained runners
were posted, at suitable stations, all along the
principal roads. Each man had a short stage,
which he passed over with great rapidity, and
communicated his message, verbal or written in
the picture language, to a fresh runner. Bur
dens and governmental officers were also rapid
ly transmitted, in a sort of palanquin, in the
same way, from post to post, by relays of men.

92 Hernando Cortez.
Kindness of the natives. Arrival of the embassy.
A week passed while Cortez remained impa
tiently in his encampment awaiting an answer
to the message sent to Montezuma. The friend
ly natives, in the mean time, supplied the Span
iards with every thing they could need. By
the command of the governor, Teutile, more
than a thousand huts of branches of trees and
of cotton matting were reared in the vicinity of
the encampment, for the accommodation of the
Mexicans, who, without recompense, were abun
dantly supplying the table of Cortez and of his
troops. On the eighth day an embassy arrived at the
camp from the Mexican capital. Two nobles
of the court, accompanied by a retinue of a
hundred men of burden, laden with magnificent
gifts from Montezuma, presented themselves
before the pavilion of Cortez. The embassa
dors saluted the Spanish chieftain with the
greatest reverence, bowing before him, and sur
rounding him with clouds of incense, which
arose from waving censers bome by their at
tendants. The presents which they brought,
in silver, in gold, in works of art, utility, and
beauty, excited the rapture and the amazement
of the Spaniards. There were specimens of
workmanship in the precious metals which no

Founding a Colony. 95
Message from Montezuma. Chagrin of Cortez.
artists in Europe could rival. A Spanish hel
met which had been sent to Montezuma was
returned filled with grains of pure gold. These
costly gifts were opened before Cortez in lavish
abundance, and they gave indications of opu
lence hitherto undreamed of. After they had
been sufficiently examined and admired, one of
the embassadors very courteously said,
" Our master is happy to send these tokens
of his respect to the King of Spain. He re
grets that he can not enjoy an interview with
the Spaniards. But the distance of his capital
- is too great, and the perils of the journey are
too imminent to allow of this pleasure. The
strangers are therefore requested to return to
their own homes with these proofs of the friend
ly feelings of Montezuma."
Cortez was much chagrined. He earnestly,
however, renewed his application for permission
to visit the emperor. But the embassadors,
as they retired, assured him that another appli
cation would be unavailing. They, however,
took a few meagre presents of shirts and toys,
which alone remained to Cortez, and departed
on their journey of two hundred miles, with
the reiterated and still more earnest application
from Cortez for permission to visit the emper-

96 Hernando Cortez.
Disaffection in the camp. Second message from Montezuma.
or. It was now evident that the Mexicans had
received instructions from the court, and that
all were anxious that the Spaniards should
leave the country. Though the natives mani
fested no hostility, they immediately became
cold and reserved, and ceased to supply the
camp with food. With the Spaniards the
charm of novelty was over. Insects annoyed
them. They were blistered by the rays of a
meridian sun, reflected from the burning sands
of the beach. Sickness entered the camp, and
thirty died. Disaffection began to manifest it
self, and some were anxious to return to Cuba.
But the treasures which had been received
from Montezuma, so rich and so abundant, in
spired Cortez and his gold-loving companions
with the most intense desire to penetrate an em
pire of so much opulence. They, however,
waited patiently ten days, when the embassa
dors again returned. As before, they came lad
en with truly imperial gifts. The gold alone of
the ornaments which they brought was valued
by the Spaniards at more than fifty thousand
dollars. The message from Montezuma was,
however, still more peremptory than the first.
He declared that he could not permit the Span
iards to approach his capital. Cortez, though

Founding a Colony. 97*
The Ave Maria. Curiosity of the natives. The sermon.
excessively vexed, endeavored to smother the
outward expression of his irritation. He gave
the embassadors a courteous response, but, turn
ing to his officers, he said,
" This is truly a rich and a powerful prince.
Yet; it shall go hard but we will one day pay
him a visit in his capital."
"At this moment," says Diaz, "the bell
tolled for the Ave Maria, and all of ns fell upon
our knees before the holy cross. The Mexican
noblemen being very inquisitive to know the
meaning of this, Cortez hinted to the reverend
father Olmedo the propriety of a sermon, such
as should convey to them the truths of our holy
faith. Father Olmedo accordingly preached,
like an excellent theologian which he was, ex
plaining the mysteries of the cross, at the sight
of which the evil beings they worshiped as gods
fled away. These subjects, and much more, he
dilated upon. It was perfectly explained to
the Mexicans and understood by them, and
they promised to relate all they had seen and
heard to their sovereign. He also declared to
them that among the principal objects of our
mission thither were those of putting a stop to
human sacrifices, injustices, and idolatrous wor
ship ; and then, presenting them with an image
G

Hernando Cortez.

Presentation of the crucifix. Desertion of the huts. The mutiny.
of our Holy Virgin, with her son in her arms,
he desired them to take it with them, to vene
rate it, and to plant crosses similar to that be
fore them in their temples."
The embassadors again retired with dignity
and with courtesy, yet with reserve indicative
of deep displeasure at the pertinacity of the
Spaniards. That night every hut of the natives
was abandoned. When the morning sun arose,
silence and solitude reigned upon the spot which
had so recently witnessed the life and the clam
or of an innumerable multitude. Cortez and
his companions were left alone. The long hours
of the tropical day passed slowly, and no native
approached the encampment. No food wa& to
be obtained. Not only was all friendly inter
course thus suspended, but the Spaniards had
much reason to fear that preparations were mak
ing for an assault. The murmuring in the camp
increased. Two parties were formed : one party
were in favor of returning to Cuba, affirming
that it was madness to think of the subjugation
by force of arms of so mighty an empire with
so feeble an armament. One of the generals,
Diego de Ordaz, was deputed by the disaffected
to communicate these sentiments to Cortez, and
to assure him that it was the general voice of
the armv.

Founding a Colony. 99
Shrewdness. The mutineers outwitted. Success of the scheme.
The shrewdness of this extraordinary man
was peculiarly conspicuous in this crisis. He
promptly, and apparently with cordiality, as
sented to their views, and began to make ar
rangements to relinquish the enterprise. Orders
were issued to commence the re-embarkation.
While thus dissimulating, he roused his
friends to effort, and secretly employed all his
powers to excite a mutiny in the camp against
a return. Every motive was plied to stimulate
the bold and the avaricious to persevere in an
undertaldng where glory and wealth held out
such attractions. His emissaries were com
pletely successful. The whole camp was in a
ferment. Before the sun went down, a large
party of the soldiers surrounded his tent, as in
open mutiny. They declared that, having en
tered upon a majestic enterprise, it was pol
troonery to abandon it upon the first aspect of
danger; that they were determined to perse
vere, and that, if Cortez wished to return with
the cowards to Cuba, they would instantly
choose another general to guide them in the
career of glory upon which they had entered.
Cortez was delighted with the success of his
stratagem. He, however, affected surprise, and
declared that his orders for re-embarking were

100 Hernando Cortez.
Enthusiasm. Council elected for the new colony.
issued from the persuasion that the troops wish
ed to return ; that, to gratify them, he had been
willing to sacrifice his own private judgment.
He assured the mutineers that it afforded him
the highest gratification to find that they were
true Castilians, with minds elevated to the ac
complishment of heroic deeds. He affirmed
that before such strong arms and bold hearts
all peril would vanish. The applause with
which this speech was greeted was so long and
enthusiastic that even the murmurers were soon
induced to join the acclamations. Thus adroit
ly Cortez again enthroned himself as the undis
puted chieftain of an enthusiastic band.
He decided immediately to establish a settle
ment on the sea-coast as the nucleus of a col
ony. From that point as the basis of opera
tions, he would, with the terrors of artillery and
cavalry, boldly penetrate the interior. He as
sembled the principal officers of the army, and
by their suffrages elected the magistrates and a
eouncil for the new colony. He skillfully so
arranged it that all the magistrates chosen were
his warm partisans.
The council assembled for the organization
of the government'. As soon as the assembly
was convened, Cortez asked permission to enter

Founding a Colony. 101
Appearance of Cortez before the assembly. The address.
it. Bowing with the most profound respect
before the new government thus organized, that
he might set an example of the most humble
and submissive obedience, he addressed them
in the following terms :
" By the establishment of the colony and the
organization of the colonial government, this
august tribunal is henceforth invested with su
preme jurisdiction, and is clothed with the au
thority, and represents the person of the sover
eign. I accordingly present myself before you
with the same dutiful fidelity as if I were ad
dressing my royal master. The .safety of this
colony, threatened by the hostility of a mighty
empire, depends upon the subordination and
discipline preserved among the troops. But
my right to command is derived from a com
mission granted by the Governor of Cuba. As
that commission has been long since revoked,
my right to command may well be questioned.
It is of the utmost importance, in the present
condition of affairs, that the commander-in-chief
should not act upon a dubious title. There is
now required the most implicit obedience to or
ders, and the army can not act with efficiency
if it has any occasion ,to dispute the powers of
its general.

102 Hernando Cortez.
Cortez lays down his commission. He is induced to take it up again .
" Moved by these considerations, I now re
sign into your hands, as the representatives of
the sovereign, all my authority. As you alone
have the right to choose, and the power to con
fer full jurisdiction, upon you it devolves to
choose some one, in the king's name, to 'guide
the army in its future operations. For my own
part, such is my zeal in the service in which
we are engaged, that I would most cheerfully
take up a pike with the same hand which lays
down the general's truncheon, and convince my
fellow-soldiers that, though accustomed to com
mand, I have not forgotten how to obey."
Thus saying, he laid his commission from
Velasquez upon the table, and after kissing his
truncheon, delivered it to the chief magistrate
and withdrew. This was consummate acting.
The succeeding steps were all previously ar
ranged. He was immediately elected, by unan
imous suffrage, chief justice of the colony, and
captain general of the army. His commission
was ordered to be made out in the name of
Charles V. of Spain, and was to continue in
force until the royal pleasure should be farther
known. The troops were immediately assem
bled and informed of the resolve. They rati
fied it with unbounded applause. The air re-

Founding a Colony. ^103
Remonstrance. Mode of reasoning. Envoys of Zempoalla.
sounded with acclamations, and all vowed obe
dience, even to death, to the authority of Cor
tez. Thus adroitly this bold adventurer shook
off his dependence upon Velasquez, and as
sumed the dignity of an independent governor,
responsible only to his sovereign.
There were a few adherents of Velasquez who
remonstrated against these unprecedented meas
ures. Cortez, with characteristic energy, seized
them and placed them in imprisonment, loaded
with chains, on board one of the ships. This
rigor overawed and silenced the rest. Cortez,
however, soon succeeded, by flattering atten
tions and by gifts, in securing a cordial recon
ciliation with his opponents. He was now
strong in undisputed authority.
In the midst of these events, one day five In
dians of rank came, in rather a mysterious man
ner, to the camp, and solicited an interview
with Cortez. They represented themselves as
envoys from the chief of Zempoalla, a large
town at no great distance. This chief reigned
over the powerful nation of Totonacs. His peo
ple had been conquered by Montezuma, and an
nexed to the Mexican empire. They were rest
ive under the yoke, and would gladly avail
themselves of an alliance with the Spaniards to
regain their independence.

104 Hernando Cortez.
Prospect of civil war. Resolve to establish a colony at Quiabislan.
Cortez listened eagerly to this statement. It
presented just the opportunity which he desired.
He saw at once that by exciting civil war, and
arraying one portion of the empire against an
other, he might accomplish his ends. He also
judged that, in an empire so vast, there must
be other provinces where disaffection could be
excited. He therefore received these envoys
most graciously, and promised very soon to visit
their metropolis.
The spot where Cortez had landed was not a
good location for the establishment of a city.
A party was sent along the coast to seek a bet
ter harbor for the ships and a more eligible site
for the city. At the expiration of twelve days
the party returned, having discovered a fine har
bor and fertile soil at a little village called Qui
abislan, about forty miles to the northward.
This village was fortunately but a few miles
distant from Zempoalla. Most of the heavy
guns were re-embarked, and the fleet was or
dered to coast along the shore to the appointed
rendezvous at Quiabislan. Then, heading his
troops, he set out on a bold march across the
country to meet his fleet, arranging to pass
through Zempoalla by the way.
The beauty of the country through which

Founding a Colony. 107
Beauties of the country, and refinement of the inhabitants.
they marched entranced the hearts even of these
stern warriors. They were never weary of ex
pressing their delight in view of the terrestrial
paradise which they had discovered. When
the Spaniards had arrived within three miles of
Zempoalla, a delegation met them from the city,
accompanied by a vast concourse of men and
women. The adventurers were greeted with
courteous words, and gifts of gold, and fruits,
and flowers. The natives possessed many at
tractions of person, and their frank and friendly
manners were peculiarly winning. A singular
degree of mental refinement was to be seen in
then: passionate love of flowers, with which
they adorned their persons, and which bloomed,
in the utmost profusion, around their dwellings.
Cortez and his steed were almost covered with
wreaths and garlands of roses, woven by the
fair hands of his newly-found friends.
The Spaniards were quite amazed in enter
ing the city of Zempoalla. They found a beau
tiful town, with streets perfectly clean — for they
had no beasts of burden — lined with spacious
stone houses, and shaded with ornamental trees.
These paved streets were kept almost as free
from litter as a parlor floor, and they were
thronged with, apparently, a refined and happy

108 Hernando Cortez.
Reception at Zempoalla. Cortez offers his services.
people. A tropical sun, whose rays were tem
pered by the ocean breeze, fell warmly upon
them during all the months of the year. Soil
of astonishing fertility supplied them abundant
ly with food, while a genial climate invited
them to indulgence and repose. At, first glance
it would seem that the doom of Adam's fall had
not yet reached the dwellings of Zempoalla. A
few hours' residence in the city, however, con
clusively proved that here, as elsewhere, man
is born to mourn.
As Cortez entered the gates of the city, he
was met and welcomed with great pomp by the
cacique of Zempoalla. He was excessively
corpulent, but very polite and highly polished
in his manners. Marina and Aguilar acted as
interpreters. "I am come," said Cortez, "from the ends
of the earth. I serve a monarch who is pow
erful, and whose goodness equals his power.
He has sent me hither, that I may give some
account of the inhabitants of this part of the
world. He has commanded me to do good to
all men, and particularly to aid the oppressed
and to punish their oppressors. To you, Lord '
of Zempoalla, I offer my services. Whatever
you may command, I and my troops will cheer
fully perform."

Founding a Colony. 109
Wrongs of the Totonacs. Help implored.
The cacique of Zempoalla replied,
" Gracious stranger, I can not sufficiently
commend your benevolence, and none can stand
more in need of it. You see before you a man
wearied out with unmerited wrongs. I and
my people are crushed arid trodden under foot
by the most tyrannical power upon earth. We
were once an independent and a happy people,
but the prosperity of the Totonacs is now de
stroyed. The power of our nobles is gone.
We are robbed of the produce of our fields.
Our sons are torn from us for sacrifices, and
our daughters for slaves.
" The Mexicans are our conquerors and op
pressors. They heap these calamities upon us,
robbing us of our substance, and despoiling us
of our children. In the pride of aggression,
they have marched from conquest to conquest,
till they gather tribute from every land. And
now, mighty warrior, we implore of thy strength
and kindness that thou wouldst enable us to re
sist these tyrants, and deliver us from their ex
actions." Cortez warily replied : "I will gladly aid
you, but let us not be rash. I will dwell with
you a while, and whenever I shall see a suitable
occasion to punish your enemies and to relieve

110 ( Hernando Cortez.
Applause of the natives. Erection of fortifications.
you from their impositions, you may rely upon
my aid to humble their pride and power."
The rugged army of Cortez then advanced
through the streets of Zempoalla to the spacious
court-yard of the temple assigned for their ac
commodation. As in solid column, with float
ing banners and bugle notes, they paraded the
streets, headed by the cavalry of sixteen horses,
animals the Totonacs had never seen before,
and followed by the lumbering artillery — in
struments, in the eyes of the Totonacs, of super
natural power — which, with thunder roar, sped
lightning bolts, the natives gazed with admira
tion upon the imposing spectacle, and the air
resounded with their applause.
The next morning Cortez, with most of his
army, continued his march some twelve miles
farther to meet his fleet at Quiabislan. The
cacique hospitably sent with him four hundred
men of burden to convey his baggage. The
spot which had been selected as the site of the
new town, which was to be the capital of the
Spanish colony, met the approbation of Cortez.
He immediately commenced erecting huts and
surrounding the town with fortifications of suf
ficient strength to resist any assault from the
natives. Every man in the army, the officers

Founding a Colony. Ill
Building the town. The lords from Montezuma.
as well as the soldiers, engaged laboriously in
this work. No one toiled in this enterprise
with more patient endurance than the extraor
dinary commander of this extraordinary band.
The Totonacs from Zempoalla and Quiabislan,
encouraged by their caciques, also lent their aid
to the enterprise with hearty good will. Thou
sands of hands were thus employed ; provisions
flowed into the camp in all abundance, and the
works proceeded with great rapidity. The vi
cinity was densely populated, and large num
bers of the listless natives, women and children,
were attracted to the spot to witness the busy
scene, so novel and so exciting.
But such proceedings could not escape the
vigilance of the officers of Montezuma. In the
midst of this state of things, suddenly one day
a strange commotion was witnessed in the
crowd, and the natives, both people and chiefs,
gave indications of great terror. Five strangers
appeared — tall, imposing men, with bouquets
of flowers in their hands, and followed by obse
quious attendants. Haughtily these strangers
passed through the place, looking sternly upon
the, Spaniards, without deigning to address them
either by a word or a gesture. They were lords
from the court of Montezuma. Their power

112 Hernando Cortez.
Consternation of the Totonacs. The penalty. Cortez's orders.
was invincible and terrible. They had wit
nessed with their own eyes these rebellious in
dications of the subjects of Mexico. The chiefs
of the Totonacs turned pale with consternation.
All this was explained to Cortez by Marina.
The Totonac chiefs were imperiously sum
moned to appear immediately before the lords
of Montezuriia. Like terrified children they
obeyed. Soon they returned, trembling, to
Cortez, and informed him that the Mexican
lords were indignant at the support which they
had afforded the Spaniards, contrary to the ex
press will of their emperor, and that they de
manded as the penalty twenty young men and
twenty young women of the Totonacs, to be
offered in sacrifice to their gods.
Cortez assumed an air of indignation and of
authority as he eagerly availed himself of this
opportunity of promoting an open rupture be
tween the Totonacs and the Mexicans. He
declared that he would never consent to any
such abominable practices of heathenism. He
haughtily commanded the Totonac chiefs im
mediately to arrest the lords of Montezuma,
and ..throw them into prison. The poor chiefs
were appalled beyond measure at the very idea
of an act so irrevocable and so unpardonable.

Founding a Colony. 113
Power of Montezuma. The Mexican lords arrested.
They had long been accustomed to consider
Montezuma as possessing power which nothing
on earth could resist. Montezuma swayed the
sceptre of a Csesar, and bold indeed must he be
who would venture to brave his wrath.
But, on the other hand, they had already of
fended beyond hope of pardon by entertaining
the intruders contrary to the positive command
of their sovereign. Twenty of their sons and
daughters were to bleed upon the altars of sac
rifice. Their only hope was now in Cortez.
Should he abandon them, they were ruined
hopelessly. They deemed it possible that, with
the thunder and the lightning at his command,
he might be able to set at defiance that mighty
Mexican power which had hitherto been found
invincible. In this dreadful dilemma, they yielded to the
inexorable demand of Cortez, and tremblingly
arrested the Mexican lords. The Rubicon was
now passed. The Totonacs were from that
moment the abject slaves of Cortez. Their
only protection from the most awful doom was
in his strong arm, and their persons, their prop
erty, their all, were entirely at his disposaL
Cortez then condescended to perform a deed
of cunning and of perfidy which has left a stain
H

114 Hernando Cortez.
Perfidy of Cortez. The lords are liberated.
upon his character which never *an be washed
away. In the night he ordered one of his peo
ple secretly to assist two of the Mexican lords
in their escape. They were privately brought
into his presence. With guileful words, which
ought to have blistered his tongue, he declared
that they, by their arrest, had received insult
and outrage from the Totonacs, which he sin
cerely regretted, and would gladly have pre
vented. He assured them of the great pleas
ure which it afforded him to aid them in their
escape. He promised to do every thing in his
power to secure the release of the others, and
wished them to return to the court of their
monarch, and assure him of the friendly spirit
of the Spaniards, of which this act was to be a
conspicuous proof. He then sent six strong
rowers to convey them secretly in a boat be
yond the reach of pursuit. The next morning,
in the same guileful way, all the rest were lib
erated, and sent with a similar message to the
court of Montezuma.
Such was the treachery with which Cortez
rewarded his faithful allies. With perfidy so
detestable,. he endeavored to foment civil dis
cord in the empire of Montezuma, pretending to
be himself the friend of each of the parties

Founding a Colony. 115
Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz. Embassy from Montezuma.
whose hostility he had excited, and ready to
espouse either side which might appear most
available for the promotion of his ambitious
plans. History has no language too severe to
condemn an action so utterly abominable. It
is treason to virtue to speak mildly of atrocious
crime. Cortez named the infant city he was erecting
The Rich City of the True Cross, Villa Rica
de la Vera Cruz. " The two principles of av
arice and enthusiasm," says Robertson, "which
prompted the Spaniards in all their enterprises
in the New World, seem to have concurred in
suggesting the name which Cortez bestowed on
his infant settlement." This city was a few
miles north of the present city of Vera Cruz.
While Cortez was busily employed in laying
the foundations of his colony, and gathering
around him native aid in preparation for a march
into the interior, another embassy from the court
of Montezuma appeared in the busy streets of
Vera Cruz. The Mexican emperor, alarmed by
the tidings he received of the persistent bold
ness of the Spaniards, and of their appalling
and supernatural power, deemed it wise to ac
cept the courtesy which had been offered him
in the liberation of his imprisoned lords,, and to

116 Hernando Cortez.

He adopts a conciliatory policy. Amazement of the Totonacs.
adopt a conciliatory policy. The Totonacs
were amazed by this evidence that even the
mighty Montezuma was overawed by the pow
er of the Spaniards. This greatly increased
their veneration for their European allies.

The Tlascalans Subjugated. 117
Exultation of the Totonacs. The eight maidens and their baptism.

Chapter V.
The Tlascalans Subjugated.
THE Totonacs were now exceedingly exult
ant. They were unwearied in extolling
their allies, and in proclaiming their future in
dependence of their Mexican conquerors. They
urged other neighboring provinces to join them,
and become the vassals of the omnipotent Span
iards. They raised a strong army, which they
placed under the command of Cortez to obey
his bidding. To strengthen the bonds of alli
ance, the cacique of Zempoalla selected eight of
the most beautiful maidens of his country, all
of the first families, to be united in marriage to
the Spanish generals. Cortez courteously but
decisively informed the chief that, before such
union could be consummated, these maidens
must all renounce idolatry and be baptized.
The Totonacs, without much apparent reluct
ance, yielded. Emboldened by this success,
Cortez now made very strenuous efforts to
induce the chief and all the tribe to abandon

118 Hernando Cortez.
Endeavors to induce the acceptance of Christianity. The result.
their idols and the cruel rites of heathenism,
and to accept in their stead the symbols of
Christianity. But upon this point the cacique was inflex
ible. " We honor your friendship, noble Cor
tez," he firmly replied, " and we are grateful to
you for the generous interest you take in our
welfare ; but the gods are greater than man.
Earthly benefactors are but the ministers of
their favor. Gratitude to the gods is our first
duty. Health, plenty, all blessings are from
their bounty. We dread their anger more than
the displeasure of the mightiest of men. Should
we offend them, inevitable destruction will over
whelm me and my people."
Cortez was provoked by such obstinacy. He
was incapable of appreciating the nobility of
these sentiments, and of perceiving that such
minds needed but instruction to lead them to
reverence the true God. The sincere idolater,
who worships according to the little knowledge
he has, is immeasurably elevated, in dignity of
character, above the mere nominal Christian,
who knows the true God, and yet disregards
him. But Cortez, inspired by fanatic zeal,
treated these men, who deserved tender consid
eration, with insult and contempt. He resolved

DESTROYING THE IDOLS AT ZEMPOALLA.

The Tlascalans Subjugated. 121
Fanaticism of the Spaniards. " Destruction of the idols.
recklessly to demolish their idols, and to com
pel the Totonacs to receive in exchange the
images of Rome.
He immediately assembled his soldiers, and
thus addressed them : " Soldiers ! We are
Spaniards. We inherit from our ancestors the
love of our holy faith. Let us prostrate these
vile images. Let us plant the cross, and call
the heathen to the feet of that holy symbol.
Heaven will never smile upon our enterprise if
we countenance the atrocities of heathenism.
For my part, I am resolved that these pagan
idols shall be destroyed this very hour, even if
it cost me my life."
The fanaticism of the Spaniards was now ef
fectually roused. In solid column, a strong di
vision marched toward one of the most impos
ing of the Totonac temples. The alarm spread
wildly through the thronged streets of Zempo
alla. The whole population seized their arms
to defend their gods. A scene of fearful con
fusion ensued. Firmly the inflexible Spaniards
strode on. Fifty men ascended the winding
stairs to the summit of the pyramidal temple,
tore down the massive wooden idols, and tum
bled them into the streets. They then collect
ed the mutilated fragments, and burned them to

122 Hernando Cortez.
Dismay of the Indians. * Celebration of mass. The harangue.
ashes. The Indians looked on in dismay, with
tears and groans.
. The heathen temple was then emptied, swept,
and garnished. The Totonac chiefs, and the
priests clotted with the blood of their brutal
sacrifices, now docile as children, obeyed obse
quiously the demands of the haughty reformer.
He ordered these unenlightened pagan priests
to have their heads shorn, to be dressed in the
white robes of the Catholic priesthood, and,
with lighted candles in their hands, they were
constrained to assist in performing the rites of
the papal Church. An image of the Virgin was
installed in the shrine which had been polluted
by all the horrid orgies of pagan abominations.
Mass was celebrated upon the altar where hu
man hearts, gory and quivering, had for ages
been offered in awful sacrifice. The prayers
and the chants of Christianity ascended from
the spot where idolaters had slain their victims
and implored vengeance upon their foes.
Cortez then himself earnestly and eloquently
harangued the people, assuring them that hence
forth the Spaniards and the Totonacs were
Christian brothers, and that under the protec
tion of the Holy Virgin, the mother of Christ,
they would both certainly be blessed.

The Tlascalans Subjugated. 123
The change. Emotions of the natives. They accept the new idols.
Violent as were these deeds, it is undeniable
that they ushered in a blessed change. The
very lowest and most corrupt form of Christian
ity is infinitely superior to the most refined cre
ations of paganism. The natives gradually re
covered from their terror. They gazed with
admiration upon the pageant of the mass, with
its gorgeous accompaniments of incense, music,
embroidered robes, and solemn processions.
The Spanish historians who witnessed the
scene record that many of the Indians were so
overcome with pious emotion, in thus behold
ing, for the first time, the mysteries of Chris
tianity, that they freely wept. No more resist
ance was .made. The Totonacs, thus easily
converted, apparently with cheerfulness ex
changed the bloody and hideous idols of Mex
ico for the more attractive and more merciful
idols of Rome. Let not this remark be attrib
uted to want of candor ; for no one can deny
that, to these uninstructed natives, it was mere
ly an exchange of idols.
Cortez had now been in Mexico nearly three
months. Every moment had been occupied in
the accomplishment of objects which he deem
ed of fundamental importance. He was, how
ever, evidently somewhat embarrassed respect-

124 He-rnando Cortez.
Cortez's embarrassment respecting his commission. The letter.
ing the validity of his title to command. It
was at least doubtful whether the king would
recognize the authority of a colony established
in so novel a manner. Cortez also well knew
that Velasquez would apply to his sovereign for
redress for the injuries which he had received.
The danger was by no means small that, by the
command of the king, Cortez would be degraded
and punished as a usurper of power.
Before commencing his march into the inte
rior, he deemed it of the utmost importance to
take every possible precaution against this dan
ger. He influenced the magistrates of Vera
Cruz to address a letter to the Spanish sover
eign in justification of the course which had
been pursued, and to implore the king to ratify
what had been done in his name, and to con
firm Cortez in the supreme command. Cortez
also wrote himself a long and labored letter to
the Emperor Charles V., full of protestations
of loyalty and of zeal for the wealth and the re
nown of the Spanish court. To add weight to
his letter, it was accompanied by as rich treas
ures from the New World as he had thus far
been able to accumulate. Such was the as
cendency which this extraordinary man had at
tained over the minds of his associates, and so

The Tlascalans Subjugated. 125
Anticipations of wealth. Presents. Embassadors sent to the king.
confident were they in their anticipations of
boundless wealth, that all the soldiers, without
a murmur, at the suggestion of Cortez, relin
quished their part of the public treasure, that
the whole might be sent to the king. Two of
the chief magistrates of the colony, Portoearrero
and Montejo, were sent in one of the two ves
sels which were fitted out to Spain to convey
these letters and presents. They were directed
not to stop at the island of Cuba, lest they
should be detained by Velasquez. Ere they
embarked, mass was celebrated and prayers
were offered for a prosperous voyage. It was
now the month of July, 1519.
Just after the vessels had sailed, Cortez was
much disturbed by a dangerous conspiracy
which broke out in the camp. Some of the
disaffected, who had been silenced, but not rec
onciled, with great secresy matured a plan for
seizing one of the brigantines and making their
escape to Cuba. The conspirators had actually
gone on board the vessel, and were ready to
weigh the anchor and spread the sails, when
one of the number repented of his treachery,
and disclosed the plot to Cortez.
The stern chieftain immediately went him
self on board the vessel. The crime was too

126 Hernando Cortez.
Punishment of the conspirators. Disturbing developments.
palpable to be denied. He ordered all to be
seized and brought on shore. Cortez resolved
to punish with a severity which should intimi
date against any renewal of a similar attempt.
The two ringleaders were immediately put to
death. The pilot had one of his feet cut off.
Two of the sailors received two himdred lashes.
The rest were spared.
It is recorded that Cortez, as he was ratify
ing this sentence, gave a deep sigh, and ex
claimed, " How happy is he who is not able to write,
and is thereby prevented from signing the death-
warrants of men ! "
But this development of disaffection disturb
ed Cortez exceedingly. He was about to march
two hundred miles into the interior. It would
be necessary to leave a garrison at Vera Cruz.
The fleet would be lying idly at anchor in the
harbor. A more successful attempt might be
made during his absence ; and Velasquez, in
formed thus of his position, might easily send,
from the powerful colony of Cuba, a force suffi
cient to take possession of Vera Cruz, and thus
leave Cortez in the interior but a desperate ad
venturer, wandering in the midst of hostile na
tions. In this emergence, he came to the decis*

The Tlascalans Subjugated. 127
Destruction of the fleet. Indignation of the soldiery.
ion, of almost unparalleled boldness, to destroy
the fleet ! He would thus place himself in a
distant land, with but five hundred men, hope
lessly cut off from all retreat, and exposed to
assault from exasperated nations numbering
many millions.
This plan was no sooner conceived than ex
ecuted. He assembled his principal friends
privately, and informed them of his determina
tion. " We shall thus," said he, " gain all the sail
ors for soldiers, and the men, having no possi
bility of escape, must either conquer or die."
While most of the soldiers were employed at
Zempoalla, the ships were dismantled of every
movable article, and they were then scuttled
and sunk. In a few hours the majestic ocean
rose and fell in silent solitude where the fleet
had so proudly floated. One small vessel only
was left.
When the soldiers heard of this desperate
deed, they were struck with consternation.
They were apparently now forever separated
from friends and home. In case of disaster,
escape was impossible and destruction sure.
Murmurs of indignation, loud and deep, began
to rise against Cortez. He immediately gath-

128 Hernando Cortez.
Cortez wins the approval of his men. Preparations for the journey.
ered his troops around him, and, by his peculiar
tact, soothed their anger, and won them to ap
proval of his course. They at once saw that
murmurs would now be of no avail ; that their
destiny was henceforth entirely dependent upon
their obedience to their leader. It was evident
to all that the least insubordination, in the po
sition of peril in which they were placed, would
lead to inevitable ruin. Cortez closed his speech
with the following forcible words :
"As for me, I have chosen my part. I will
remain here while there is one to bear me com
pany. If there be any so craven as to shrink
from sharing the danger of our glorious enter
prise, let them go home. There is still one
vessel left. Let them take that and return to
Cuba. They can tell there how they have de
serted their commander and their comrades, and
can wait patiently till we return, loaded with the
treasures of the Mexicans."
These excitable men were roused' to enthu
siasm by this speech. One general shout arose,
' ' To Mexico ! to Mexico ! " Cortez now made
vigorous preparations for his march, uninvited
and even forbidden, to the capital of Montezu
ma. All was alacrity in the camp, and the To
tonac allies were as zealous in their preparations
as were the Spaniards.

The Tlascalans Subjugated. 129
The departure and march to Mexico.
On the 15th of August, 1519, commenced
this ever-memorable march. The force of Cor
tez consisted of four hundred Spaniards, fifteen
horses, and seVen pieces of artillery. The small
remainder of his troops, some being sick or oth
erwise disabled, were left in garrison at Vera
Cruz. The cacique of the Totonacs also fur
nished him with an army of two thousand three
hundred men. Of these, two hundred were
what were called men of burden, trained to car
ry heavy loads and to perform all arduous la
bor. These men were invaluable in carrying
the luggage and in dragging the heavy artillery.
Cortez assembled his forces at Zempoalla. At
the moment of their departure, he called all the
Spaniards around him, and addressed them in a
devout speech.
"The blessed Savior," said he, "will give
us victory. We have now no other security
than the favor ofGod and our own stout hearts."
The morning was serene and cloudless when
the army commenced its march, which led to
scenes of unparalleled cruelty and of blood.
Just as the advance guard was leaving, a mes
senger brought the intelligence that a strange
vessel was seen cruising off the coast near Vera
Cruz. Cortez was alarmed, being apprehensive
T

130 Hernando Cortez.
Arrival of a strange vessel. Capture of prisoners. The stratagem.
that it was some ship belonging to a fleet sent
against him by Velasquez. He immediately
set off with a small party of horse toward the
shore. A boat left the vessel and landed four
men. Cortez seized them, and learned that this
ship was sent with two others, conveying two
hundred and seventy soldiers. The Governor
of Jamaica having learned of the expedition of
Cortez, had sent this embassy to take posses
sion of the country, and to inform Cortez that,
by a royal commission from the sovereign, the
Governor of Jamaica was entitled to have au
thority over the whole coast. Cortez impress
ed the men as soldiers, and sent them to be
added to his army. Hoping to get a few more,
he hid, with his guard, for a whole night behind
some sand-hills, expecting that others might
land to look for their lost comrades. Being
disappointed in this expectation, he resorted to
a stratagem to lure others on shore. Four of
his men were dressed in the clothes of the pris
oners, and sent to the coast to make signals.
A boat was sdon seen making for the shore ;
but, as soon as three had landed, some suspicion
excited the fears of the rest, and they pushed
off from the beach. The three were, however,
instantly secured, and were immediately sent to

The Tlascalans Subjugated. 131
-The re-enforcement. They arrive at Jalapa. Naulinco.
join their companions in the ranks. Cortez
thus obtained an important re-enforcement of
seven Spaniards.
Delaying no longer, the whole army was
speedily on the march. For two days they
moved gayly along through an enchanting coun
try of luxuriant foliage, waving grain, flowers,
and perfume. They encountered no opposition.
Indian villages were thickly scattered around,
and scenery of surpassing magnificence and
lo.veliness was continually opening before their
eyes. On the evening of the second day they
arrived at the beautiful town of Jalapa, which
was filled with the rural residences of the
wealthy natives, and whose elevated site com
manded a prospect in which the beautiful and
the sublime were most lavishly blended.
Still continuing then1 march through a well-
settled country, as they ascended the gradual
slope of the Cordilleras, on the fourth day they
arrived at Naulinco. This was a large and
populous town, containing many massive tem
ples, whose altars were ever crimsoned with
human gore. The adventurers were received
here, however, with great kindness. The sight
of these heathen temples inspired Cortez, as
usual, with intense zeal to convert the natives

132 Hernando Cortez.
Erection of the cross. Ascent of the Cordilleras.
to Christianity. Time pressed, and it was not
safe to indulge in delay. The Indians were
bewildered rather than instructed by the exhor
tations of the Spanish priests. They, howev
er, consented that Cortez should rear a large
cross in the centre of their market-place as a
memorial of his visit. The enthusiastic Span
iard devoutly hoped that the sight of the cross
alone would excite the devotion of the natives.
They had now ascended far up the gentle
ascent of the Cordilleras, and were entering tlje
defiles of the mountains. Here they encoun
tered rugged paths, and fierce storms of wind
and sleet. A weary march of three days brought
them to the high and extended table-land so
characteristic of this country, seven thousand
feet above the level of the sea. Here they found
a fertile and flowery savanna extending before
them for many leagues. The country was high
ly cultivated, and luxuriantly adorned with
hedges, with groves, with waving fields of maize,
and with picturesque towns and villages. God
did indeed seem to smile upon these reckless
adventurers. Thiu far their march had been
as a delightful holiday excursion.
They soon arrived at Tlatlanquitepec. It
was even more populous and improving in its

The Tlascalans Subjugated. 133
The city of Tlatlanquitqpec. Indications of idolatry. A cold reception.
architecture than Zempoalla. The stone houses
were spacious and comfortable. Thirteen mass
ive temples testified to the religious fervor of
the people. But here they witnessed the most
appalling indications of the horrid atrocities of
pagan idolatry. They found, piled in order, as
they judged, one hundred thousand skulls of
human victims who had been offered in sacri
fice to their gods.* There was a Mexican gar
rison stationed in this place, but not sufficiently
strong to resist the invaders. They, however,
gave Cortez a very cold reception, and endeav
ored to discourage him from advancing by glow
ing descriptions of the wealth and power of
the monarch whose displeasure he was incur
ring. These developments, however, rather in
cited anew the zeal of the Spaniards. Cortez,
with commendable zeal, again made vigorous
but unavailing efforts to induce, these benighted
pagans to renounce their cruel and bloodstain
ed idols, and accept the religion of Jesus. Poor
ly as Cortez was instructed in the doctrines and
* " Near some temples were laid numbers of human skele
tons, so arranged that they could be counted with ease and
certainty. I am convinced, from my own observation, that
there were above a hundred thousand. I repeat it, I am sure
that there were more than a hundred thousand." — Bernal
Diaz, -p. 91.

134 Hernando Cortez.
Cortez's mission. His commands, and their refusal to obey.

the precepts of the Gospel, Christianity, even
as darkly discerned by his mind, was infinitely
superior to the sanguinary religious rites of
these idolaters.
" We come," said he, firmly, to the chiefs and
the principal personages of the town, " from a
distant country, to warn the great Montezuma
to desist from human sacrifices, and all out
rages upon his own vassals or his neighbors,
and to require from him submission to our mon
arch ; and I now require you, all who hear me,
to renounce your human sacrifices, cannibal
feasts, and other abominable practices, for such
is the command of our Lord God, whom we
adore, who gives us life and death, and who is
to raise us up to heaven."
The natives, however, clung to the debasing
faith of their fathers. The zeal of Cortez was
roused. He regarded the hideous idols as rep
resentatives of devils, whom it was right, with
any violence, to overthrow. He was just about
ordering an onslaught upon the temples with
sword and hatchet, when the prudent Father
Olmedo dissuaded him. ":'f
" By introducing our religion thus violently,"
said this truly good man, " we shall but expose
the sacred symbol of the cross and the image

The Tlascalans Subjugated. 135
Advice of Father Olmedo. Arrival at Xalacingo. Friendly treatment.
of the Blessed Virgin to insult as soon as we
shall have departed. We must wait till we
can instruct their dark minds, so that from the
heart they may embrace our faith."
And here let us record the full and the cor
dial admission, that the Roman Catholic Church,
notwithstanding its corruptions, has sent out
into the wilds of heathenism as devoted Chris
tians as the world has ever seen.
After a rest in this city of five days, the
route was again commenced. The road wound
picturesquely along the banks of a broad and
tranquil stream, fringed with an unbroken line
of Indian villages. Some twenty leagues of
travel brought them to the large town of Xala
cingo. Here they met with friendly treatment.
They were now on the frontiers of a very pow
erful nation, called the Tlascalans, who, by their
fierce and warlike habits, had thus far succeed
ed in resisting the aggressions of the Mexicans.
The whole nation was organized into a camp,
and thus, though many bloody battles had been
fought, the Tlascalans maintained their inde
pendence. Cortez was quite sanguine that he should be
able to form an alliance with this people. He
therefore-decided to rest his army for a few days,

136 Hernando Cortez.

Embassadors to the Tlascalan capital. They are seized, but escape.
while an embassy should be sent to the Tlasca
lan capital to solicit permission to pass through
their country, and gently to intimate an alli
ance. Four Zempoallans of lofty rank were
selected as embassadors. In accordance with
the custom of the country, they were dressed in
official costume, with flowing mantles, and each
bearing arrows tipped with white feathers, the
symbol of peace.
But the Tlascalans had heard of the arrival
of the Spaniards upon the coast, of their ships,
" armed with thunder and clad with wings," of
their fearful war-horses, and of then- weapons
of destruction of almost supernatural power.
They had also heard of the violence with which
they had assailed the gods of the country. The
principal lords had already assembled in debate
to decide upon the course to be pursued should
these formidable strangers approach their terri
tory. It was determined to oppose them with
all the energies of artifice and of force. The
embassadors were accordingly seized and im
prisoned, and preparations were made to sacri
fice them to their gods. They, however, for
tunately made their escape and returned to
Cortez. The Spanish chieftain, disappointed but not

The Tlascalans Subjugated. 137
The Spaniards determine to force a passage. The attack.
intimidated by this result, made prompt arrange
ments to force his way through the Tlascalan
territory. Waving the sacred banner of the
Church before his troops, he exclaimed,
" Spaniards ! follow boldly the standard of
the Holy Cross. Through this we shall con
quer." "On! on!" was the enthusiastic response
of the soldiers. " In God alone we place our
trust." The march of a few miles brought them to
an extended wall of solid masonry, built, like
the great wall of China, to protect the territory
of the Tlascalans from invasion. Though the
entrance gate was so constructed that a small
army stationed there might have made very
powerful resistance, for some reason the Tlasca
lan force had been withdrawn. The army bold
ly pressed in, and advanced rapidly, yet using
all caution to guard against an ambuscade.
They had not proceeded far, however, before
they met a large force of the Indians, who at
tacked them with the utmost fury, and with a
degree of military skill and discipline which
greatly surprised the Spaniards. Two of the
horses were killed, and several of the Spaniards
wounded. For a time the situation of the in-

138 Hernando Cortez.
The Tlascalans forced to retire. Destruction of the provisions.
vaders was very precarious ; but Cortez soon
brought up the artillery, and opened a destruc
tive fire upon the unprotected foe. The thun
der of the guns, which the Tlascalans had nev
er heard before, and the horrid carnage of the
grape-shot sweeping through their ranks, com
pelled the warlike natives at last, though slow
ly and sullenly, to retire. There was, however,
no confusion in their retreat. They retired in
good order, ever presenting a bold front to their
pursuers. Cortez estimated the number of the
enemy engaged in this battle at six thousand.
The retiring Tlascalans took with them or
destroyed all the provisions wliich the country
afforded ; but, notwithstanding this, " their
dogs," one of the historians of the expedition
records, " which we caught when they returned
to their habitations at night, afforded us a very
good supper."
It was now the end of September. The
army of Cortez had been gradually increased by
recruits from among the nativesto three thou
sand. Immediately after this first battle with
the Tlascalans, the whole army was assembled
to offer thanks to God for the victory, and to
implore his continued protection. The soldiers,
with the fresh blood of the Tlascalans hardly

The Tlascalans Subjugated. 139
The sacrament. Chivalry of the barbarians. A supply of provisions.
washed from their hands, partook of the sacra
ment of the Lord's Supper according to the
rites of the Roman Catholic Church.
The army now marched in close order. The
Totonac allies, as well as the Spaniards, were
drilled to perfect discipline, and all were in
spired with intense ' zeal. With characteristic
caution Cortez chose every night his place of
halting, and with great vigilance fortified his
encampment. There was something truly chiv
alrous in the magnanimity displayed by these
barbarians. They seemed to scorn the idea of
taking their enemies by surprise, but always
sent them fair warning when they intended to
make an attack. They had now the impression
that the Spaniards had left their own country
because it did not furnish sufficient food for
them. They therefore sent to their camp an
abundant supply of poultry and corn, saying,
"Eat plentifully. We disdain to attack a foe
enfeebled by hunger. It would be an insult to
our gods to offer them starved victims ; neither
do we wish to feed on emaciated bodies." We
have before mentioned that it was the horrid
custom of this people to offer as sacrifices to
their gods prisoners taken in war, and then to
banquet in savage orgies over the remains.

140 Hernando Cortez.
Encounter the enemy. Confession. Release of the captive chiefs.
As Cortez moved cautiously on, adopting ev
ery precaution to guard agamst surprise, he
suddenly emerged from a valley upon a wide
spread plain. Here he again encountered the
enemy, drawn tip in battle array, in numbers
apparently overwhelming. It was now even
ing. As it was understood that the Tlascalans
never attacked by night, considering it dishon
orable warfare, the Spaniards pitched their tents,
having posted sentinels to watch the foe with
the utmost vigilance. The morning was to
usher in a dreadful battle, with fearftd odds
against the invaders. Two chiefs who had
been, taken prisoners in the late battle stated
that the force of the Tlascalans consisted of five
divisions of ten thousand men each. Each di
vision had its own uniform and banner, and was
under the command of its appropriate chief. It
was a solemn hour in the • Spanish camp.
" When all this was communicated to us," says
Diaz, " being but mortal, and, like all others,
fearing death, we prepared for battle by con
fessing to our reverend fathers, who were occu
pied during that whole night in that holy of
fice." Cortez released his captive chiefs, and sent
them with an amicable message to their conn-

The Tlascalans Subjugated. 141
Tlascalanian mode of making peace. Cortez prepares for battle.
trymen, stating that he asked only an unmo
lested passage through their country to Mexi
co, but sternly declaring, " If this proposition
be refused, I will enter your capital as a con
queror. I will burn every house. I will put
every inhabitant to the sword. " An answer was
returned of the most implacable defiance. ' ' We
will make peace," said the Tlascalans, " by de
vouring your bodies, and offering your hearts
and your blood in sacrifice to our gods."
The morning of the 5th of September dawn
ed cloudless and brilliant upon the two armies
encamped upon the high table-lands of the Cor
dilleras. At an early hour the Spanish bugles
roused the sleeping host. The wounded men,
even, resumed their place in the ranks, so great
was the peril. Cortez addressed a few inspirit
ing words to the troops, and placed himself at
their head. Just as the sun was rising he
put his army in motion. Soon they arrived in
sight of the Tlascalans. The interminable host
filled a vast plain, six miles square, with then
thronging multitudes. The native warriors, in
bands skillfully posted, were decorated with the
highest appliances of barbaric pomp. As the
experienced eye of Cortez ranged over their
dense ranks, he estimated their numbers at

142 Hernando Cortez.
The battle. Courage of the enemy.
more than one hundred thousand. Then: weap-.
ons were slings, arrows, javelins, clubs, and
rude wooden swords, sharpened with teeth of
flint. The moment the Spaniards appeared, the
Tlascalans, uttering hideous yells, and filling
the air with all the inconceivable clamor of their
military bands, rushed upon them like the on-
rolling surges of the ocean. The first discharge
from the native army of stones, arrows, and
darts was so tremendous as to darken the sky
like a thick cloud. Notwithstanding the armor
worn by the Spaniards was impervious to ar
row or javelin, many were wounded.
But soon the cannon was unmasked, and
opened its terrific roar. Ball and grape-shot
swept through the dense ranks of the natives,
mowing down, in hideous mutilation, whole pla
toons at a discharge. The courage displayed
by the Tlascalans was amazing. It has never
been surpassed. Though hardly able, with
their feeble weapons, to injure their adversaries,
regardless of death, they filled up the gaps
which the cannon opened in their ranks, and all
the day long continued the unequal fight.
Immense multitudes of the dead now cover
ed the field, and many of the chiefs were slain.

The Tlascalans Subjugated. 143
The natives vanquished. Surprise at the small losses of the Spaniards.
Every horse was wounded ; seventy Spaniards
were severely injured ; one was dead, and near
ly all were more or less bruised. But the ar
tillery and the musketry were still plied with
awful carnage. The commander-in-chief of the
native army, finding it in vain to contend
against these new and apparently unearthly
weapons, at last ordered a retreat. The na
tives retired in as highly disciplined array as
would have been displayed by French or Aus
trian troops. The victors, exhausted and bleed
ing, were glad to throw themselves upon the
gory grass of the battle-field for repose. The
cold wind at night, from the mountain glaciers,
swept the bleak plain, and the soldiers shivered
in their houseless beds. They did not sleep,
however, until, in a body, they had returned
thanks to the God of peace and love for their
glorious victory. " It truly seemed," said Cor
tez, devoutly, "that God fought on our side."
It appears almost incredible that, in such a
conflict, the Spanish army should have received
so little injury. But Cortez made no account
of any amount of loss on the part of his native
allies. The Spaniards only he thought of, and
they were protected with the utmost care.
Their artillery and musketry kept the native;

144 Hernando Cortez.
Courage of the Spaniards accounted for. The midnight foray.
at a distance, and their helmets and coats of
mail no native weapon could easily penetrate.
Their danger was consequently so small that
we can not give them credit for quite so much
heroism as they have claimed. The enterprise,
in its commencement, was bold in the extreme ;
but it it easy to be fearless when experience
proves that there is but little peril to be encoun
tered. They fought one hundred thousand
men for a whole day, and lost one man !
As night enveloped in its folds the blood
stained hosts, the untiring Cortez, having buried
his dead, that his loss might not be perceived by
the enemy, sallied forth with the horse and a
hundred foot, and four hundred of the native
allies, and with fire and sword devastated six
villages of a hundred houses each, taking four
hundred prisoners, including men and women.
Before daybreak he returned from this wild fo
ray to the camp.
During the night the Tlascalans had been re
ceiving re-enforcements, and when the first dawn
of morning appeared, more than one hundred
and forty-nine thousand natives, according to
the estimate of Cortez, made a rush upon the
camp. After a battle of four hours they were
again compelled to retreat. "As we carried

The Tlascalans Subjugated. 145
The Tlascalanians sue for peace. Cruel treatment of the embassadors.
the banner of. the cross," says Cortez, "and
fought for our faith, God, in his glorious prov
idence, gave us a great victory."
Night again came. Again this indomitable
man of iron sinews marched forth in the dark
ness, with his horse, one hundred Spanish in
fantry, and a large party of his allies, and set
three thousand houses in flames, encountering
no opposition, burning out only the women and
children and the unarmed inhabitants. Cortez
treated all the prisoners he took very kindly,
and liberated them with presents. This hur
manity amazed the natives, who were accustom
ed to a procedure so very different.
The Tlascalans were now much dishearten
ed, and were inclined to peace. But they were
quite at a loss to know how to approach the
terrible foe. After much deliberation, they sent
an embassage, composed of fifty of their most
prominent men, bearing rich presents. Cortez
suspected them of being spies. With cruelty,
which^will ever be an ineffaceable stigma upon
his name, he ordered them all to be arrested,
and their hands to be cut off. Thus awfully
mutilated, these unhappy men were sent back
to the Tlascalan camp with the defiant mes-

K

146 Hernando Cortez.
The Tlascalans subdued. Speech of the commander-in-chief.
" The Tlascalans may come by day or by
night ; the Spaniards are ready for them."
Cortez himself relates this act of atrocious
cruelty. Nothing can be said in its extenua
tion. There was even no proof, but only sus
picion that they were spies. It is, indeed, not
at all probable that, if such were the intention,
fifty of the most prominent men of the nation
would have been selected. It is, however, cer
tain, that after this all farther idea of resistance
was abandoned. The commander-in-chief of
the Tlascalan army, with a numerous retinue,
entered the Spanish camp with proffers of sub
mission. This brave and proud chieftain, sub
dued by the terrors of the resistless engines of
war worked by the Spaniards, addressed Cortez
in the following language, which will command
universal respect and sympathy.
" I loved my country," said he, " and wished
to preserve its independence. We have been
beaten. I hope that you will use your victory
with moderation, and not trample upon our lib
erties. In the name of the nation, I now ten
der obedience to the Spaniards. We will be
as faithful in peace as we have been bold in
war. "
Cortez received this submission with great

The Tlascalans Subjugated. 147
They march to the city of Tlascala. Appearance of the city.
secret satisfaction, for his men, worn down with
fatigue, were beginning loudly to murmur. A
cordial peace was soon concluded. The Tlas
calans were the inveterate foes of the Mexicans,
and had long been fighting against them. They
yielded themselves as vassals to the King of
Spain, and engaged to assist Cortez in all his
enterprises. The two armies, which had re
cently met in such fierce and terrible encounter,
now mingled together as friends and brothers.
In one vast united band they marched toward
the great city of Tlascala, and entered the cap
ital in triumph.
It was, indeed, a large and magnificent city ;
more populous, and of more imposing architec
ture, Cortez asserts, than the celebrated Moor
ish capital, Granada, in old Spain. An im
mense throng flocked from the gates of the city
to meet the troops. The roofs of the houses
were covered with spectators. Wild music,
from semi-barbarian voices and bands, filled the
air. Plumed warriors hurried to and fro, and
shouts of welcome seemed to rend the skies, as
these hardy adventurers slowly defiled through
the crowded gates and streets of the city. The
police regulations were extraordinarily effective,
repressing all disorder. The Spaniards were

148 Hernando Cortez.
Treatment of the vanquished natives. Peril of Cortez's army.
surprised to find barbers' shops, and also baths
both for hot and cold water.
The submission of the Tlascalans was sin
cere and entire. They were convinced that the
Spaniards were beings of a superior order whom
it was in vain to resist. Cortez treated the
vanquished natives with great courtesy and
kindness. He took the Tlascalan republic un
der his protection, and promised to defend them
from every foe.
The peril of Cortez at this juncture had been
very great. The difficulty of obtaining suffi
cient food for his army, while ever on the march,
called into requisition his utmost sagacity and
exertions. No man of ordinary character could
have surmounted this difficulty. Fatigue and
exposure had placed many on the sick-list, and
there were no hospital wagons to convey them
along. Fifty-five Spaniards had died on the
way. Cortez himself was seriously indisposed.
Every night one half of the army kept up a vig
ilant watch, while all the rest slept on their
arms. And Diaz records that they had no salve
to dress their wounds but what was composed
of the fat of the Indians whom they had slain,
Whenever the enemy was defeated, he retired
only to reappear in increasing numbers. Under

The Tlascalans Subjugated. 149
Murmurs dispelled. Population of the city.
these circumstances, it is not strange that many
of the soldiers had thought of their homes, and
that loud murmurs had been uttered. But this
sudden peace dispelled all discontent. In the
abundance and the repose of the great city of
Tlascala, all past toil and hardship were for
gotten. Cortez, in his letter to the emperor, stated
that so populous was Tlascala, that he presumed
as many as thirty thousand persons appeared
daily in the market-place of the city buying and
selling. The population of the province he es
timated at five hundred thousand.

150 Hernando Cortez.
PrUflence of Cortes. Enthusiasm of the natives. Alarm of Montefeuma.

Chapter VI.
The March to Mexico.
CORTEZ remained in Tlascala twenty days,
to refresh his troops, and to cement his
alliance with his new friends. He was all this
time very diligent in making the most minute
inquiries respecting the condition of the Mexi
can empire, and in preparing for every emer
gence which could arise in the continuance of
his march. Bold as he was, his prudence equal
ed his boldness, and he left nothing willingly to
the decisions of chance. The Tlascalans hated
virulently their ancient foes the Mexicans* and
with that fickleness of character, ever conspicu
ous in the uninformed multitude, became fond
even to adulation of the Spaniards. With great
enthusiasm they embarked in the enterprise of
joining the expedition against Montezuma. All
the forces of the republic were promptly raised,
and placed under the command of Cortez.
Montezuma was informed of all these pro
ceedings, and was greatly alarmed. He feared
that a prophetic doom was about to descend

The March to Mexico. 151
The embassy to Cortez. Cortez's answer. Conversion of the natives.
upon him, and this apprehension wilted all his
wonted energies. Thus influenced, he sent an
embassy, consisting of five of the most conspicu
ous nobles of his empire, accompanied by a ret
inue of two hundred attendants, to visit the
Spanish camp. Men of burden were laden down
with rich presents for Cortez. The gold alone
of the gifts was estimated at over fifty thousand
dollars. Montezuma weakly hoped by these
gifts to induce Cortez to arrest his steps. The
embassadors were instructed to urge him, by
all possible considerations, not to attempt to
approach the Mexican capital.
Cortez returned an answer replete with ex
pressions of Castilian courtesy, but declaring
that he must obey the commands of his sov
ereign, which required him to visit the metrop
olis of the great empire.
But, in the midst of all these cares, Cortez
did not forget his great mission of converting
the natives to Christianity. This subject was
ever prominent in his mind, and immediately
upon his entrance into the city he commenced,
through his interpreters, urging the chiefs to
abandon their cruel idolatry. He argued with
them himself, and called into requisition all the
persuasive eloquence of good Father Olmedo.

152 Hernando Cortez.
The five maidens. Cortez declines the gift. Presentation of the image.
The chiefs brought five maidens, all noble
born, and of selected beauty. These girls were
beautifully dressed, and each attended by a
slave. Xicotenga, the cacique of the nation,
presented his own daughter to Cortez, and re
quested him to assign the rest to his officers.
Cortez firmly, yet courteously declined the gift,
saying, " If you wish that we should intermarry with
you, you must first renounce your idolatrous
worship and adore our God. He will then
bless you in this life, and after death he will re
ceive you to heaven to enjoy eternal happiness ;
but if you persist in the worship of your idols,
which are devils, you will be drawn by them to
their infernal pit, there to burn eternally in
flames of fire."
He then presented to them " a beauteous im
age of Our Lady, with her precious Son in her
arms," and attempted to explain to them the
mystery of the incarnation, and the potency of
the mediatorship of the Virgin.
" The God of the Christians," the Tlascalans
replied, " must be great and good. We will
give him a place with our gods, who are also
great and good. Our god grants us victory
over our enemies. Our goddess preserves ns

The March to Mexico. 153
The compromise. Indignation on both sides.
from inundations of the river. Should we for
sake their worship, the most dreadful punish
ment would overwhelm us."
Cortez could admit of no such compromise ;
and he urged the destruction of the idols with
so much zeal and importunity, that at last the
Tlascalans became angry, and declared that on
no account whatever would they abandon the
gods of their fathers. Cortez now, in his turn,
was roused to Virtuous indignation, and he re
solved that, happen what might, the true God
should be honored by the swift destruction of
these idols of the heathen. Encouraged by the
success of his violent measures at Zempoalla,
he was on the point of ordering the soldiers to
make an onslaught on the gods of the Tlasca
lans, which would probably have so roused the
warlike and exasperated natives as to have led
to the entire destruction of his army in the nar
row streets of the thronged capital, when the
judicious and kind-hearted Father Olmedo dis
suaded him from the rash enterprise. With
true Christian philosophy, he plead that forced
conversion was no conversion at all ; that God's
reign was only over willing minds and in the
heart. " Religion," said this truly good man,
"can 'not be propagated by the sword. Pa-

154 Hernando Cortez.
Father Olmedo dissuades him from his purpose. The protest.
tient instruction must enlighten the understand
ing, and pious example captivate the affections,
before men can be induced to abandon error
and embrace the truth." It is truly refreshing
to meet with these noble ideas of toleration
spoken by a Spanish monk in that dark age.
Let such a fact promote, not indifference to
true and undefiled religion, but a generous char
ity.* Cortez reluctantly yielded to these remon
strances of an ecclesiastic whose wisdom and
virtue he was compelled to respect. The man
ifest pressure of circumstances also undoubted
ly had their influence. But this ardent reform
er could not yield without entering his protest.
"We can not," he said, "I admit, change
the heart, but we can demolish these abomin
able idols, clamoring for their hecatombs of hu
man victims, and we can introduce in their
stead the blessed Virgin and her blessed child.
* " When Reverend Father Olmedo, who was a wise and
good theologian, heard this, being averse to forced conversions,
notwithstanding it had been done in Zempoalla, he advised
Cortez to urge it no farther at present. He also observed
that the destruction of their idols was a fruitless violence if
the principle was not eradicated from their minds by argu
ments, as they would find other idols to continue their wor
ship to elsewhere."

The March to Mexico. 155
The ^prisons emptied of the victims. Baptism of the brides.
Will not this be a humane change ? And, be
cause we can not do the whole, shall we refuse
to do a part ?"
Upon one point, however, Cortez was inflex
ible, and to this the Tlascalans, by way of com
promise, assented. He insisted that the pris
ons should be entirely emptied of victims des
tined for sacrifice. There were in the temples
many poor wretches fattening for these horrid
orgies. A promise was also exacted from the
Tlascalans that they would hereafter desist from
these heathen practices ; but no sooner had
the tramp of the Spaniards ceased to echo
through the streets of Tlascala, than the pris
ons were again filled with victims, and human
blood, in new torrents, crimsoned their altars.
One of the temples was also cleared out, and
an altar being erected, it was converted into a
Christian church. Here the young ladies des
tined as brides for the Spanish soldiers were
baptized, their friends presenting no objections.
The daughter of Xicotenga received the Chris
tian name of Louisa. Cortez took her by the
hand, and gracefully presented her to one of his
captains, Alvarado, telling her father that that
officer was his brother. The cacique express
ed entire satisfaction at this arrangement. All

156 Hernando Cortez.
Montezuma invites Cortez to his capital. Zeal of the Tlascalans.
were baptized and received Christian names.
Many of the descendants of this beautiful and
amiable Indian maiden may now be found
among the grandees of Spain.
Montezuma, on the return of his embassadors,
finding that no argument could dissuade Cortez,
and fearing by opposition to provoke the hos
tility of an enemy who wielded such supernat
ural thunders, now decided to change his policy,
and by cordiality to endeavor to win his friend
ship. He accordingly sent another embassy,
with still richer presents, inviting Cortez to his
capital, and assuring him of a warm welcome.
He entreated him, however, not to enter into
any alliance with the Tlascalans, the most fierce
and unrelenting foes of the Mexican empire.
The time had now arrived for Cortez to re
sume his march. The zeal of the Tlascalans
to accompany him was so great that, according
to his representation, he might have taken with
him one hundred thousand volunteers. He,
however, considered this force too unwieldy,
and accepted of but six thousand picked troops.
This, however, was a strong re-enforcement,
and Cortez now rode proudly at the head of a
regular army which could bid defiance to all
opposition.

The March to Mexico. 157
The city of Cholula. Arrival. They decline admitting the TUi.s.alans.
Eighteen miles from Tlascala was situated
the city of Cholula,- and this city was but sixty-
four miles east of the renowned Mexican me
tropolis. Cholula was a city whose population
was estimated at one hundred thousand. As
it belonged to Mexico, the bitterest animosity
existed between its inhabitants and those of
Tlascala. Cortez was warned by his new al
lies not to enter the city, as he might depend
upon encountering treachery there; but the
Spanish general considered himself now too
strong to turn aside from any danger.
As the Spanish army approached the city, a
procession came out to meet them, with ban
ners, and bands of music, and censers smoking
with incense. Numerous nobles and priests
headed the procession. They received Cortez
and the Zempoallans with every demonstration
of friendship, but declined admitting their in
veterate enemies, the Tlascalans, within their
walls. Cortez accordingly ordered these allies
to encamp upon the plain before the city, while
he, with the rest of \ the army, marched with
great military pomp into the metropolis, which
was resounding with acclamations.
He found a beautiful city, with wide, neatly-
arranged streets and handsome dwellings. It

158 Hernando Cortez.
Eumors pf treachery. Marina discovers a plot.
was the sacred city of the Mexicans. Many
gorgeous temples lined the streets, and one of
extraordinary grandeur was the most renowned
sanctuary of the empire. It is alleged by some,
and denied by others, that the Mexicans had
invited the Spaniards into the holy city, hoping
by the aid of the gods to effect their entire de
struction. The Tlascalans^ who were encamp
ed outside of the city, affirmed that the women
and children of the principal inhabitants were
leaving the city by night. They also declared
that a large body of Mexican troops were con
cealed near the town. Two of the Tlascalans,
who had entered the city in disguise, declared
that some of the streets were barricaded, and
that others were undermined, and but slightly
covered over, as traps for the horses. They
also reported that six children had recently been
sacrificed in the chief temple, which was a cer
tain indication that some great military enter
prise was on foot. Cortez, however, did not
place much reliance upon this testimony from
the Tlascalans. He was well aware that they
would be glad, in any way, to bring down de
struction on Cholula.
But more reliable testimony came from the
amiable Marina. She had won the love of one

The March to Mexico. 159
Cortez resents the treachery of the natives. ' The massacre.
of the noble ladies of the city. This woman,
wishing to save Marina from destruction, in
formed her that a plot was in progress for the
inevitable ruin of her friends. According to
her account, deep pits were dug and concealed
in the streets, stones carried to the tops of the
houses and the temples, and that Mexican
troops were secretly drawing near. The fatal
hour was at hand, and escape impossible.
The energy of Cortez was now roused. Qui
etly he drew up the Spanish and Zempoallan
troops, armed to the teeth, in the heart of the
city. He sent a secret order to the Tlascalans
to approach, and, at a given signal, to fall upon
the surprised and unarmed Cholulana, and cut
them down without mercy. He then, upon a
friendly pretext, sent for the magistrates of the
city and all the principal nobles. They were
immediately assembled, and the signal for mas
sacre was given.
The poor natives, taken entirely by surprise,
rushed in dismay this way and that, encounter
ing death at every corner. The Tlascalans,
like hungry wolves, swept through the streets,
glutting themselves with blood. It was with
them the carnival of insatiable revenge. The
dwellings were sacked piteously, and the city

160 Hernando Cortez.
Destruction of Cholula. Proclamation offering pardon.
every where kindled into flame. Women and
children were seized by the merciless Tlasca
lans to grace their triumph, and to bleed upon
their altars of human sacrifice. For two days
this horrid scene continued. At last, from ex
haustion, the- carnage ceased. The city was re
duced to smouldering ruins, and pools of blood
and mutilated carcases polluted the streets.
The wail of the wretched survivors, homeless
and friendless, rose to the ear of Heaven more
dismal than the piercing shriek of anguish
which is silenced by death. The argument
with which Cortez defends this outrage is very
laconic :
" Had I not done this to them, they would
have done the same to me."
Such is war — congenial employment only for
fiends. It is Satan's work, and can be efficient
ly prosecuted only by Satan's instruments.
Six thousand Cholulans were slain in this aw
ful massacre. The Spaniards were now suffi
ciently avenged. Cortez issued a proclamation
offering pardon to all who had escaped the mas
sacre, and inviting them to return to their
smouldering homes. Slowly they returned,'
women and children, from the mountains where
they had fled; some, -who had feigned death,

The March to Mexico. 163
Appointment of the new cacique. Public thanksgivings.
crept from beneath the bodies of the slain, and
others emerged from hiding-places in their dev
astated dwellings. The cacique of the Cholu-
lans had been killed in the general slaughter.
Cortez appointed a brother of the late cacique
to rule over the city, and, in apparently a sin
cere proclamation, informed the bereaved and
miserable survivors that it was with the great
est sorrow that he had found himself compelled
by their treachery to this terrible punishment.
The Tlascalans, glutted with the blood of their
ancient foes, were compelled to surrender all
their prisoners, for Cortez wotdd allow of no hu
man sacrifices.
Cortez thought that the natives were now in
a very suitable frame of mind for his peculiar
kind of conversion. They were truly very pli
ant. No resistance was offered to 'the Spanish
soldiers as they tumbled the idols out of the
temples, and reared in their stead the cross and
the image of the Virgin. Public thanksgivings
were then offered to God in the purified temples
of the heathen for the victory he had vouchsafed,
and mass was celebrated by the whole army.
In the year 1842, Hon. Waddy Thompson
passed over the plain where once stood the city
of Cholula. He thus describes it :

164 Hernando Cortez.
Statement of Mr. Thompson. Cortez resumes his march toward Mexico.
"The great city of Cholula was situated
about six miles from the present city of Puebla.
It was here the terrible slaughter was commit
ted wliich has left the deepest stain upon the
otherwise glorious and wonderful character of
Cortez. Not a vestige — literally none — not a
brick or a stone standing upon another, remains
of this immense city except the great pyramid,
which still stands in gloomy and solitary gran
deur in the vast plain which surrounds it, and
there it will stand forever. This pyramid is
built of unburned bricks. Its dimensions, as
given by Humboldt, are, base, 1440 feet ; pres
ent height, 177 ; area on the summit, 45,210
square feet. A Catholic chapel now crowns
the_ summit of this immense mound, the sides
of which are covered with grass and small trees.
As seen for miles along the road, an artificial
mountain, standing in the solitude of a vast
plain, it is a most imposing and beautiful ob
ject." After the delay of a fortnight, Cortez resumed
his march toward the capital of Mexico, which
was now distant from him but twenty leagues.
It was now the 29th of October. The tidings
of the horrible retribution which had fallen upon
Cholula spread far and wide, and it accomplish-

The March to Mexico. 165
Terror of Montezuma. Cortez's message to the monarch.
ed its end in preventing any farther manifesta
tions of hostility. City after city, appalled by
this exhibition of the vengeance of those foes
who wielded the thunder and the lightning of
heaven, and who, with the dreadful war-horse,
could overtake the swiftest foe, sent in the most
humble messages of submission, with accom
panying presents, to propitiate the favor of the
terrible invaders.
Montezuma, as he was informed of the fate
of Cholula, turned pale upon his throne, and
trembled in every fibre. He dreaded unspeak
ably to have the Spaniards enter his capital,
and yet he dared not undertake to oppose them.
Cortez sent embassadors before him to the cap
ital with the following message to Montezuma :
" The Cholulans have asserted that Monte
zuma instigated their treachery. I will not be
lieve it. Montezuma is a great and a powerful
sovereign ; he would make war in the open
field, and not by cowardly stratagem. The
Spaniards, however, are ready for any warfare,
secret or open."
This was bold defiance. Montezuma super-
stitiously read in it the decree of fate announc-
' ing his doom. He returned an answer solemn
ly declaring that he had no part in the guilt of

166 Hernando Cortez.
His answer. Appearance of discontent. Arrival at Ithualco.
the Cholulans, and renewedly inviting Cortez
to visit his city.
The country through which the adventurers
passed became increasingly populous, luxuriant,
and beautiful. They were continually met by
embassies from the different cities on or near
their route, endeavoring to propitiate their favor
by protestations of allegiance and gifts of gold.
They also perceived many indications of discon
tent with the reign of Montezuma, which en
couraged Cortez greatly in his expectation of
being able to overturn the empire, by availing
himself of the aliehation existing in its constitu
ent parts. Multitudes of the disaffected joined
the army of Cortez, where they were all warm
ly welcomed. "Thus," says Clavigero, "the
farther the Spaniards advanced into the coun
try, the more they continued to increase then-
forces ; like a rivulet which, by the accession
of other streams, swells hi its course into a large
river." For several days they toiled resolutely along,
" recommending," says Diaz, " our souls to the
Lord Jesus Christ, who had brought us through
our past dangers," until, from the heights of
Ithualco, they looked down over the majestic,
the enchanting valley of Mexico. A more per-

The March to Mexico. 169
View from the heights. Cortez resolves to continue his march.
tectly lovely scene has rarely greeted human
eyes. In the far distance could be discerned,
through the transparent atmosphere, the dim
blue outline of the mountains by which the al
most boundless basin of Mexico was girdled.
Forests and rivers, orchards and lakes, culti
vated fields and beautiful villages adorned the
landscape. The magnificent city of Mexico
was situated, in queenly splendor, upon islands
in the bosom of a series of lakes more than a
hundred miles in length. Innumerable towns,
with their lofty temples, and white, picturesque
dwellings, fringed the margin of the crystal wa
ters. The circumference of the valley girdled
by the mountains was nearly two hundred miles.
The Spaniards gazed upon the enchanting
scene with amazement, and many of them with
alarm. They saw indications of civilization
and of power far beyond what they had antici
pated. Cortez, however, relying upon the effi
ciency of gunpowder, and also deeming himself
invincible while the sacred banner of the cross
waved over his army, marched boldly on. The
love of plunder was a latent motive omnipotent
in his soul, and he saw undreamed of wealth
lavishly spread before him. Though Cortez
was, at this period of his life, a stranger to the

170 Hernando Cortez.
Vacillation of Montezuma. Description of the valley of Mexico.*'
sordid vice of avarice, he coveted intensely
boundless wealth, to be profusely distributed in
advancing his great plans.*
Montezuma was continually vacillating as to
the course to be pursued. At one hour he would
resolve to marshal his armies, and fall, if fall
he must, gloriously, amid the ruins of his em
pire. The next hour timidity would be in the
ascendant, and a new embassy would be sent
to Cortez, with courteous speeches and costly
* Hon. Waddy Thompson thus describes the appearance
of the great valley of Mexico at the present time. "- The road
passes within about twenty miles of the mountain of Poco-
catapetl, the highest point of the territory of Mexico ; but the
brightness of the atmosphere, and a tropical sun shining upon
the snow with which it is always covered, makes the distance
seem very much shorter — not, indeed, more than one or two
miles. In descending the mountain, at about the distance of
twenty-five miles the first glimpse is caught of the city and
valley of Mexico. No description can convey to the reader
any adequate idea of the effect upon one who, for the first
time, beholds that magnificent prospect. With what feeling-
must Cortez have regarded it when he first saw it from the
top of the mountain between the snow-covered volcanoes of
Pococatapetl and Iztaccihuatl, a short distance to the left of
where the road now mns ! The valley was not then, as it is
now, for the greater part a barren waste, but was studded all
over with the homes of men, containing more than forty cities,
besides towns and villages without number. Never has such
a vision burst upon the eyes of mortal man since that upon
which the seer of old looked down from Pisgah."

The March to Mexico. 171
Offers from Montezuma. Satisfaction of Cortez. His answer.
gifts. The unhappy monarch, in his despair,
had gone to one of the most sacred of the sanc
tuaries of the empire to mourn and to pray.
Here he passed eight days in the performance
of all the humiliating and penitential rites of his
religion. But each day Cortez drew nearer, and
the crowds accumulating around him increased.
The spirit of Montezuma was now so crush
ed that he sent an embassy to Cortez offering
him four loads of gold for himself, and one for
each of his captains, and he also promised to
pay a yearly tribute to the King of Spain, if
the dreaded conqueror would turn back. This
messenger met the Spanish army upon the
heights of Ithualco, as they were gazing with
admiration upon the goodly land spread out be
fore them. Cortez listened with much secret
satisfaction to this messenger, as an indication
of the weakness and the fear of the great mon
arch. Returning the laconic answer, " I must
see Montezuma, and deliver to him personally
the message of the emperor my master," he
more eagerly pressed on his way.
Montezuma received this response as the
doom decreed to him by fate. ' ' Of what avail, "
the unhappy monarch is reported to have said,
"is resistance, when the gods have declared

172 Hernando Cortez.
Arrival at Amaquemecan. Profuse hospitality. Ayotzingo.
themselves against us ? Yet I mourn most for
the old and infirm, the women and children, too
feeble to fight or to fly. For myself and the
brave men around me, we must bare our breasts
to the storm, and meet it as we may."
The Spaniards had now arrived at the city
of Amaquemecan. They were received by the
principal inhabitants of the place with an os
tentatious display of courtesy and friendship.
Two very large stone buildings were provided
for their accommodation. This profuse hospi
tality was excited by terror. After resting
here two days, Cortez resumed his march.
Their path still led through smiling villages
and fields of maize, and through gardens bloom
ing with gorgeous flowers, which the natives
cultivated with religious and almost passionate
devotion. At last they arrived at Ayotzingo — the Ven
ice of the New World — an important town,
built on wooden piles in the waters of Lake
Chalco. Gondolas of every variety of color,
and of graceful structure, glided through -.the
hquid streets. The main body of the Spanish
army encamped outside of the city. A vast
concourse of the natives, flocked to the camp.
Cortez became suspicious of premeditated treach-

The March to Mexico. 173
Lake Chalco. Cuitlahuac. Immense crowd.
ery, and fifteen or twenty of the natives were
heartlessly shot down, as an intimidation. The
terrified Indians did not venture to resent this
cruel requital of their hospitality.
After remaining here two days, the march
was again resumed along the southern shores
of Lake Chalco. Clusters of villages, embow
ered in luxuriant foliage, and crimson with
flowers, fringed the lake. The waters were
covered with the light boats of the natives,
gliding in every direction. At last they came
to a narrow dike or causeway, five miles long,
and so narrow that but two* or three horsemen
could ride abreast. In the middle of this cause
way, which separated Lake Chalco from Lake
Xochicalco, was built the town of Cuitkhuac,
which Cortez described as the most beautiful he
had yet seen. Before the mansions of the prin
cipal inhabitants there were lawns ornamented
with trees and shrubbery. Temples and lofty
towers rose in much majesty of architecture.
Floating gardens were constructed on the lake,'
and innumerable boats, plied by the strong arms
of the native rowers, almost covered the placid
waters. As the Spaniards marched along this
narrow causeway, the crowd became so immense
that Cortez was obliged to resort to threats of

174 Hernando Cortez.
They enter Iztapalapan. Appearance of the city. Reception of Cortez.
violence to force his way. The place was so
very favorable for the natives to make an as
sault, that Cortez conducted the march with the
utmost possible vigilance, and commanded the
Indians not to come- near his ranks unless they
chose to be regarded as enemies. The ad
venturers were, however, received in Cuitlahuac
with the utmost kindness, and all their wants
were abundantly supplied.
When they had crossed the narrow cause
way, and had arrived on the other side of the
lake, they entered the city of Iztapafopan, which
contained, according to their estimate, about
fifteen thousand houses. The city was in the
near vicinity of the capital. The natives, with
refinement and taste not yet equaled by the
money-making millions of North America, had
allotted land in the centre of the city for a vast
public garden, blooming with flowers of every
variety of splendor. A large aviary was filled
with birds of gorgeous plumage and sweet song.
'A stone reservoir, of ample dimensions, contain
ed water to irrigate the grounds, and it was also
abundantly stored with fish. Many of the
chiefs of the neighboring cities had assembled
here to meet Cortez. They received him with
courtesy, with hospitality, but with reserve. He

The March to Mexico. 175
The procession. The causeway. Arrival of the Emperor.
was now but a few miles from the renowned
metropolis of Montezuma, and the turrets of the
lofty temples of idolatry which embellished the
capital glittered in the sunlight before him.
Another night passed away, and, as • another
morning dawned, the Spanish army was again
on the march. It was the 8th of November,
1519. When they drew near the city, they
were first met by a procession of a thousand of
the principal inhabitants, -adorned with waving
plumes, and clad in finely-embroidered mantles.
They announced that their renowned Emperor
Montezuma was advancing to welcome the
strangers. They were now upon the causeway
which led from the main land to the island city.
The long and narrow way was thronged with
crowds which could not be numbered, while on
each side the lake was darkened with boats.
Soon the glittering train of the emperor appear
ed in. the distance.
Montezuma was accompanied by the highest
possible pomp of semi-barbarian etiquette and
splendor. He was seated in a gorgeous palan
quin, waving with plumes and glittering with
gold, and was borne on the shoulders of four
noblemen. Three officers, each holding a gold
en rod, walked before him. Others supported

176 Hernando Cortez.
Appearance of Montezuma. Meeting of the emperor and the marauder.
over his head, by four posts, to shelter him
from the sun, a canopy of beautiful workman
ship, richly embellished with green feathers, and
gold, and precious gems. The monarch wore
upon his head a golden crown, surmounted by
a rich head-dress of plumes. A mantle, richly
embroidered with the most costly ornaments,
was folded gracefully upon his shoulders. . Bus
kins, fringed with gold, fitted closely to his legs,
and the soles of his. shoes were of gold. He
was tall, well formed, and a peculiarly handsome
man. As the monarch drew near, Cortez dismount
ed, and advanced on foot to meet him. At the
same time Montezuma alighted from his palan
quin, and, leaning upon the arms of two of the
highest members of his court, with great dig
nity approached his dreaded guest. His at
tendants in the mean time spread before their
monarch rich carpets, that his sacred feet might
not come in contact with the ground. An ex
pression of anxiety and of deep melancholy
overspread the countenance of the sovereign.
The Mexican emperor and the Spanish ma
rauder met in the interchange of all Mexican
and Castilian courtesies. After the exchange
of a few words, the whole blended cortege march-

;ffi__3_k .*_=>•- » ~ , ^

M

The March to Mexico. 179
Cortez conducted to his quarters. His accommodations.
ed through the immense crowd, which opened
before them, and entered the imperial city.
"Who," exclaims Diaz, "could count the num
ber of men, women, and children which throng
ed the streets, the canals, and terraces on the
tops of the houses on that day ? The whole of
what I saw on this occasion is so strongly im
printed on my memory that it appears to me as
if it had happened only yesterday. Glory to
our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave us courage to
venture upon such dangers, and brought us
safely through them."
Montezuma himself conducted Cortez to the
quarters which he had prepared for his recep
tion in the heart of the metropolis. With re
finement of politeness which would have done
honor to the court of Louis XIV., he said, on
retiring, " You are now, with your brothers, in your
own house. Refresh yourselves after your fa
tigue, and be happy until I return."
The spot assigned to the Spaniards was an
immense palace, or, rather, range of mansions,
in the very centre of the metropolis, erected by
the father of Montezuma. The buildings in
closed an immense court-yard. The whole was
surrounded by a strong stone wall, surmounted

180 Hernando Cortez.
Size and comfort of the mansion. Vigilance of Cortez.
with towers for defense and ornament. Cortez
could not have constructed for himself a more
admirable citadel for the accomplishment of his
ambitious and violent purposes. The apart
ment assigned to the Spanish chieftain was tap
estried with the finest embroidered cotton. The
rooms and courts were so large as to afford
ample accommodations for the whole Spanish
army. " This edifice was so large," writes one of the
historians of that day, "that both the Spaniards
and their allies, who, together with the women
and the servants whom they brought with them,
exceeded seven thousand in number, were lodged
in it. Every where there was the greatest
cleanliness and neatness. Almost all the cham
bers had beds of mats, of rushes, and of palm,
according to the custom of the people, and oth
er mats, in a round form, for pillows. They
had coverlets of fine cotton, and chairs made of
single pieces of wood. Some of the chambers
were also carpeted with mats, and the walls
were hung with tapestry beautifully colored."
Cortez, with vigilance which never slept, im
mediately fortified his quarters, so as to guard
against any possible surprise. Artillery was
planted to sweep every avenue. Sentinels

The March to Mexico. 181
Presents to Cortez. The conference. The tradition.
were posted at important points, with orders to
observe the same diligence by night and by day
as if they were in the midst of hostile armies.
A large division of the troops was always on
guard, prepared for every possible emergency.
In the evening, Montezuma returned, with
great pomp, to visit his terrible guests, and to
inquire if they were provided with every thing
which could promote their comfort. He brought
with him presents of great value for Cortez and
his officers, and also for each one of the privates
in the Spanish camp. A long conference en
sued, during which Montezuma betrayed his
apprehension that the Spaniards were the con
querors indicated by tradition and prophecy as
decreed to overthrow the Mexican power. Cor
tez artfully endeavored to frame his reply so as
to encourage this illusion. He expatiated at
great length upon the wealth and the resistless
power of the emperor whom he served. " My
master wishes," said he, "to alter certain laws
and customs in this kingdom, and particularly
to present to you a religion far superior to the
bloody creed of Mexico." He then, with great
earnestness, unfolded to the respectful monarch
the principal doctrines of Christianity — the one
living and true God — the advent of the Savior,

182 Hernando Cortez.
Montezuma urged to accept the Christian faith.
his atonement, and salvation through faith in
him — the rites of baptism and of the Lord's
Supper — the eternal rewards of the righteous,
and the unending woes of the wicked. To
these remarks Cortez added an indignant re
monstrance against the abomination of human
sacrifices, and of eating the flesh of the wretch
ed victims. By way of application to this ser
mon, which was truthful in its main sentiments,
and unquestionably sincere, this most singular
of missionaries called out the artillery. We
would not speak lightly of sacred things in
stating the fact that Cortez considered gun
powder as one of the most important of the
means of grace. He judged that the thunder
of his cannon, reverberating through the streets
of the astounded capital, would exert a salutary
influence upon the minds of the natives, and
produce that pliancy of spirit, that child-like hu
mility, so essential both to voluntary and in
voluntary conversion. The most important
truth and the most revolting falsehood here be-
wilderingly meet and blend.
The sun had now gone down, and the short
twilight was fading away into the darkness of
the night, when, at a given signal, every can
non was discharged. The awftd roar rolled

The March to Mexico. 183
The argument. Achievements of the Spaniards,
through the streets of the metropolis, and froze.
the hearts of the people with terror. Were
these strange beings, they inquired among them
selves, who thus wielded the heaviest thunders
of heaven, gods or demons ? Volley after vol
ley, in appalling peals, burst from the city, and
resounded over the silent lake. Dense volumes
of suffocating smoke, scarcely moved by the
tranquil air, settled down upon the streets. Si
lence ensued. The voice of Cortez had been
heard in tones never to be forgotten. The stars
came out in the serene sky, and a brilliant
tropical night enveloped in its folds the fearless
Spaniard and the trembling Mexican.
It was the night of the 8th of November.
But seven months had elapsed since the Span
iards landed in the country. The whole Span
ish force, exclusive of the natives whom they
had induced to join them, consisted of but four
hundred and fifty men. They were now two
hundred miles from the coast, in the very heart
of an empire numbering many millions, and by
sagacity, courage, and cruelty, they had suc
ceeded in bringing both monarch and people
into almost entire submission to their sway.
The genius of romance can narrate few tales
more marvelous.

184 Hernando Cortez.
The ride through Tenochtitlan. Visit to the market-place.

Chapter VII.
The Metropolis Invaded.
THE next morning, Cortez, with a showy
retinue of horsemen, prancing through
streets upon which hoof had never before trod
den, called upon the emperor. The streets
were lined, and the roofs of the houses crowded
with multitudes gazing upon the amazing spec
tacle. The Spanish chieftain was kindly re
ceived by the emperor, and three days were ap
pointed to introduce him to all the objects of
interest in the capital. Tenochtitlan was the
native name by which the imperial city was then
known. ' They first visited the great public square or
market-place. An immense concourse was here
assembled, engaged in peaceful traffic. Three
judges sat in state at the end of the square,
to settle all difficulties. A numerous body of po
lice, ever moving through the crowd, prevented
all riot or confusion. Though there were many
other minor market-places scattered through
the city, this was the principal one.

The Metropolis Invaded. 185
The pyramidal temple. View from the summit.
Cortez then expressed the wish that he might
he conducted to the great pyramidal temple,
. which reared its lofty structure from the heart
of the city. The summit of the pyramid was
an extended plain, where several hundred priests
could officiate in sacrifice. The corners of the
area were ornamented with towers. One hund
red and fourteen steps led to the summit of the
temple. Several large altars stood here, be
smeared with the blood of human sacrifices, and
there was also a hideous image of a dragon pol
luted with gore.
From this towering eminence the whole ad
jacent country lay spread out before the eye
of Cortez in surpassing loveliness. Gardens,
groves, villages, waving fields of grain, and the
wide expanse of the placid lakes, covered with
boats gliding rapidly over the mirrored waters,
presented a scene of beauty which excited the
enthusiasm of Cortez to the highest pitch. They
then entered the sanctuaries of the temple, where
human hearts were smoking, and almost throb
bing, upon the altars before the revolting im
ages of their gods. On the summit of the tem
ple there was an enormous drum or gong, which
was struck when the miserable victim was
shrieking beneath the knife of sacrifice. Its

186 Hernando Cortez.
The gong. Indignation of Cortez. The chapel.
doleful tones, it was said, floating over the still
waters of the lake, could be heard at the dis
tance of many miles.
From these sickening scenes Cortez turned
away in disgust, and exclaimed indignantly to
Montezuma, " How can you, wise and powerful as you
are, put trust in such representatives of the
devil? Why do you allow your people to be
butchered before these abominable idols ? Let
me place here the cross, and the image of the
blessed Virgin and of her Son, and the influ
ence of these detestable idols will soon vanish."
. Montezuma, shocked by words which he
deemed so blasphemous, and dreading the swift
vengeance of the gods, hurried his irreverent
guest away.
"Go," said he, "go hence, I entreat you,
while I remain to appease, if possible, the wrath.
of the gods whom you have so dreadfully pro
voked." But these scenes -aroused anew the rehgious
zeal of Cortez and his companions. As they
returned to their lodgings, they immediately
converted one of the halls of their residence into
a Christian chapel. Here the rites of the Ro
man Catholic Church were introduced, and the

The Metropolis Invaded. 187
General appearance of the city.
whole army of Cortez, with soldierly devotion,
attended mass every day. Good Father Olme
do, with perhaps a clouded intellect, but with
that recognition of the universal brotherhood of
man which sincere piety ever confers, prayed
fervently for God's blessing upon his frail chil
dren of every name and nation.
The Spaniards estimated the population of
the city at about five hundred thousand. The
streets were very regularly laid out at right an
gles. Many of them were wide, and lined with
shade-trees. The houses of the common peo
ple were small but comfortable cottages, built
of reeds or of bricks baked in the sun. The
dwellings of the nobles and of the more wealthy
inhabitants were strongly-built mansions of
stone, very extensive on the ground floor, though
generally but one story high. They were in
closed in gardens blooming with flowers. Fount
ains of cool water, conveyed through earthen
pipes, played in the court-yards. The police
regulations were unsurpassed by those of any
city in Europe. A thousand persons were con
tinually employed in sweeping and watering
the streets. So clean were the well-cement
ed pavements kept, that "a man could walk
through the streets," says one of the Spanish

188 Hernando Cortez. %
Apprehension from the natives. The Tlascalans anxious for war.
historians, " with as little danger of soiling his
feet as his hands."
Day after day was passed in the interchange
of. visits, and in the careful examination by
Cortez of the strength and the resources of the
city. He had now been a week in the capital,
and the question naturally arose, What is next
to be done ? He was, indeed, perplexed to de
cide this question. Montezuma treated him
with such extraordinary hospitality, supplyino-
all his wants, and leaving him at perfect Hberty,
that it was difficult for one, who laid any claim
whatever to a conscience, to find occasion to
pick a quarrel. To remain inactive, merely en
joying the luxury of a most hospitable enter
tainment, was not only accomplishing nothing,
but was also enervating the army. It was also
to be apprehended that the Mexicans would
gradually regain their courage as they counted
the small number of the invaders, and fall upon
them with resistless power.
The Tlascalans, who had rioted in hlood at
Cholula, seemed anxious for a renewal of that
scene of awful butchery in the streets of Mex
ico. They assured Cortez that he had every
thing to fear from the treachery of Montezuma ;
that he had lured them into the city but to in-

The Metropolis Invaded. 189
The trap. Situation of the city.
close them in a trap ; that the drawbridges of
the causeways need but be removed, and escape
for the Spaniards would be impossible. They
assured him that the Mexican priests had coun
seled Montezuma, in the name of the gods, to
admit the strangers into the capital that he
might cut them off at a blow. It was obvious,
even to the meanest soldier, that all this might
be true, and that they were in reality in a trap
from which it would be exceedingly difficult to
extricate themselves, should the Mexicans mani
fest any resolute hostility.
On the east the island city had no connection
with the main land, and could only be approach*.
ed over the broad waters of the lake by canoes.
On the west the city was entered by an artifi
cial causeway, built of earth and stone, a .mile
and a half in length, and but thirty feet in
breadth. A similar causeway on the northwest,
three miles long, connected the city with the
main land. There was another causeway on
the south, six miles long. There were many
openings along these causeways, through which
the waters of the lake flowed unimpeded. These
openings were bridged over by means of tim
ber. The destruction of these bridges, wliich
might be accomplished at any hour, would ren-

190

Hernando Cortez.

Cortez determines to seize Montezuma.

der an escape for the Spaniards almost impos
sible.

CITY OF MEXICO.

In this dilemma, the bold Spaniard adopted .
the audacious yet characteristic plan of seizing
Montezuma, who was regarded with almost re
ligious adoration by his subjects, and holding
him as a hostage. The following occurrence
furnished Cortez with a plausible pretext to
pick a quarrel.
We have before mentioned that the Totonacs,

The Metropolis Invaded. 191
The pretext. Engagement at Vera Cruz. Cortez demands atonement.
wishing to escape from the subjection of the
Mexicans, had acknowledged themselves vas
sals of the King of Spain. When the officers
of Montezuma attempted, as usual, to collect the
taxes, the Totonacs refused payment. Force
was resorted to, and a conflict arose. The col
ony at Vera Cruz immediately sent some sol
diers to aid their allies, headed by Escalente,
the commander of the Spanish garrison. In
the engagement which ensued, Escalente and
seven of his men were mortally wounded, one
horse was killed, and one Spaniard taken cap
tive, who soon, however, died of his wounds.
Still the Spaniards, with their Totonac allies,
were victorious, and repelled the Mexicans with
much slaughter. The vanquished party cut
off the head of their unfortunate prisoner, and
carried it in triumph to several cities, to show
that their foes were not invulnerable.
With alacrity Cortez availed himself of this
event. He immediately repaired to the palace
of Montezuma, and, with bitter reproaches, ac
cused him of treacherously ordering an assault
upon the Spaniards who had been left at Vera
Cruz. Sternly the pitiless Spaniard demanded
reparation for the loss, and atonement for the
insult. Montezuma, confounded at this unex-

192 Hernando Cortez,
 __  * 
Montezuma declares his innocence.
pected accusation, earnestly declared that the
order had not been issued by him, but that the
distant officer had acted on his own responsibil
ity, without consulting the sovereign. Ungen
erously he added that, in proof of his innocence,
he would immediately command the offending
officer, Qualpopoca, and his accomplices, to be
brought prisoners to Mexico, and to be deliver
ed to Cortez for any punishment which the
Spaniards might decree.
Cortez now feigned a relenting mood, and de
clared that he could not himself doubt the word
of the emperor, but that something more was
requisite to appease the rage of his followers.
'.' Nothing," said he, " can satisfy them of your
sincerity and of your honorable intentions, un
less you will leave your palace, and take up
your abode in the Spanish quarters. This will
pacify my men, and they will honor you there
as becomes a great monarch."
When Marina interpreted this strange pro
posal, Montezuma was for a moment so struck
with amazement as to be almost bereft of speech.
His cheek was flushed with shame and rage,
and then the hectic glow passed away into
deadly paleness. His ancient spirit was for a
moment revived, and he exclaimed, indignantly,

The Metropolis Invaded. 193
Montezuma called upon to surrender himself a prisoner.
"When did ever a monarch suffer himself
to be tamely led to a prison? Even were I
willing to debase myself in so vile a manner,
would not my people immediately arm them
selves to set me free ?"
One of the impetuous attendants of Cortez,
as the altercation continued, exclaimed, grasp
ing his sword,
"Why waste time in vain? Let us either
seize him instantly or stab him to the heart."
Montezuma, though he did not understand
his words, observed the threatening voice and
the fierce gesture, and, turning to the amiable
interpretress, Marina, inquired what he said.
" Sire," she replied, with her characteristic
mildness and tact, " as your subject, I desire
your happiness ; but as the confidante of those
men, I know their secrets, and am acquainted
with their character. If you yield to their
wishes^ you will be treated with all the honor
due to your royal person ; but if you persist in
your refusal, your life will be in danger."
Montezuma, reading in these events, as he
supposed, but the decrees of fate, now yielded.
He called his officers, and informed them of his
decision. Though they were plunged into utter
consternation by the intelligence, they did not
X

194 Hernando Cortez.
Montezuma conveyed to the Spanish quarters. The body-guard.
venture to question his will. The imperial pa
lanquin was brought, and the humiliated em
peror was conveyed, followed by a mourning
crowd, to the Spanish quarters. Montezuma
endeavored to appease them, and to prevent any
act of violence, by assuring the people that it
was his own pleasure to go and reside with Ms
friends. He was now so thoroughly convinced
of the resistless power of the Spaniards, and
that he was swept along by the decrees of fate,
that he dreaded any movement of resistance on
the part of his people.*
He was magnificently imprisoned. His own
servants were permitted to attend him, and he
continued to administer the government as if
he had been in his own palace. All the forms
of courtly etiquette were scrupulously observed
in approaching his person. Ostensibly to confer
upon him greater honor, a body-guard of stern
Spanish veterans was appointed for his protec
tion. This body-guard, with all external dem
onstrations of obsequiousness, watched him by
night and by day, rendering escape impossible.
* Bernal Diaz says, " It having been decided that we should
seize the person of the king, we passed the whole of the pre
ceding night in spraying to our Lord that he would be pleased
to guide us, so that what we were goinL; to do fhould re
dound to his holy service."

The Metropolis Invaded. 195
Qualpopoca arrested. Condemned to be burned alive.
This violence, however, was but the begin
ning of the humiliation and anguish imposed
upon the unhappy monarch. The governor,
Qualpopoca, who had ventured to resist the
Spaniards, was brought a captive to the capital,
with his son and fifteen of the principal officers
who had served under him. They were imme-
.diately surrendered to Cortez, that he might de
termine their crime and their punishment.
Qualpopoca was put to the torture. He avow
ed, in his intolerable agony, that he had only
obeyed the orders of his sovereign. Cortez,
who wished to impress the Mexicans with the
idea that it was the greatest of all conceivable
crimes to cause the death of a Spaniard, de
termined to inflict upon them a punishment
which should appal every beholder. They were
all doomed to be burned alive in the great mar
ket-place of the city. To allow no time for
any resistance to be organized, they were imme
diately led out for execution. In the royal ar
senals there was an immense amount of arrows,
spears, javelins, and other wooden martial weap
ons, which had been collected for the defense
of the city. These the soldiers gathered, thus
disarming the population, and heaped them up
in an immense funeral pile.

196 Hernando Cortez.
Atrocious insult to Montezuma. Execution of the victims.
While these atrocities were in preparation,
Cortez entered the presence of his captive, Mon
tezuma, and sternly accused him of being an
accomplice in the death of the Spaniards. He
then pitilessly ordered the soldiers who accom
panied him to bind upon the hands and the. feet
of the monarch the iron manacles of a felon.
It was one of the most cruel insults which could
have been inflicted upon fallen majesty. Mon
tezuma was speechless with horror, and his at
tendants, who regarded the person of their sov
ereign with religious veneration, wailed and*
wept. The shackles being adjusted, Cortez
turned abruptly upon his heel, leaving the mon
arch in the endurance of this ignominious pun
ishment, and went out to attend to the execu
tion of the victims, who were already bound to
the stake.
The cruel fires were then kindled. The
flames crackled, and rose in fierce, devouring
billows around the sufferers. The stern sol
diery stood, with musketry and artilleiy loaded
and primed, ready to repel any attempts at res
cue. Thousands of Mexicans, with no time for
consideration, gazed with awe upon the appal
ling spectacle ; and the Indian chieftains, with
out a struggle or an audible groan, were burned

The Metropolis Invaded. 197
Cortez the emperor. The Spanish commission.
to ashes. The dreadful execution being termi
nated, and the blood of the Spaniards being
thus avenged by the. degradation of the sover
eign and the death of his officers, Cortez return
ed to Montezuma, and ordered the fetters to be
struck from his limbs.
Step after step of violence succeeded, until
Montezuma was humbled to the dust. The
fearful rigor with which Cortez had punished
even the slightest attempt to resist the Span
iards overawed the nation. Cortez was now
virtually the Emperor of Mexico. The general
laws and customs of the nation remained un
changed ; but Cortez issued his commands
through Montezuma, and the mandates of the
imprisoned sovereign were submissively obey
ed. With great skill, the Spanish adventurer
availed himself of these new powers. He sent
a Spanish commission, fey the authority and
under the protection of Montezuma, to explore
the empire — to ascertain its strength and its
weakness, its wealth and its resources. These
officers went to nearly all the provinces, and, by
their arrogant display of power, endeavored to
intimidate the natives, and to prepare them for
entire subjection to Spain.
Mexican officers, whose fidelity Cortez sus-

198 Hernando Cortez.
Contributions exacted. Discontent of the soldiers.
pected, were degraded, and their places supplied
by others whose influence he had secured, A
general contribution of gold was exacted through
out the whole Mexican territories for the bene
fit of the conquerors.
A large sum was thus collected. One fifth
of this was laid aside for his majesty, the Bang
of Spain. Another fifth was claimed by Cor
tez. The remaining portion was so greatly ab
sorbed to defray the innumerable expenses of
the expedition, that only about one hundred
crowns fell to the lot of each soldier. This ex
cited discontent so deep and loud that Cortez
was compelled to attempt to pacify his men by
a public address.
"He called us together," says Diaz, " and
in a long set speech, gave us a great many hon
eyed words, which he had an extraordinary fa
cility of doing, wondering how we could be so
solicitous about a little paltry gold when the
whole country would soon be ours, with all its
rich mines, wherewith there was enough to
make us great lords and princes, and I know
not what."
Cortez was cautious as well as bold. To
prepare for a retreat in case of necessity, should
the Mexicans seize their arms and break down

The Metropolis Invaded. 199
Building of the brigantines.

their bridges, he wished, without exciting the
suspicions of the natives, to build some vessels
wliich would command the lake. He accom
plished this with his usual address. In con
versation with Montezuma, he gave the mon
arch' such glowing accounts of floating palaces,
which would glide rapidly over the water with
out oars, as to excite the intense curiosity of
his captive. Montezuma expressed a strong
desire to see these wonderful fabrics. Cortez,
under the pretext of gratifying this desire, very
obligingly consented to build two brigantines.
The resources of the empire were immediately
placed at *the disposal of Cortez. A multitude
of men were sent to the forest to cut down ship-
timber and draw it to the lake. Several hund
red men of burden were dispatched to Vera
Cruz to transport naval stores from that place
to Mexico. Aided by so many strong arms,
the Spanish carpenters soon succeeded in con
structing two vessels, which amused the mon
arch and his people, and which afforded the
Spaniards an invaluable resource in the hour
of danger.
But the- insolent bearing of the Spaniards had
now become to many quite unendurable. Ca-
camatzin, the chief of the powerful city of Tez-

200 Hernando Cortez.
Indignation of Cacamatzin. His arrest and imprisonment.
cuco, at the farther extremity of the lake, was
a nephew of Montezuma. He was a bold man,
and his indignation, in view of the pusillanimity
of his uncle, at last overleaped his prudence.
He began to assemble an army to make war
upon the Spaniards. The Mexicans began to
rally around their new leader. The indications
were alarming to Cortez, and even Montezuma
became, apprehensive that he might lose his
crown, for it was reported that Cacamatzin, re
garding his uncle as degraded and a captive,
intended to seize the reins of empire. Under
these circumstances, Cortez and Montezuma
.acted in perfect harmony against their common
foe. After several unsuccessful stratagems to
get possession of the person of the bold chief
tain, Montezuma sent some .of his nobles, who
secretly seized him, and brought him a prison
er to the capital, where he was thrust into prison.
A partisan of Cortez was sent to take the place
of Cacamatzin as governor of the province of
Tezcuco. Thus this danger was averted.
Cortez still felt much solicitude concerning
the judgment of the King of Spain respecting
his bold assumption of authority. He well
knew that Velasquez, the governor of Cuba,
whose dominion he had so recklessly renounced,

The Metropolis Invaded. 201

Acknowledgment of vassalage. Indignation of the nobles.
would report the proceedings to the court at
Madrid, sustained by all the influence he could
command. To conciliate his sovereign, and to
bribe him to indulgence, he extorted from the
weeping, spirit-crushed sovereign of Mexico an
acknowledgment of vassalage to the King of
Spain. This humiliating deed was invested
with much imposing pomp. All the nobles and
lords were assembled in a large hall in the Span
ish quarters. The poor monarch wept bitterly,
and. his voice often broke with emotion as he
tremblingly said,
" I speak as the gods direct. Our prophets
have told us that a new race is to come to sup
plant our own. The hour has arrived. The
sceptre passes from my hands by the decrees
of fate which no one can resist. I now surren
der to the King of the East my power and alle
giance, and promise to pay to him an annual
tribute." A general outburst of amazement and indig
nation from the nobles followed this address.
Cortez, apprehensive that he might have pro
ceeded a little too far, endeavored to appease
the rising agitation by the assurance that Jus
master had no intention to deprive Montezuma
of his regal power, or to make any innovations

202 Hernando Cortez.
Cortez determines to overthrow the system of idolatry. Opposition.
upon the manners and the laws of the Mexicans.
The act of submission and homage was, how
ever, executed with all the formalities which
Cortez saw fit to prescribe. The nobles retired,
exasperated to the highest degree, and burning
with desires for vengeance.
Encouraged by these wonderful successes,
and by the tame submission of the monarch,
Cortez resolved upon the entire overthrow, by
violence if necessary, of the whole system of
idolatry, and to introduce Catholic Christianity
in its stead.- He had often, with the most im
portunate zeal, urged Montezuma to renounce
his false gods and to embrace fhes Christian
faith. But superstition was too firmly enthroned
in the heart of the Mexican monarch to be easi
ly supplanted. To every thing but this the
monarch was ready to yield; but every prop
osition to renounce his gods he rejected with
horror. Cortez at length firmly ordered his sol
diers to march to the temples and sweep them
clean of every vestige of paganism. This roused
the priests. They seized their arms, and the
alarm was spread rapidly through the streets
of the city. Vast multitudes, grasping such
weapons as they could get, assembled around
the temples, resolved to brave every peril in de-

The Metropolis Invaded. 203
 _
indications of trouble. Hardships endured. Alarming intelligence.
fense of their religion. Matters assumed an as
pect so threatening, that, for the first time,
Cortez found it necessary to draw back. He
contented himself with simply ejecting the gods
from one of the shrines, and in erecting in their
stead an image of the Virgin.
There were now many indications of ap
proaching trouble. The natives were greatly
provoked, and it was evident that they were
watching for a favorable opportunity to rise
against their invaders. Cortez practiced the
most sleepless vigilance. Diaz speaks thus of
the hardships he and his comrades endured :
" During the nine months that we remained
in Mexico, every man, without any distinction
between officers and soldiers, slept on his arms,
in his quilted jacket and gorget. They lay on
mafs or straw spread on the floor, and each was
obliged to hold himself as alert as if he had
been on guard. This became so habitual to
me, that even now, in my advanced age, I al
ways sleep in my clothes, and never in any bed."
Just in this crisis alarming intelligence was
received from the commander of the garrison at
Vera Cruz. One of the ships of the delegation
sent to Spain, of which we have previously
spoken, had, contrary to the orders of Cortez,

A

04 Hernando Cort_ez.
An armament sent after Cortez. Surrender of Vera Cruz demanded
stopped at Cuba. In this way the indignant
governor, Velasquez, learned that Cortez had re
nounced all connection with him, and had set
up an independent colony. His anger was
roused to the utmost, and he resolved upon
summary vengeance. It so happened that Ve
lasquez had just received from his sovereign the
appointment of governor for life, and was au
thorized to prosecute discoveries in Mexico with
very extensive and -exclusive privileges and
powers. He immediately fitted out an armament con
sisting of nineteen ships, with eighty horsemen,
fourteen hundred soldiers, and twenty pieces of
cannon. This was, in that day, a formidable
force. The commandant, Narvaez, was ordered
to seize Cortez and his principal officers, and
send them in chains to Cuba. He was then,
in the name of Velasquez, to prosecute the dis
covery and the conquest of the country.
After a prosperous voyage, the fleet cast an
chor in the Bay of St. Juan de Ulua, and the
soldiers were landed. Narvaez then sent a sum
mons to the governor of Vera Cruz to surrender.
Sandoval, the commandant, however, being zeal
ously attached to Cortez, seized the envoy and
his attendants, and sent them in chains to the

The Metropolis Invaded. 205'

The envoy sent to Cortez. Montezuma elated. Preparations for war.
capital, with intelligence of the impending peril.
Cortez, with his wonted sagacity, received them
as friends, ordered their chains to be struck off,
condemned the severity of Sandoval, and load
ed them with caresses and presents. He thus
won their confidence, and drew from them all
the particulars of the force, and the intentions
of the expedition. Cortez had great cause for
alarm when he learned that Narvaez was in
structed to espouse the cause of Montezuma ;
to assure the Mexican monarch that the vio
lence which he had suffered was unauthorized
by the King of Spain, and that he was ready
to assist Montezuma and his subjects in repel
ling the invaders from the capital. From peril
so imminent no ordinary man could have extri
cated himself. Narvaez was already on the
march, and the natives, enraged against Cortez,
were in great numbers joining the standard of
the new-comers. Already emissaries from the
camp of Narvaez had reached the capital, and
had communicated to Montezuma, through the
nobles, intelligence that Narvaez was marching
to his relief. Montezuma was overjoyed, and his
nobl6s were elated with hope, as they secretly
collected arms and marshaled their forces for
battle. '

206 Hernando Cortez.
Terms of accommodation. Cortez marches on Narvaez. The storm.
Cortez immediately dispatched Father Olme
do to meet Narvaez to propose terms of accom
modation. He was fully aware that no such
terms as he proposed could be acceded to ; but
Olmedo and his attendants were enjoined, as
the main but secret object of their mission, to
do every thing they could, by presents, caress
es, promises, and glowing descriptions of the
greatness of Cortez, his power, and the glory
opening before him, to induce the officers and
soldiers of Narvaez to abandon his standard,
and range themselves under the banner of
Cortez. At the same time, Cortez, leaving one hund
red and fifty men, under Alvarado, to guard the
fortified camp in the metropolis, set out by forced
marches, with the rest of his force, to fall unex
pectedly upon Narvaez. His strength did not
exceed two hundred and fifty men. In a great
emergency like this, the natives could not be
trusted. As Cortez drew near his foe, he found
that Narvaez was encamped upon a great plain
in the vicinity of Zempoalla. A terrible tem
pest arose. Black clouds darkened the sky,
and the rain fell in floods. . The soldiers of
Narvaez, drenched through and through by the
unceasing torrents, demanded to be led to the

The Metropolis Invaded. 207
Narvaez's army seeks shelter. The harangue and the attack.
shelter of the houses in Zempoalla. They
deemed it impossible that any foe could ap
proach in such a storm ; but the storm, in all
its pitiless fury, was the very re-enforcement
which Cortez and his men desired. Black mid
night came, and the careering tempest swept
the deluged streets of Zempoalla, driving even
the sentinels to seek shelter.
Cortez gathered his little band around him,
and roused them, by a vigorous harangue, for
an immediate attack. The odds were fearful.
Cortez had but two hundred and fifty men.
Narvaez had fifteen hundred, with nineteen
pieces of artillery and eighty horsemen. Giv
ing the soldiers for their countersign the inspir
ing words, "The Holy Spirit," they rushed
through the darkness and the raging storm
upon the unsuspecting foe. They first direct
ed their energies for the capture of the artillery.
The party who made this attack was headed by
Pizarro, "an active lad," says Diaz, "whose
name, however, was at that time as little known
as that of Peru." The guns were seized, after
a short and not a very sanguinary struggle.
They then, without a moment's delay, turned
upon the horsemen. But the sleeping foe was
now effectually aroused. A short scene of con-

208 Hernando Cortez.
Narvaez made prisoner. The surrender. Artfulness of Cortez.
sternation, clamor, horror, and blood ensued.
The companions of Cortez fought with the en
ergies of despair. To them, defeat was certain
death. The soldiers of Narvaez were bewil
dered. Many of them, even before the battle,
were half disposed to abandon Narvaez and
join the standard of Cortez, of whose renown
they had heard such glowing accounts. Taken
by a midnight surprise, they fought manfully
for a time. But at length, in the hot and tu
multuary fight, a spear pierced the cheek of
Narvaez, and tore out one of his eyes. He was
struck down and made a prisoner. This led
to an immediate surrender. The genius of
Cortez had most signally triumphed. Though
many were wounded in this conflict, but two
men on the side of Cortez were killed, and fif
teen of the party of Narvaez.
The artful conqueror loaded the vanquished
with favors, and soon succeeded in winning
nearly all of them to engage in his service.
With enthusiasm these new recruits, thus sin
gularly gained, rallied around him, eager to
march in the paths of glory to which such a
leader could guide them.
This achievement was hardly accomplished
ere a new peril menaced the victorious Span-

The Metropolis Invaded. 209
The insurrection in the metropolis. Disaffection of the inhabitants.
iard. An express arrived from the Mexican
metropolis with the intelligence that the Mex
icans had risen in arms ; that they had attack
ed the Spaniards in their quarters, and had kill
ed several, and had wounded more ; that they
had also seized the two brigantines, destroyed
the magazine of provisions, and that the whole
garrison was in imminent danger of- destruc
tion. Immediately collecting his whole force, now
greatly augmented by the accession of the van
quished troops of Narvaez, with their cavalry
and artillery, Cortez hastened back from Zem
poalla to the rescue of his beleaguered camp.
His army now, with his strangely acquired re-
enforcement, amounted .to over a thousand in
fantry and a hundred cavalry, besides several
thousands of the natives, whom he recruited
from his allies, the Totonacs.
The danger was so imminent that his troops
were urged to the utmost possible rapidity of
march. At Tlascala, two thousand of those
fierce warriors joined him ; but as he advanced
into the territory of Montezuma, he met every
where the evidences of strong disaffection to
his cause. The nobles avoided his camp. The
inhabitants of cities and villages retired at his
O

210 Hernando Cortez.
They arrive at the causeway. Cause of the insurrection.
approach. No food was brought to him. The
natives made no attempt to oppose a force so
resistless, but they left before him a path of si
lence and solitude.
When the Spaniards arrived at the causeway
which led to the city, they found, to their sur
prise, that the Mexicans had not destroyed the
bridges, but throughout the whole length of
this narrow passage no person was to be seen.
No one welcomed or opposed. Fiercely those
stern men strode oh, over the causeway and
through the now deserted streets, till they en
tered into the encampment of their comrades.
The insurrection had been suddenly excited
by an atrocious massacre on the part of Alva-
rado. • This leader, a brave soldier, but desti
tute either of tact or judgment, suspected, or pre
tended to suspect, that the Mexican nobles were
conspiring to attack him. One of their religious
festivals was at hand, when all the principal no
bles of the empire were to be assembled in the
performance of the rites of their rehgion, in the
court-yard of the great temple. Suddenly Al-
varado came upon them, when they were thus
unarmed and unsuspicious, and, cutting them
off from every avenue of escape, with musketry,
artillery, and the keen sabres of his horsemen,

The Metropolis Invaded. 211
Displeasure of Cortez. His insolent manner.
mercilessly hewed them down. Nearly six
hundred of the flower of the Mexican nobility
were massacred. Though Cortez was very in
dignant with his lieutenant when he heard this
story from his lips, and exclaimed, " Your con
duct has been that of a madman, " he was still
enraged with the Mexicans for venturiug to at
tack his garrison, and declared that they should
feel the weight of Spanish vengeance.
In his displeasure, he refused to call upon
Montezuma. Elated by the success with which
he had thus far triumphed over all obstacles,
and deeming the forces he now had under his
command sufficient to sweep, like chaff before
the whirlwind, any armies which the natives
could raise, he gave free utterance to expres
sions of contempt for both prince and people.
There had been a tacit truce between the two
parties for a few days, and had Cortez disavow
ed the conduct of his subaltern, and pursued
conciliatory measures, it is possible that the na
tives might again have been appeased. The
insolent tone he assumed, and his loud menace
of vengeance, aroused the natives anew, and
they grasped their arms with a degree of de
termination and ferocity never manifested be
fore.

212 Hernando Cortez.
Diaz's record. Motives for the attack.
Bernal Diaz in the following terms records
this event : " Cortez asked Alvarado for what
reason he fell upon the natives while they were
dancing and holding a festival in honor of their
gods. To this Alvarado replied that it was in
order to be beforehand with them, having had
intelligence of their hostile intentions toward
him from two of their own nobility and a priest.
Cortez then asked of him if it was true that
they had requested of him permission to hold
their festival. The other replied that it was
so, and that it was in order to take them by
surprise, and to punish and terrify them, so as
to prevent their making war upon the Span
iards, that he had determined to fall on them
by anticipation. At hearing this avowal, Cor
tez was highly enraged. He censured the
conduct of Alvarado in the strongest terms, and
in this temper left him.
" Some say that it was avarice which tempt
ed Alvarado to make this attack, in order to
pillage the Indians of the golden ornaments
wliich they wore at their festival. I never
heard any just reason for the assertion; nor
do I believe any such thing, although it is so
represented by Bartholome de las Casas. For
my part, I am convinced that his intention in

The Metropolis Invaded. 213
The massacre intended to prevent insurrection.
falling on them at that time was in order to
strike terror into them, and prevent their insur
rection, according to the saying that the first
attack is half the battle."

214 Hernando Cortez.
Augmented forces of Cortez. The reconnaissance.

Chapter VIII.
Battle of the Dismal Night.
THE force which Cortez now had under his
command, if we take into consideration the
efficiency of European discipline and of Euro
pean weapons of warfare, was truly formidable.
In the stone buildings which protected and en
circled his encampment, he could marshal, in
battle array, twelve hundred Spaniards and
eight thousand native allies ; but they were
nearly destitute of provisions, and the natives
were rapidly assembling from all quarters in
countless numbers. Cortez sent four hundred
men out into the streets to reconnoitre. They
had hardly emerged from the walls of their for
tress before they were assailed with shouts of
vengeance, and a storm of arrows and javelins
fell upon them. Phrenzied multitudes throng
ed the streets and the house-tops, and from the
roofs and the summits of the temples, stones
and all similar missiles were poured down upon
the heads of the Spaniards. With great diffi
culty this strong detachment fought their way

Battle of the Dismal Night. 215
Success of the Mexicans. The conflict continued.
back to their fortified quarters, having lost
twenty-three in killed, and a large number be
ing wounded.
This success greatly emboldened the Mexi
cans, and in locust legions they pressed upon
the Spanish quarters, rending the air with their
unearthly shouts, and darkening the sky with
their missiles. The artillery was immediately
brought to bear upon them, and every volley
opened immense gaps in their ranks; but the
places of the dead were instantly occupied by
others, and there seemed to be no end to their
numbers. Never did mortal men display more
bravery than these exasperated Mexicans ex
hibited, struggling for their homes and their
rights. Twice they came very near forcing an
entrance over the walls into the Spanish quar
ters. Had they succeeded, in a hand to hand
fight numbers must have triumphed, and the
Spaniards must have been inevitably destroy
ed ; but the batteries of the Spaniards mowed
down the assailants like grass before the scythe,
and the Mexicans were driven from the walls.
All the day long the conflict was continued, and
late into the night. The ground was covered
with the dead when darkness stopped the car
nage.

216 Hernando Cortez.
Troops of Narvaez begin to murmur. The sally.
The soldiers of Narvaez, unaccustomed to
such scenes, and appalled by the fury and the
number of their enemies, began to murmur
loudly. They had been promised the spoils
of an empire which they were assured was al
ready conquered ; instead of this, they found
themselves in the utmost peril, exposed to a
conflict with a vigorous and exasperated enemy,
surrounding them with numbers which could
not be counted. Bitterly they execrated their
own folly in allowing themselves to be thus de
luded ; but their murmurs could now be of no
avail. The only hope for the Spaniards was
in united and indomitable courage.
The energies of Cortez increased with the
difficulties which surrounded him. During the
night he selected a strong force of picked" men
to make a vigorous sally in the morning. To
nerve them to higher daring, he resolved to
head the perilous enterprise himself. He avail
ed himself of all his knowledge of Indian war
fare, and of all the advantages which European
military art could furnish. In the early dawn,
these troops, in solid column, rushed from the
gates of their fortress ; but the foe, greatly
augmented by the fresh troops which had been
pouring in during the night, were ready to re-

Battle of the Dismal Night. 217
Cortez obliged to retreat. The conflagration.
ceive him. Both parties fought with ferocity
which has never been surpassed. Cortez, to
his inexpressible chagrin, found himself com
pelled to retire before the natives, who, in num
bers perfectly amazing, were crowding upon
him. Most of the streets were traversed by canals.
The bridges were broken down, and the Span
iards, thus arrested in their progress and crowd
ed together, were overwhelmed with stones and
arrows from the house-tops. Cortez set fire to
the houses every where along his line of march.
Though the walls of many of these buildings
were of stone, the flames ran eagerly through
the dry and combustible interior, and leaped
from roof to roof. A wide and wasting confla
gration soon swept horribly through the doomed
city, adding to the misery of the bloody strife.
All the day long the battle raged. The streets
were strewn with the bodies of the dead, and
crimsoned with gore. The natives cheerfully
sacrificed a hundred of their own lives to take
the life of one of their foes. The Spaniards
were, however, at length driven back behind
their walls, leaving twelve of their number
dead in the streets, and having sixty severely
wounded.

218 Hernando Cortez.
The desperate situation. The appeal to Montezuma.
Another night darkened over the bloodstain
ed and smouldering city. The Spaniards, ex
hausted by the interminable conflict, still stood
fiercely behind their ramparts. The natives,
in continually increasing numbers, surrounded
them, filling the night air with shrieks of defi
ance and rage. Cortez had displayed person
ally the most extraordinary heroism during the
protracted strife. His situation now seemed
desperate. Though many thousands of the
Mexicans had been slaughtered during the day,
recruits flocked in so rapidly that their numbers
remained undiminished. Cortez had received
a severe wound in his hand which caused him
intense anguish. His soldiers could hardly
stand from their exhaustion. Many had been
slain, and nearly all were wounded. The mad
dened roar of countless thousands of the fiercest
warriors surging around their bulwarks almost
deafened the ear. Every moment it was ap
prehended that the walls would be scaled, and
the inundation pour in resistlessly upon them.
In this extremity Cortez decided to appeal
to his captive Montezuma, and try the effect of
his interposition to soothe or overawe his sub
jects. Assuming the tone of humanity, he af
fected to deplore the awful carnage which had

Battle of the Dismal Night. 219
He is induced to interpose. The dawn of the morning.
taken place. He affirmed that the city must
inevitably be destroyed entirely, and the inhab
itants generally slaughtered, unless they could
be induced to lay down their arms. Monte
zuma, from one of the towers of the Spanish
fortress, had watched, with a throbbing heart
and flooded eyes, the progress of the fight as
the flames swept through the streets, and de
struction, like a scythe, mowed down his sub
jects. The amiable, beloved, perplexed sover
eign was thus induced, though with much hes
itation, to interpose. He was adored by his
people; but he beheved that the Spaniards
were enthroned by the voice of destiny, and
that resistance would but involve the nation in
a more bloody ruin.
Another morning dawned upon the combat
ants. In its earliest light the battle was again
renewed with increasing fury. No pen can de
scribe the tumult of this wild war. The yell of
countless thousands of assailants, the clang of
their trumpets, gongs, and drums, the clash of
arms, the rattle of musketry, and the roar of ar
tillery, presented a scene which had never be
fore found a parallel in the New World.
Suddenly all the tumult was hushed as the
venerated emperor, dressed in his imperial robes,

220 Hernando Cortez.
Attention of the natives. Address of Montezuma. He is wounded.
appeared upon the walls, and waved his hand
to command the attention of his subjects. At
the sight of their beloved sovereign silence al
most instantaneously prevailed, all bowed their
heads in reverence, and many prostrated them
selves upon the ground. Montezuma earnest
ly entreated them to cease from the conflict, as
suring them that the Spaniards would retire
from the city if the Mexicans would lay down
their arms.
"The war will soon be over," a Mexican
shouted from the crowd, "for we have all sworn
that not a Spaniard shall leave the city alive."
As Montezuma continued his urgency, plead
ing for the detested Spaniards, the natives for
a few moments longer continued to listen pa
tiently. But gradually a sullen murmur, like
a rising breeze, began to spread through the
ranks. Reproaches and threats succeeded. In
dignation now overtopped all barriers, and a
shower of stones and arrows suddenly fell upon
the unhappy monarch. Cortez had taken the
precaution to send a body-guard upon the wall
with Montezuma, with bucklers for his protec
tion ; but so sudden and unexpected was the
assault, that two arrows pierced his body, and
a stone, striking him on the temple, felled him

Battle of the Dismal Night. 223
He refuses nourishment. His death. Raging of the battle.
senseless to the ground before they could raise
their shields. This was the last drop in the
cup of bitterness which Montezuma was doom
ed to drain. The wounded monarch was con
veyed to his apartment, crushed in spirit, and
utterly broken-hearted. Finally, resolved no
longer to live, he tore the bandages from his
wounds, and refused all nourishment. Silent,
and brooding over his terrible calamities, he
lingered, the picture of dejection and woe, for a
few days, until he died.
In the mean time the battle was resumed
with all its fury. Throughout the day it raged
with the most intense ferocity. The Mexicans
took possession of a high tower which com
manded the Spanish quarters. It was neces
sary to dislodge them at any sacrifice. A de
tachment of chosen men was three times re
pulsed in its desperate assault. Cortez, aware
that the safety of the army depended upon the
result, ordered a buckler to be bound to his arm,
as he could not grasp it with his wounded hand,
and placed himself at the head of the attacking
column. Animated by his voice and example,
the Spaniards forced their way up the steps of
the temple, driving the Mexicans before them.
Having reached the spacious platform on the

224 Hernando Cortez.
The two Mexican nobles. Escape of Cortez. Night and its scenes.
summit, a terrible strife ensued. Two young
Mexican nobles resolved to effect the destruc
tion of Cortez by the sacrifice of their own lives.
They seized him, dragged him to the battle
ments, and threw themselves over while cling
ing to his person, that they might thus dash
him also upon the pavement beneath. But
Cortez, by his wonderful strength and agility,
shook them off, and thus broke from their grasp,
though they both perished. The victorious
Spaniards then set fire to the tower. Other
sorties were made during the day, and the
wretched city was as the crater of a volcano of
flame and blood. The energies of both parties
seemed to redouble with despair.
At last another night spread its veil over the
infuriated combatants. In its darkest watches,
the indomitable Cortez made a sortie at the
head of a strong band, and set three hundred
buildings in flames. The lurid fire, crackling
to the skies, illumined the tranquil lake, and
gleamed portentously upon the most distant vil
lages in the vast mountain-girdled valley. The
tumult of the midnight assault, the shrieks of
the women and children, and the groans of the
wounded and the dying, blended dismally with
the roar of the conflagration.

Battle of the Dismal Night. 225
Endeavors to intimidate the natives. Their heroism. Defiance.
Cortez now summoned the Mexican chiefs to
a parley. He stood upon the wall. The beau
tiful Marina, as interpreter, stood at his side.
The native chiefs were upon the ground before
him. The inflexible Spanish commander en
deavored to intimidate his determined foes by
threats. " If you do not immediately submit," said
he, "I will lay the whole city in ashes, and ev
ery man, woman, and child shall be put to the
sword." They answered defiantly,
" The bridges are broken down, and you can
not escape. You have better weapons of war
than we, but we have greater numbers. If we
offer a thousand fives for one, we will continue
the battle till you are all destroyed."
Saying this, they gave a signal, and a storm
of arrows and javelins pierced the air, and fell
into the beleaguered fortress. Notwithstand
ing the bold tone assumed by Cortez, the Span
iards were in great dismay. It was manifest
to all that their destruction was certain unless
they could cut their way through the enemy,
and escape from the city. The extraordinary
energies of this iron fanatic still remained un
shaken. Calmly he reflected upon his position,
P

226 Hernando Cortez.
Cortez resolves to leave the city. The moving towers. The retreat.
examined his resources, and formed his plans.
The Mexicans had barricaded the streets, and
had broken down the causeways, to prevent, if
possible, the escape of their foes. But there
was no longer any alternative for Cortez. De
struction was certain unless he could effect his
escape. He decided to make the desperate at
tempt at midnight. He immediately construct
ed moving towers, to be pushed through the
streets on wheels, at the head of his columns,
under the protection of which his soldiers could
force their way, and make every bullet accom
plish its mission. A platform on the top could
be let down, affording a bridge to the roofs of
the houses, thus placing the Spaniards on a
level with their assailants. The sides of the
towers were amply strong to repel darts and ar
rows. Thus protected from all harm, the sharp
shooters could sweep the streets and the house
tops. At midnight the retreat was commenced in
three divisions. Sandoval led the van, Alvara
do the rear. Cortez took command of the cen
tre, where he placed the distinguished prisoners,
among whom were a son and daughter of Mon
tezuma, and several of the high nobles. He
also carried with his division the artillerv. the

Battle of the Dismal Night. 227
The onset. Arrival at the canal.
baggage, and a portable bridge, ingeniously con
structed of timber, to be laid over the breaches
in the causeway. In profound silence the Sxmy
issued from their quarters, and marched firmly
along through the smouldering and gory streets.
For a little time they advanced unmolested ;
but the Mexicans were watching their move
ments, and were silently making dispositions
for a tremendous onset. Suddenly the shout
of an innumerable multitude and the clash of
arms rose fearfully in the dark night air, and
from every quarter the natives came rushing
on, and stones, javelins, darts, and arrows rat
tled like hail-stones upon helmet and buckler.
Every inch of the way was now contested. The
progress of the Spaniards, though slow, was re
sistless, the cannon and the musketry sweeping
down all obstacles.
At last they arrived at one of the numerous
canals which every where intersected, the city.
The bridge was destroyed, and the deep waters
flowing from the lake cut off all retreat. The
wooden bridge, prepared for such an emergence,
was thrown across the chasm. The head of
the Spanish column fought its way over suc
cessfully ; but, unfortunately, the weight of the
artillery and of the dense throng wedged the

228 Hernando Cortez.
Imminent peril. Filling the breach. Slow advance.
timbers so fast into the stones that all their ef
forts could not again remove them. Their peril
was* growing every moment more imminent, as
the roused natives were thronging to every point
where the retiring foe could be assailed. They
were thus compelled to leave the bridge behind
them. Advancing precipitately, the Spaniards soon
arrived at a second breach. Here they found
themselves hemmed in on all sides, and they
had no means of bridging the gap ; but, plant
ing their cannon so, as to hold the natives at
bay, every available hand was employed in
filling the chasm with stones and timbers torn
frqm the demolished and smouldering dwellings.
The labor was difficult and perilous, for they
were incessantly assailed by the most pelting
storm of the missiles of destruction.
For two days this terrific conflict raged.
Seven breaches in the canals they were com
pelled thus to bridge with stones and timbers
torn from the adjacent streets; but the Span
iards still slowly advanced, triumphing with
difficulty over every obstacle which the natives
could interpose. Though they thus sternly
fought their way along, trampling beneath them
the mutilated bodies of the dying and of the

Battle of the Dismal Night. 229
The storm. The causeway. Multitude of the enemy.
dead, at the close of the second day they found
their foes more numerous and their situation
more desperate than ever.
As the gloom of night again descended, a
deeper, heavier gloom rested upon all in the heart
of the Spanish camp. A wailing storm arose
of wind and rain, and nature mourned and wept
as if in sympathy with the woes of man. Avail
ing themselves of the darkness and of the up
roar of the midnight tempest, though weary,
faint, and bleeding, they urged their steps along
the war-scathed streets, for a time strangely
"encountering no opposition. But when they
reached the long causeway, nearly two miles in
length and but thirty feet wide, by which alone
they could reach the land, a yell of exultation
suddenly rose from the black and storm-lashed
waters of the lake, loud as the heaviest thun
ders. The whole lake, on both sides of the
causeway, seemed alive with the boats of the
natives, and the Spaniards were immediately
assailed by the swarming multitudes, who, in
the fierce and maddened strife, set all danger
at defiance.
War never exhibited a more demoniac aspect.
The natives opposed their advance, crowded
their rear, and clambered up the sides of the

230 Hernando Cortez.
Fury of the attack. Noche triste. Separation of the Spaniards.
causeway, attacking the foe on each flank with
indescribable fury. Fresh warriors instantly
rushed into the place where their comrades had
fallen, and those in the rear of the tumultuous
mass crowded their companions in the front
ranks resistlessly upon the compact enemy.
There were three chasms in the Causeway
broken by the Mexicans which the Spaniards
were compelled to bridge in the darkness and the
storm, and while assailed by an innumerable
and almost an invisible foe. Imagination can
not compass the horrors of that night. Noche
triste, dismal night, is the name by which it
has ever since been distinguished. In the aw
ful confusion, military skill and discipline were
of but little avail. The Spaniards could with
difficulty distinguish friend from foe, and ere
long they were nearly all quite swept away by
the torrent rushing so resistlessly upon them.
Cortez succeeded in keeping about a hundred
men around him, and, using the bodies of the
dead to aid him in bridging two chasms, he at
length reached the main land. The horrid
clamor still rose from the darkness of the cause
way as his companions, left behind, were strug
gling in desperation with the multitudes who
inclosed them. Cortez heroically, with every

Battle of the Dismal Night. 233
March to the rescue. Destruction of a part of the army.
man in his little band still able to fight, march
ed back to their rescue. A few succeeded in
breaking through the enemy, and joined him.
Multitudes were struck down or hurled into the
lake ; but dreadful was the anguish of Cortez
as he heard, piercing through the clamor, the
cries for help of his companions who were seized
by the natives as captives, and who were being
borne away to be offered in sacrifice to their
gods. The few who escaped, exhausted and
bleeding, clung together for the remainder of
the night near the village of Tacuba, where the
causeway reached the main land.
When the first gray of the lurid morning
dawned, the whole length of the causeway was
seen covered with the bodies of the slain. The
chasms were clogged up with fragments of ar
tillery, baggage-wagons, dead horses, and the
corpses of Spaniards and natives. The feat
ures of the dead were distorted by all the hate
ful passions of the strife. A few only had es
caped. Nearly all the horses, all the cannon,
all the plundered treasure, and all the baggage-
wagons, were either sunk in the lake, or were
floating in fragments upon its surface. The
storm had passed away, and the placid waters
were blackened with the war-canoes of the na-

234 Hernando Cortez.
Sorrow of Cortez. They flee to a temple.
fives. Not even a musket remained to the
Spaniards. Bernal Diaz records that in this
bloody night eight hundred and seventy of the
Spaniards perished. More than four thousand
of their allies were also slain.
As Cortez gazed upon the feeble band of
mangled and bleeding soldiers which now alone
remained to him, even his stern heart was
moved, and he bowed his head and wept bit
terly. We can not regret that some drops of
retributive woe were wrung from the heart of
that guilty conqueror. He had overwhelmed
a benighted nation with misery. Under the
divine government, such a crime can not go un
punished, and the penalty must descend either
in this life or in that which is to come.
But this was no time to indulge in grief. It
was necessary immediately to find some shelter
for the wearied troops. The Mexicans were
preparing to renew the attack, and the inhabi
tants of Tacuba were assembling in arms. At
a little distance, on a rising ground, Cortez dis
covered a large stone temple. He immediately
took possession of it, and here found not only
temporary shelter, but, fortunately, provisions
for his almost famished troops. Here, for a
day, the Spaniards beat off the foe who inces
santly assailed them.

Battle of the Dismal Night. 235
Condition of the party. March over the mountains.
"And God only knows," says Cortez, "the
toil and fatigue with which it was accomplish
ed ; for of twenty-four horses that remained to
us, there was not one that could move briskly,
nor a horseman able to raise his arm, nor a
foot-soldier unhurt who could make any effort."
They were now on the western side of the
lake. It was necessary to pass around the
northern shore of this vast expanse of water, as
the country was there thinly populated, and
they would be consequently less liable to at
tack. The road led a distance of nearly a hund
red miles over mountains and through marshes
to the eastern shore. From there, a march of
more than sixty-four miles was necessary be
fore they could reach the territory of Tlascala,
which was the first point where they could hope
for any relief.
Under the guidance of a Tlascalan soldier, the
despairing band commenced its march. They
advanced the first day and night but nine miles,
fighting incessantly all the way. For six days,
with hardly any respite, they continued their
retreat. Their only food they gathered as they
hurried along, of berries, roots, and green corn.
They were continually assailed by the indefati
gable foe ; but with their few remaining horses,

236 Hernando Cortez.
Value of the horses. Courage of Cortez. Shouts of defiance,
their steel swords, and the energies' which Eu
ropean civilization confers, they beat off their
assailants and continued their flight. As the
horses were needed to beat off the swarming foe,
the sick and wounded were compelled to hob
ble along, as they could, on crutches. "Next
to God," says Cortez, " our greatest security
was in our horses." One horse was killed. The
Spaniards eagerly devoured his flesh, "not leav
ing," says Cortez, "even his skin, or any other
part of him, so great were our necessities."
Cortez, who promptly recovered from his mo
mentary weakness, manifested the utmost se-
reneness and imperturbability of spirit, shared
every hardship of the soldiers, and maintain
ed their confidence in him by surpassing all
in the gallantry and the magnanimity of his
courage. Exhausted and wounded as they were, it re
quired the toilsome journey of a week to reach
the mountain summits which encircle the great
valley of Mexico. As they approached the de
files of these mountains, parties of the enemy
were seen here and there in increasing numbers.
The natives shouted to them from a distance
insults, defiance, and threats. Marina, who for
tunately escaped the massacre of the dismd

Battle of the Dismal Night. 237
Appearance ofthe enemy. Apprehensions of Cortez.
night, remarked that they often, in exultant
tones, exclaimed,
"Hurry along, robbers, hurry along; you
will soon meet with the vengeance due to your
crimes." The significance of this threat was soon made
manifest. As the Spaniards were emerging
from a narrow pass among the cliffs of the
mountains, they came suddenly upon an ex
tended plain. Here, to their amazement, they
found an enormous army of the natives filling
the whole expanse, and apparently cutting off
all possibility of farther retreat. The sight was
sufficient to appal the most dauntless heart.
The whole plain, as far as the eye could ex
tend, seemed as a living ocean of armed men,
with its crested billows of banners, and gleam
ing spears, and helmets, and plumes. Even the
heart of Cortez for a moment sank within him
as his practiced eye told him that there were
two hundred thousand warriors there in battle
array, through whose serried ranks he must cut
his bloody path or perish. To all the Span- ,
iards it seemed certain that their last hour had i
now tolled ; but each man resolved to sell his
life as dearly as possible.
Cortez immediately assembled his " band

238 Hernando Cortez.
The attack. Superstition of the Mexicans.
around him, and invigorated them with a forci
ble harangue. He assured them that there was
no possible hope but in the energies of despair;
but that, with those energies, they might confi
dently expect God's blessing, for they were his
servants, his missionaries, endeavoring to over
throw the idols of the heathen, and to introduce
the religion of the cross. In solid column, with
their long spears bristling in all directions, and
clad in coats of mail which protected a great
part of their bodies from both arrow and spear,
they plunged desperately into the dense masses
of the enemy. Wherever this solid body of
iron men directed its course, the tumultuous
throng of the foe was pierced and dashed aside,
as the stormy billows of the ocean yield to the
careering steamer. The marvelous incidents
of this fight would occupy pages. The onset
of the Spaniards was so fierce that the natives
could present no effectual resistance ; but as
the Indians were compelled to retire from the
front of the assailing column, they closed up
with shouts of vengeance and with redoubled
fury upon the flanks and the rear. Cortez had
heard that the superstition of the Mexicans was
such that the fate of a battle depended upon
the imperial banner, which was most carefully

Battle of the Dismal Night. 239
The capture of the standard. The natives flee. Arrival at Tlascala.
guarded in the centre of the army. If that
were taken, the natives deemed themselves for
saken by their gods, and in dismay would break
and fly. In the distance, for there was no
smoke of artillery to darken this field of battle,
he saw this standard proudly waving in the
breeze. With impetuosity which crushed down
all opposition, he pushed toward it. The stand
ard-bearers were stricken down and pinned to
the earth with lances. Cortez, with his own
hand, seized the sacred banner, and as he waved
it aloft his soldiers raised a simultaneous shout
of triumph.
The natives, with cries of rage, grief, and de
spair, in the wildest tumult, broke and fled to
the mountains. Their gods had abandoned
them. The victory of the Spaniards was com
plete. They record, though doubtless with ex
aggeration, for they had no leisure to stop and
count the slain, that twenty thousand of their
enemies were left dead upon that bloody field.
With new alacrity the victors now pressed on,
and the next day entered the territory of the
Tlascalans. Here they were received with the greatest
kindness. The enmity of the Tlascalans against
the Mexicans was so inveterate, and their desire

240 Hernando Cortez. .
Enmity of the Tlascalans against the Mexicans. New disasters.
to avenge the death of their countrymen so in
tense, that they still clung tenaciously to the
Spanish alliance, with the hope that new re
sources might arrive which would enable the
Spaniards to retrieve their fallen fortunes.
In the hospitable city of Tlascala Cortez al
lowed his shattered battalions that repose which
was now so indispensable. Nearly all his men
were suffering severely from sickness, fatigue,
and wounds. But here the Spanish chieftain
learned of new disasters which had befallen him.
A detachment of Spanish soldiers, who were
marching from Zempoalla to the capital as a re-
enforcement, had been cut off by the natives
and entirely destroyed. A small party, who
had been sent to convey some treasures from
Tlascala to Vera Cruz, had also been surprised
and destroyed among the mountains. When
the life of every Spaniard was of so much im
portance, these were, indeed, terrible additional
calamities. The companions of Cortez were now thor-'
oughly disheartened, and were anxious to re
turn to Vera Cruz, send a vessel to Cuba for
some transports, and abandon the enterprise;
but the indomitable warrior, though lying upon
the bed in a raging fever, and while a surgeon

Battle of the Dismal Night. 241
New designs of Cortes. Efforts to collect recruits.
was cutting off two of his mutilated and in
flamed fingers, and raising a portion of the bone
of his skull, which had been splintered by the
club of a native, was forming his plans to return
to Mexico and reconquer what he had lost.
The resources at his command still appeared to
him sufficient to form a nucleus around which
to assemble a new army. The garrison at Vera
Cruz, with its artillery and military stores,
still remained unimpaired ; the Tlascalans and
Zempoallans continued firm in their alliance ;
and he still could assemble, notwithstanding
his losses, as large a force as accompanied him
in his first march into Mexico. He therefore
resolved to make vigorous and prompt prepara
tions to prosecute his enterprise anew. He
wrote to his sovereign an account of the disas
ters he had encountered, saying, "I can not be--
lieve that the good and merciful God will thus
suffer his cause to perish among the heathen."
With great energy and sagacity he aroused
himself for this new effort. He made special
exertions to secure the cordial co-operation of
the Tlascalan chiefs, by distributing among
them the rich spoil taken in his last battle.
He dispatched four ships, selected from the fleet
captured from Narvaez, to Hispaniola and Ja-
Q

242 Hernando Cortez.
Preparations for building ships. Remonstrance of his companions.
maica, to collect recruits and supplies. That he
might secure the command of the lake, he pre
pared, with the ready aid of the Tlascalans, ma
terials for building twelve vessels, to be con
veyed in pieces by the men of burden to the
lake, there to be put together and launched upon
the waters.
The companions of Cortez had, however, by
far too vivid a recollection of the horrors of the
/dismal night to participate in the zeal of their
commander. Murmurs against the enterprise
grew louder and louder, until the camp was al
most in a state of mutiny. They assembled,
and appointed a delegation to wait upon their
commander, and remonstrate against another at
tempt, with his broken battalions, to subjugate
so powerful an empire. Respectfully, but firm
ly, they demanded to be taken back to Cuba.
All the arguments and entreaties of Cortez were
of no avail to change their minds or to allay
their anxieties.
We have before mentioned that a detach
ment of soldiers from Vera Cruz had been cut
off by the natives. The assailing force was
from one of the Mexican provinces in the vicin
ity of Tlascala, called Tepeaca. The soldiers,
without much unwillingness, consented to march

Battle of the Dismal Night. 243
The foray. Plunder. The Governor of Cuba sends ships to Vera Cruz.
to their region, and chastise them for the deed.
The enterprise would be attended with but lit
tle danger, and promised a large amount of
booty. It was now the month of August.
Cortez headed the expedition, and in the foray
of a few weeks, after an enormous slaughter of
the Tepeacans, reduced the province to subjec
tion, and returned to Tlascala laden with plun-
dfer. Another foray was soon undertaken, and
then another. Thus, for five months, while he
was collecting recruits and accumulating sup
plies, he adroitly kept his men employed in va
rious military expeditions till they again be
came accustomed to victory, and were ready to
enter upon a wider field of glory, which should
open before them more brilliant prospects for
wealth. Fortune, it is said, helps those who
help themselves. This inflexibility of purpose
and untiring energy on the part of Cortez, was
accompanied by what is usually termed the -
gifts of peculiarly good fortune.
The Governor of Cuba, unaware of the disas
ter which had befallen Narvaez, sent two ships
after him with a supply of men and military
stores. These vessels were decoyed into the
harbor of Vera Cruz, the stores seized, and the
men were easily induced to enter into the serv
ice of Cortez.

244 Hernando Cortez.
Expedition from the Governor of Jamaica. Collection of arms.
The Governor of Jamaica fitted out an expe
dition of three ships to prosecute an expedition
of discovery and conquest. They were very
unfortunate, and, after many disasters, these
ships, their crews being almost in a famishing
state, cast anchor at Vera Cruz. They listen
ed eagerly to the brilliant prospects which Cor
tez held out to them, and enlisted under his
banner. At the same time, it also happened
that a ship arrived from Spain, fitted out by
some private merchants with military stores,
and other articles for traffic among the natives.
Cortez immediately purchased the cargo, and
induced the crew to follow the example of the
others, and join his army. At last, the agents
he sent to Hispaniola and Jamaica returned,
with two hundred soldiers, eighty horses, two
battering-cannon, and a considerable supply of
ammunition and muskets. Cortez had in these
various ways now collected about him eight
hundred and eighteen foot-soldiers, eighty-six
horsemen, three battering-cannon, and fifteen
field-pieces. He established his head-quarters at Tepeaca,
on a small river which ran into the lake. The
iron, the planks, the timber, the masts, the cord
age, and the materials necessary to construct

Battle of the Dismal Night. 245
Equipping the fleet. The vessels baptized.
and equip a fleet of thirteen brigantines, were
to be carried a distance of sixty miles, over
rough roads, on the shoulders of men. Eight
thousand men of burden were furnished by the
Tlascalans for this work. Tepeaca was two
miles from the shore of the lake, and the rivu
let upon which it was situated was shallow. A
large number of natives were employed for two
months in deepening the channel, that the ves
sels might be floated down. Though the Mex
icans made many attacks while the brigantines
were being built, they were invariably repulsed.
At length the fleet was finished, and the whole
army was drawn up to witness, with all the ac
companiments of religious and military pomp,
the launching of the ships. Each vessel re
ceived a baptismal name and a blessing from
Father Olmedo. They glided smoothly down
the river, and were wafted out upon the lake,
a fleet amply strong to set all the power of the
Mexicans at defiance. A general shout of joy
burst from the lips of the Spaniards and Tlas
calans as they observed the triumphant success
of this measure. All despondency now disap
peared, and, sanguine of success, the whole army
was eager again to march to the assault of the
capital.

246 Hernando Cortez.

Preparations for defense. Cuitlahua.

Chapter IX.
The Capital Besieged and Cap

tured.

XX7~HILE Cortez was thus vigorously pre-
' " paring to renew the assault upon the city
of Mexico, the Mexicans were no less busy in
their preparations for defense. Upon the death
of Montezuma, the crown passed to his more
warlike brother Cuitlahua. By his energies the
Spaniards had been driven from the metropolis,
and he immediately, with great vigor, fortified
the city anew, and recruited and drilled his ar
mies, now familiar with the weapons of Euro
pean warfare. He sent an embassy to the
Tlascalans, urging alliance against a common
foe, and endeavoring to incite them to rise and
crush the Spaniards, who, without their alli
ance, would have been entirely helpless. The
sagacity of Cortez, however, baffled these ef
forts, and he succeeded in binding the Tlasca
lans to him by still stronger ties.
Among other woes, the Spaniards had intro
duced the small-pox into Mexico. The terri-

The Capital Besieged, etc. 247
Pestilence. Guatemozin. The brigantines.
ble curse now swept like a blast of destruc
tion through the land. The natives perished
by thousands. Many cities and villages were
almost depopulated. The fearful pestilence
reached the Mexican capital, and the emperor,
Cuitlahua, soon fell a victim to its ravages.
Guatemozin, the son-in-law of Montezuma,
was then, by the unanimous acclaim of his
countrymen, placed upon the throne. He was
a young man of high reputation for ability and
force of character, and proved himself the wor
thy leader of his nation in this dreadful crisis
of its fate. Guatemozin assembled all his forces
in the capital, as the strongest point upon which
they could stand upon their defense.
Cortez decided to make the assault by three
divisions of the army, each marching over one
of the causeways. Sandoval was to command
on the north, Alvarado on the west, and Olid
on the south. Cortez reserved to himself the
command of the brigantines, which were to
sweep the lakes, and drive the war-canoes of
the natives from the causeways. Each brig-
antine was manned with twenty-five Spaniards,
and armed with a cannon, whose shot would
make fearful havoc among the frail and crowd
ed canoes of the Mexicans.

248 Hernando Cortez.
The fleet is attacked The Spanish victorious.
Guatemozin immediately foresaw how much
he had to dread from this fleet, and decided
that, at every hazard, he must attempt its de
struction. He accordingly assembled an enor
mous mass of canoes, hoping by numbers to
overpower Jhe enemy. The day was calm ;
not a ripple disturbed the glassy surface of the
water, when a fleet of canoes, in numbers which
could not be counted, pushed out boldly into
the lake to assail the brigantines lying at an
chor. But just then, to the great joy of the Span
iards and to the dismay of the Mexicans, a fresh
and favorable breeze arose, which would drive
the brigantines resistlessly through the swarm
of fragile boats which were approaching them.
The sails were instantly spread, the cannon
were loaded almost to the muzzle, and the work
of death began. The heavy vessels crushed the
canoes, overturned them, drove them one upon
another in indescribable confusion, while the
merciless shot pierced bones, and nerves, and
sinews, and the surface of the lake was cov-.,
ered with the mutilated bodies of the dying
and of the dead. The water was red with
blood, and in a short time the fleet was de
stroyed ; but few of the boats escaped. The,

The Capital Besieged, etc. 249
Dismay of the Mexicans. Cortez's skill.
Mexicans, from their house-tops, gazed with dis
may upon this awful scene of carnage, and
were oppressed with fearful forebodings tha,t no
degree of courage and no superiority of num
bers could avail them against the terrible en
gines of destruction which European skill had
framed. Cortez was now completely master of the
lake. He formed his brigantines into three di
visions, to cover the assailants on the three
causeways and to protect them from any attack
by canoes. He thus also preserved communi
cation, prompt and effective, between the differ
ent divisions of his army. The military skill
displayed by Cortez in all these arrangements
is of the highest kind. The conquest of Mex
ico was not achieved by accident, but by sa
gacity, persevering energy, and patient toil al
most unparalleled.
The siege was now prosecuted with the most
determined vigor. The approaches were made
along the three causeways. The natives had
broken down the bridges and reared a succes
sion of formidable barricades, and as they were
driven from one by the irresistible force of ar
tillery, they retired, with firmness worthy of ad-'
miration, to the next, there to maintain their

250 Hernando Cortez.
The siege continued. Obstinate resistance.
post to the last possible moment. The brigan
tines approached the sides of the causeways
and opened a destructive fire upon the valiant
defenders, where the Spaniards were exposed
to no danger in return. Thus for nearly three
months, by day and by night, on the land and
on the water, the bloody strife was continued.
Cortez was astonished at the obstinacy and
efficiency of the resistance effected by the be
sieged. Gradually, however, the besiegers ad
vanced, carefully filling up behind them the
gaps in the causeway, that they might easily,
if necessary, effect a retreat. They were taught
the necessity of this precaution by a terrible
repulse which they at one time encountered.
Guatemozin, with a quick military eye, perceiv
ing that the causeway occupied by one of the
divisions of the Spaniards was impassable be
hind the Spaniards from trenches unfilled, and
broken bridges, and the ruins of barricades, or
dered the Mexican troops to retire, to lure the
Spaniards forward. He then collected an enor
mous force, dispatching some in canoes along
shallows which the brigantines could not ap
proach, and then, at a signal from the great
alarm drum on the summit of the temple, whose
doleful tones could be heard for miles, the whole

The Capital Besieged, etc. 251
Sortie by the Mexicans. Preparations for sacrifice,
mass, with frantic rage, stimulated by hope,
rushed upon the foe. The sudden assault, so
impetuous, and sustained by such vast num
bers, was quite successful. The Spaniards
were driven back in confusion, horsemen and
infantry crowding upon each other, till multi
tudes were forced, pell-mell, horses, and can
non, and men, into the chasms. Here the na
tives, in their light canoes, fell furiously upon
them. More than twenty Spaniards were kill
ed outright, and forty, mangled and bleeding,
fell alive into the hands of the victors. There
was no possible escape for the captives from
their doom. They were to be sacrificed to the
gods. This was an awful reverse, and the Spaniards
were horror-stricken in contemplating the fate
of their captured comrades. The capital was
that night illuminated with great brilliance, and
the splendor of the great pyramidal temple,
blazing with innumerable torches, gleamed far
and wide over the lake. It was an awful spec
tacle to the Spaniards, for they well knew the
scenes which were transpiring on that lofty al
tar of idolatry. The preparations for the sac
rifice could be distinctly seen, and the move
ments of the sacrificial priests. The white

252 Hernando Cortez.
Torturing the captives. The sacrifice,
bodies of the victims could also be clearly dis
cerned as they were stripped naked for the tor
ture and the knife ; and when the awful torture
was applied, the shrieks of the wretched suffer
ers pierced the still night air, and penetrated
the camp of the Spaniards. They listened ap
palled to those cries of agony, imagining that
they could distinguish each victim by the sound
of his voice.
This awful scene is thus described by Diaz :
" On a sudden, our ears were struck by the hor
rific sound of the great drum, the timbrels,
horns, and trumpets on the temple. We all
directed our eyes thither, and, shocking to re
late, saw our unfortunate countrymen driven by
blows to the place where they were to be sac
rificed, which bloody ceremony was accompa
nied by the dismal sound of all the instruments
of the temple. We perceived that when they
had brought the wretched victims to the flat
summit of the body of the temple, they put
plumes upon then- heads, and made them dance
before their accursed idols. When they had
done this, they laid them upon their backs on
the stone used for the purpose, where they cut
out their hearts alive, and having presented
them, yet palpitating, to then- gods, they drew

The Capital Besieged, etc. 253
The Mexicans are elated by their victory.
the bodies down the steps by the feet, where
they were taken by others of their priests. Let
the reader think what were our sensations on
this occasion. O heavenly God! said we to
ourselves, do not suffer us to be sacrificed by
these wretches. Do not suffer us to die so cru
el a death. And then, how shocking a reflec
tion, that we were unable to relieve our poor
' friends, who were thus murdered before our
eyes." This victory elated the Mexicans exceeding
ly. They cut off the heads of the sacrificed
Spaniards, and sent them to the adjacent prov
inces, to prove that their gods, now appeased by
this signal offering of blood, had abandoned the
enemy. The priests sent the assurance far and
wide that victory was now certain, as the or
acles had returned the response that in eight
days the detested enemy should be entirely de
stroyed. This prediction exerted a great influ
ence upon a superstitious people. Many of the
natives who had joined Cortez deserted his
cause, and even the Tlascalans began to waver.
The prudence and shrewdness of Cortez again
met the danger and averted it. For eight days
he made no advance, but merely stood on the
defensive. The predicted time having expired,

254 Hernando Cortez.
Shrewdness of Cortez. His allies
he said, " You see that the gods have deceived
the Mexicans. They have espoused our cause."
The fickle people immediately returned to
their stations, and others joined them, so that
Cortez, according to his own account, now found
himself at the head of one hundred and fifty
thousand Indians. Gomara and Herrera as
sert that there were not less than two hundred
thousand. The number of defenders in the
Mexican capital can not with accuracy be as
certained. It is estimated, however, from va
rious considerations, that there must have been
at least two hundred thousand.
The Spaniards, in this sanguinary and pro
tracted siege, often suffered severely for want
of food. With apparent reluctance, the histo
rians of the expedition record that their Indian
auxiliaries found quite an abundant supply for
themselves in the bodies of their enemies.
Some of them were rather ashamed to acknowl
edge that their auxiliaries were inveterate can
nibals. Cortez, however, alludes to their hor
rible repasts quite in a tone of indifference.
With greater caution the Spaniards now ad
vanced, fortifying every point they gained, and
preparing a smooth and unobstructed road in
their rear. Their progress was exceedingly slow,

The Capital Besieged, etc. 255
Progress of the siege. The allies in the city.
and it was necessary to adopt every possible
precaution against an enemy who had manifest
ed such unexpected audacity and skill. As the
Spaniards pushed forward, the Mexicans, con
testing every inch of the way, sullenly retired,
rearing barricade after barricade, and digging
ditch behind ditch. But artillery and Europe
an science were sure, in the end, to triumph.
Gradually the three divisions of the army forced
their way across the causeways, and entered the
streets of the city. But here the defense was,
if possible, still more determined and sangui
nary. Every street was a guarded defile, where
every obstacle was interposed which Mexican
military skill could devise. Every house was
a fortress, from whose battlemented roof and
loop-holed windows a shower of stones, arrows,
and javelins fell upon the besiegers. As the
Spaniards gained ground, step by step, they
leveled every house, and left entire ruin and
desolation behind them.
Day after day and week after week of this
unparalleled siege lingered along, every hour of
which almost was a battle. The Mexicans fell
in incredible numbers. The horrors of pesti
lence and famine in the pent-up city were soon
added to the awful carnage and misery of war.

256 Hernando Cortez.
Sufferings of the Mexicans. The public square.
The brigantines swept the lake, cutting off near
ly all supplies by water for the valiant yet starv
ing defenders, while the armies on the cause
ways completely invested the city by land.
Wan and haggard, these unhappy victims of
European aggression, even when all hope of
successful resistance had expired, heroically re
solved to perish to the last man, and to bury
themselves beneath the ruins of their city.
Even the heart of Cortez was touched with
the almost unearthly misery he was inflicting
upon an unoffending people. Again and again
he sent to Guatemozin demanding capitulation;
but the proud Mexican monarch rejected every
overture with indignation and scorn. At length
the three divisions of the army, from their three
different points of attack, penetrated the city so
far as to meet at the great public square. The
whole western portion of the city was now in
the power of the besiegers. The starving and
dying defenders were shut up in a small section
of less than one fourth of the capital.
The Spaniards, now sure of success, pressed
the siege with new ardor. Their forces had
met, and were combined in the great square.
The avenues connecting with the country were
all open before them, so that they could freely

The Capital Besieged, etc. 257
Affairs in the Mexican camp. A desperate resolve.
go and come. The lake was swept by the brig
antines, and, though a swift canoe could occa
sionally shoot along the shore, the natives could
not venture, in the face of such a force, to cross
the wide expanse of water. Affairs in the Mex
ican camp were now in the very darkest state
of misery and gloom.
The Mexicans regarded their monarch with
superstitious veneration. Upon his life all their
destinies were suspended. His voice was om
nipotent with the people. After long deliber
ation, the desperate resolve was adopted to send
Guatemozin in a canoe across the broad waters
of the lake, which like an ocean swept around
the city, to the eastern shore. But Cortez, ever
on' the alert, anticipated this movement, and or
dered the brigantines to maintain the most vig
ilant watch. The Mexicans, to deceive Cortez,
sent an embassy to him to confer upon terms
of capitulation. They hoped thus to engage his
attention so that Guatemozin could escape un-
perceived, and, having roused all the distant
provinces, who would spring to arms at his
voice,- could make an assault upon the rear of
the foe.
Sandoval was now placed in command of the
brigantines. He observed one morning sev-
R

258 Hernando Cortez.
Pursuit. The monarch captured. His dignity.
eral canoes, crowded with people and plied by
strong rowers, shoot from the city, and direct
their course across the lake toward the eastern
shore. The signal was instantly given for pur
suit. Unfortunately for the Mexicans, a favor
able breeze sprang up, and one of the brigan
tines soon drew near the largest boat. The can
non was loaded, and heavily shotted and aimed.
The gunner stood ready with his lighted torch.
In another moment the fatal discharge would
have strewed the lake with the fragments of the
boat and the mangled bodies of the slain. The
Mexicans, regardless of their own lives, but in
tensely anxious for the safety of their sovereign,
dropped their oars, and holding up their hands
beseechingly, with cries and tears, besought the
Spaniards not to fire, exclaiming that the em
peror was there.
Eagerly the precious prize was seized. The
heroic Guatemozin with dignity surrendered
himself into the hands of his victors, asking no
favor for himself, but simply requesting that no
insult might be oftered to the empress or his
children, who were in the boat with him. With
much exultation, the captive monarch, who was
but twenty-four years of age, was conveyed to
the shore, and conducted into the presence of

The Capital Besieged, etc. 261
Guatemozin's fortitude. Pretended magnanimity of Cortez.
Cortez. Guatemozin retained his fortitude un
shaken. Looking firmly upon his conqueror,
he said, loftily,
"I have done what became a monarch. I
have defended my people to the last extremity.
Nothing now remains for me but to die. Take
this dagger," he continued, placing his hand
upon the one which Cortez wore at his side,
" and plunge it into my bosom, and thus end a
life which is henceforth useless."
Cortez well knew how to act the part of mag
nanimity. He was by instinct a man of prince
ly manners. Castilian grace and dignity ever
shone pre-eminent in his movements. He en
deavored to console his vanquished foe, whose
bold defense commanded his respect.
" You are not my captive," said he, "but the
prisoner of the greatest monarch of Europe.
From his great clemency, you may. hope not
only that you may be restored to liberty, but
that you may again be placed upon the throne
which you have so valiantly defended."
Guatemozin had no confidence in the word
of Cortez. He knew well the perfidy and the
treachery which had marked every step of the
invader's march thus far. Proudly disdaining
to manifest any concern for his own fate, he

262 Hernando Cortez.
The Mexicans surrender. Loss of the Spanish.
plead only that Cortez would be merciful to his
suffering people. The conqueror promised com
passion if Guatemozin would command their
instant surrender. This was promptly done,
and the command was instantly obeyed. The
Mexicans lost all heart as soon as they learned
that their monarch was a prisoner. Cortez im
mediately took possession of the small portion
of the city which still remained undestroyed.
Thus terminated this memorable siege, one
of the most remarkable which has been record
ed in the horrid annals of war. It had contin
ued for seventy-five days of almost incessant
conflict. Almost every hour the fiercest battle
raged, as step by step the assailants, with the
utmost effort and difficulty, crowded back the
valiant defenders. No less than one hundred
and fifty thousand Mexicans perished in this
awful and atrocious siege. The Spaniards, who
wished to make 'their loss appear as small as
possible, admit that one hundred of the Span
ish soldiers fell, and many thousands of their.
allies. Nearly the whole capital was now but a mass
of blackened and smouldering ruins. Its nu
merous squares, streets, and courts, but recent
ly so beautiful in their neat order, and their em-

The Capital Besieged, etc. 263
Appearance of the captured city.
bellishments of shrubbery and flowers, were
now clotted with blood and covered with the
mangled bodies of the slain. The sight was
hideous even to those accustomed to ail the re
volting scenes which demoniac war ever brings
in its train.
The ground was covered with the dead.
Among the putrefying heaps some wretches
were seen, wounded, bleeding, and crawling
about in advanced stages of those loathsome
diseases produced by famine and misery.
The air was so polluted with the masses of
the dead, decaying beneath the rays of a tropic
al sun, that Cortez was compelled to withdraw
his army from the city that the dead might be
removed and the streets purified. For three
days and three nights the causeways were
thronged by endless processions of the natives
bearing the mouldering corpses from the city.
But the Spaniards were insensible to the woes
which they had inflicted upon others in their
exultation over their great victory. They had
conquered the enemy. The capital was in their
hands, and they had now but to collect the
boundless treasures which they supposed were
accumulated in the halls of Montezuma. It
was on Tuesday, the 13th of August, 1521, that

264 Hernando Cortez.
Piety of Cortez. Searching for the treasures.
the conflict ceased. The mighty empire of
Mexico on that day perished, and there remain
ed in its stead but a colony of Spain.
On the very day of the capture Cortez search
ed every spot where treasure could be found,
and having collected every thing of value, re
turned to his camp, "giving thanks," he says,
" to our Lord for so signal a reward and so de
sirable a victory as he has granted us." He
continued for three or four days searching eager
ly for spoils, amid all the scenes of horror pre
sented by the devastated city. All the gold
and silver which were found were melted down,
and one fifth was set apart for the King of
Spain, while the rest was divided among the
Spaniards according to their rank and serv
ices. "Among the spoils obtained in the city,"
says Cortez, in his dispatch to Charles V.,
"were many shields of gold, plumes, panaches,
and other articles of so wonderful a character,
that language will not convey an idea of them,
nor could a correct conception be formed of
their rare excellence without seeing them."
Still the booty which was gained fell far
short of the expectation of the victors. The
heroic Guatemozin, when the hope of success-

The Capital Besieged, etc. 265
The native allies. Their carousals.
ful defense had expired, determined that the
conquerors should not be enriched by the treas
ures of the empire. A vast amount was conse
quently sent out in boats, and sunk to the bot
tom of the lake. For a short time, however,
exultation in view of their great victory caused
both the commander and his soldiers to forget
their disappointment ; love of glory for a mo
ment triumphed over avarice.
The native allies had been, but tools in the
hand of Cortez to subjugate the Mexicans. The
deluded natives had thus also subjugated them
selves. They were now powerless, and the
bond-servants of the Spaniards. Cortez allow
ed them to sack the few remaining dwellings
of the smouldering capital, and to load them
selves with such articles as might seem valua
ble to semi-barbarian eyes, but which would
have no cash value in Spain. With this share
of the plunder they were satisfied, and their
camp resounded with revelry as those fierce
warriors, with songs and dances, exulted over
the downfall of their ancient foes. Cortez
thanked them for their assistance, praised them
for their valor, and told them that they might
now go home. They went home, soon to find
that it was to them home no more. The stran-

266 Hernando Cortez.
Spanish revelries and religious celebrations.
ger possessed their country, and they and then-
children were his slaves.
In the Spanish camp the victory was honored
by a double celebration. The first was purely
worldly, and religion was held entirely in abey
ance. Bonfires blazed. Deep into the night
the drunken revelry resounded over the lake,
until Father Olmedo remonstrated against such
godless wassail.
The next day was appropriated to the relig
ious celebration. The whole army was formed
into a procession. The image of the peaceful
Virgin was decorated with tattered, blackened,
and bloodstained banners, beneath which the
Christians had so successfully struggled against
the heathen. With hymns and chants, and in
the repetition of creeds and prayers, this piratic
band of fanatics, crimson with the blood of the
innocent, moved to an appointed sanctuary,
where Father Olmedo preached an impressive
sermon, and solemnized the ordinance of the
mass. The sacrament was administered to Cor-
,tez and his captains, and, with the imposing ac
companiments of martial music and pealing ar
tillery, thanksgivings were offered to God.
Bernal Diaz gives the following quaint and
graphic account of these festivities : " After

The Capital Besieged, etc. 267
An entertainment. The plant of Noah.
having returned thanks to God, Cortez determ
ined to celebrate his success by a festival in
Cuyoacan. A vessel had arrived at Villa Rica
with a cargo of wine, and hogs had been pro
vided from the island of Cuba. To this en
tertainment he invited all the officers of his
army, and also the soldiers of estimation. All
things being prepared, on the day appointed we
waited on our general.
" When we came to sit down to dinner, there
were not tables for one half of us. This brought
on great confusion among the company, and*
indeed, for many reasons, it would have been
much better let alone. The plant of Noah
was the cause of many fooleries and worse
things. It made some ,. leap over the tables
who afterward could not go out at the doors,
and many rolled down the steps. The private
soldiers swore they would buy horses with
golden harness. The cross-bow-men would
use none but golden arrows. All were to have
their fortunes made.
" When the tables were taken away, the sol
diers danced in their armor with the ladies, as
many of them as there were, but the dispropor
tion in numbers was very great. This scene
was truly ridiculous. I will not mention the

268 Hernando Cortez.
Father Olmedo. Religious ceremonies.
names ; suffice it to say, a fair field was open
for satire. Father Olmedo thought what he
observed at the feast and in the dances too
scandalous, and complained to Sandoval. The
latter directly told Cortez how the reverend fa
ther was scolding and grumbling.
" Cortez, discreet in all his actions, immedi
ately went to Father Olmedo, and, affecting to
disapprove of the whole affair, requested that
he would order a solemn mass and thanksgiv
ing, and preach a sermon to the soldiers of the
moral and religious duties. Father Olmedo
was highly pleased at this, thinking it had orig
inated spontaneously from Cortez, and not
knowing that the hint had been given him by
Sandoval. Accordingly, the crucifixes and the
image of Our Lady were borne in solemn pro
cession, with drums and standards. The Lita
ny was sung during the ceremony. Father Ol
medo preached and administered the, sacrament,
and we returned thanks to God for our victory."
But now came the hour for discontent and
murmuring. The excitement was over, the
din of arms was hushed, the beautiful city was
entirely destroyed, and two hundred thousand
of the wretched inhabitants, whose only crime
against the Spaniards was that they defended

The Capital Besieged,

ETC. 269

Discontent. Clamors of the army.

Cortez yields.

their wives, their children, and their homes,
were festering in the grave. In counting up
thefr gains, these guilty men found that the
whole sum amounted to but about one hundred
and twenty thousand dollars. Their grievous
disappointment vented itself in loud complain
ings, and was soon turned into rage. They
accused Guatemozin of having secreted the
treasure which had been hoarded up, and de
manded that he should be put to the torture to
compel him to disclose the place of concealment.
Cortez, for a time, firmly refused to yield to this
atrocious demand ; but the clamor of the disaf
fected grew louder and louder, until at last
Cortez was accused of being in agreement with
Guatemozin, that he might appropriate to his
own use the secreted treasure.
Thus goaded, Cortez infamously consented
that the unhappy captive monarch should be
put to the torture. The cacique of Tacuba,
the companion of Guatemozin, and his highest
officer, was put to the torture with him. A hot
fire was kindled, and the feet of the wretched
victims, drenched in oil, were exposed to the
burning, coals. Guatemozin had nothing to re
veal. He could merely assert that the treas
ures of the city were thrown into the lake.

270 Hernando Cortez.
Guatemozin's tortures. Cortez rescues him
With extraordinary fortitude he endured the
agony, adding additional lustre to a name al
ready ennobled by the heroism with which he
conducted the defense. His companion died
upon this bed of agony. In the extremity of
his torment, he turned an imploring eye toward
the king. Guatemozin, it is recorded, observ
ing his look, replied, "Am I, then, reposing
upon a bed of flowers ?" Cortez, who had re
luctantly yielded to this atrocity, at last inter
posed, and rescued the imperial sufferer. Cor
tez has much to answer for before the bar of
this world's judgment. For many of his crim
inal acts some apology may be framed, but for
the torture of Guatemozin he stands condemn
ed without excuse. No voice will plead his
cause. Cortez seemed to be fully aware that
it was not a creditable story for him to tell, and
in his dispatches to the King of Spain he made
no allusion to the event.
It was a grievous disappointment to Cortez
that so little treasure was obtained, for his am
bition was roused to send immense sums to the
Spanish court, that he might purchase high fa
vor with his monarch by thus proving the
wealth and grandeur of the kingdom he had
subjugated. Cortez himself accompanied a

The Capital Besieged, etc. 271
The divers. Nature of the Mexican empire.
party of practiced divers upon the lake, and
long and anxiously conducted the search ; but
the divers invariably returned from the oozy
bottom of the lake empty-handed : no treasure
could be found.
It has before been mentioned that the em
pire of Mexico consisted of a conglomeration
of once independent nations, which had been in
various ways annexed to the mammoth empire.
It was somewhat like Austria, having many
Hungarys and Polands ripe for revolt. Cortez
had adroitly availed himself of these disaffec-
tions in accomplishing his wonderful conquest.
The Zempoallans and Tlascalans augmented his
ranks with fierce warriors nearly two hundred
thousand in number. There were many prov
inces of the empire on the north and the west
which as yet no European foot had ever en
tered. It was a question whether these remote
provinces would band together in hostility to
the Spaniards, and thus indefinitely protract the
conflict, or whether, seeing the capital in ruins
and their monarch a captive, they would admit
the hopelessness of the strife, and yield to their
conquerors. Far and wide, through the valleys and over
the mountains, the tidings of the annihilation

272 Hernando Cortez.
The various Mexican governments yield to Cortez.
of the Mexican army was borne by the Indian
runners, awakening consternation every where
in view of the resistless power of the victors.
Some, however, who were restive under the
Mexican yoke, were not unwilling to exchange
masters. To the great relief and joy of Cortez,
day after day, envoys flocked- to his presence
from powerful nations to proffer allegiance and
implore clemency. Cortez received them all
with great courtesy and hospitality, and took
not a little pleasure in witnessing the amaze
ment with which these embassadors contem
plated the power, to them supernatural, which
the Spaniards wielded. The brigantines spread
their sails and plowed their way, with speed
which no canoe could equal, over the foamy
waters of the lake. The cavalry wheeled and
charged in all those prompt and orderly evolu
tions to which the war-horse can be trained.
And when the heavy artillery uttered its roar,
and shivered the distant rock with its thunder
bolt, the envoys, amazed, bewildered, and ap
palled, were prepared to make any concessions
rather than incur the displeasure of such fear
ful foes.
The power of Cortez was now unquestioned,
and Mexico was in the dust before him. Still,

The Capital Besieged, etc. 273
Perplexity of Cortez. His treason. Velasquez.
the conqueror was in great perplexity respect
ing the light in which his conduct was viewed
in the court of his stern monarch, Charles V.
While engaged in the slaughter of two or three
hundred thousand people, while overrunning na
tions and establishing new governments, he was
acting not only without authority from his gov
ernment, but in direct opposition to its com
mands. Velasquez, the governor of Cuba, was
invested with authority by the voice of the em
peror, and yet Cortez had set his power at de
fiance. By the command of the emperor, ex
peditions had been fitted out to prosecute dis
coveries and to acquire dominion in Mexico,
and yet Cortez had audaciously made war upon
these bands marching under the banner of
Spain. He had slain many, taken the rest
prisoners, and constrained them, by bribes and
menaces, to join his marauding army. Cortez
well knew that this was treason, and that he
was liable to answer for it with his life. He
well knew that Velasquez, mortified and exas
perated, had made bitter complaints against him
at court, and that there was no one there effect
ually to plead his cause.
Under these circumstances, Cortez awaited
with much solicitude the next arrival from
S

274 Hernando Cortez.

Cortez's labors His dispatches
Spain. In the mean time, he made every pos
sible effort to transmit gold and silver to the
Spanish monarch, and with untiring zeal urged
his discoveries, that he might ennoble himself
and win the gratitude of his sovereign by add
ing to the wealth, the dominion, and the fame
of his native kingdom. Wishing to assume
that he was acting humbly as the servant of
his king, he sent him, in the form of dispatches,
a minute account of all his movements.
As a specimen of these dispatches, the read
er will peruse with interest the following ac
count of the last two days of the siege. This
dispatch is dated from the City of Cuyoacan
{Mexico), May 15th, 1522. This city was on
the main land, at the end of one of the cause
ways which led to. the island capital. The let
ter is thus humbly addressed :
"Most high and potent Prince; most cath
olic and invincible Emperor, King, and Lord."
This narrative of the siege is so minute as to
.occupy one hundred and fifty closely-printed
octavo pages, and gives a circumstantial account
of the proceedings of each day. The closing
paragraphs only are here extracted. The nar
rative which Cortez gives sometimes differs, in
unimportant particulars, from that recorded by

The Capital Besieged, etc. 275
An extract. Cortez's address to the nobles.
other historians of the campaign, who were eye
witnesses of the scenes which they described.
" As soon as it was day, I caused our whole
force to be in readiness, and the heavy guns to
be brought out. The day before, I had order
ed Pedro de Alvarado to wait for me in the
square of the market-place, and not to attack
the enemy until I arrived. Being all assem
bled, and the brigantines drawn up ready for
action on the right of the houses situated on
the water, where the enemy were stationed, I
directed that when they heard the discharge of
a musket, the land force should enter the small
part of the city that remained to be taken, and
drive the enemy toward the water, where the
brigantines lay. I enjoined much upon them
to look for Guatemozin, and endeavor to take
him alive, as in that case the war would cease.
I then ascended a terrace, and, before the com
bat began, addressed some of the nobles whom
I knew, asking them for what reason their sov
ereign refused to come to me when they were
reduced to such extremities, adding that there
was no good cause why they should all perish,
and that they should go and call him, and have
no fears.
" Two of the principal nobles then went to

276 Hernando Cortez.
Ciquacoacin's reply. He departs.
call the emperor. After a short time they re
turned, accompanied by one of the most consid
erable of their personages, Ciquacoacifi, a cap
tain and governor qver them all, by whose coun
sels the whole affairs of the war were conduct
ed. I received him with great kindness, that
he might feel perfectly secure and free from ap
prehensions. At last he said that 'the em
peror would by no means come into my pres
ence, preferring rather to die ; that his determ
ination grieved him much, but that I must do
whatever I desired. ' When I saw that this was
his settled purpose, I told the noble messenger
to return to his friends, and prepare for the re
newal of the war, which I was resolved to con
tinue until their destruction was complete. So
he departed.
"More than five hours had been spent in
these conferences, during which time .many of
the inhabitants were crowded together upon
piles of the dead ; some were on the water, and
others were seen swimming about or drowning
in the part of the lake where the canoes were
lying, which was of considerable extent. In
deed, so excessive were the sufferings of the
people, that no one could imagine how they
were able to sustain them ; and an immense.

The Capital Besieged, etc. 277
Loss of the Mexicans. Fifty thousand killed.
multitude of men, women, and children were
compelled to seek refuge with us, many of
whom, in their eagerness to reach us, threw
themselves into the water, and were drowned
among the mass of dead bodies. It appeared
that the number of persons who had perished,
either from drinking salt water, from famine or
pestilence, amounted altogether to more than
fifty thousand souls.
" In order to conceal their necessitous condi
tion from our knowledge, the bodies of the dead
were not thrown into the water, lest the brig
antines should come in contact with them, nor
were they taken away from the places where
they had died, lest we should see them about
the city ; but in those streets where they had
perished we found heaps of dead bodies so fre
quent, that a person passing could not avoid
stepping upon them ; and when the people of
the city flocked toward us, I caused Spaniards
to be stationed through all the streets to pre
vent our allies from destroying the wretched
persons who came out in such multitudes. I
also charged the captains of our allies to forbid,
by all means in their. power, the slaughter of
these fugitives ; yet all my precautions were
insufficient to prevent it, and that day more

278 Hernando Cortez.
Cannonading the city. The musketry,
than fifteen thousand lost their lives. At the
same time, the better classes and the warriors
of the city were pent up within narrow limits,
confined to a few terraces and houses, or sought
refuge on the water ; but no concealment pre
vented our. seeing their miserable condition and
weakness with sufficient clearness.
"As the evening approached and no sign of
their surrender appeared, I ordered the two
pieces of ordnance to be leveled toward the en
emy, to try their effect in causing them to
yield ; but they suffered greater injury when
full license was given to the allies to attack
them than from the cannon, although the lat
ter did them some mischief. As this was of lit
tle avail, I ordered the musketry to he fired.
When a certain angular space, where they were
crowded together, was gained, and some of the
people thrown into the water, those that re
mained there yielded themselves prisoners with
out a struggle.
" In the mean time, the brigantines suddenly
entered that part of the lake, and broke tnrough
the midst of the fleet of canoes, the warriors
who were in them not daring to make any re
sistance. It pleased God that the captain of a
brigantine, named Garci Holguin, came up be-

The Capital Besieged, etc. 279
Capture of Guatemozin His behavior.
hind a canoe in which there seemed to be per
sons of distinction ; and when the archers, who
were stationed in the bow of the brigantine,
took aim at those in the canoe, they made a
signal that the emperor was there, that the men
might not discharge their arrows. Instantly our
people leaped into the canoe, and seized in it
Guatemozin and the Lord of Tacuba, together
with other-distinguished persons who accompa
nied the emperor.
"Immediately after this occurrence, Garci
Holguin, the captain, delivered to me, on a ter
race adjoining the lake, where I was standing,
Guatemozin, with other noble prisoners. As I,
without showing any asperity of manner, bade
him sit down, he came up to me and said, in his
own tongue,
" ' That he had done all that was incumbent
on him in defense of himself and his people,
until he was reduced to his present condition ;
that now I might do with him as I pleased.'
He thendaid his hand on a poniard that I wore,
telling me to strike him to the heart.
" I spoke encouragingly to him, and bade
him have no fears. Thus, the emperor being
taken a prisoner, the war ceased at this point,
which it pleased God our Lord to bring to a

280 Hernando Cortez.

Anniversary of the capture of Mexico.

conclusion on Tuesday, St. Hippolytus's day,
the thirteenth of August, 1521 ; so that from
the day in which the city was first invested,
the 3d of May in that year, until it was taken,
seventy-five days had elapsed, during which
time your majesty will see what labors, dan
gers, and calamities your subjects endured, and
their deeds afford the best evidence how much
they exposed their lives."
For three hundred years, while Mexico re
mained under Spanish rule, the anniversary of
this victory was regularly celebrated with all
the accompaniments of national rejoicing.

The Conquest Consummated. 281
Discovery of the Pacific. Cortez's elation.

Chapter X.
The Conquest Consummated.
WITH zeal and energy which never slept,
Cortez fitted out several expeditions to
explore the country, to study its geography, and
to ascertain its resources. One party, ascend
ing the heights of the Cordilleras,' gazed with
delight upon the placid expanse of the Pacific
Ocean, and, descending the western declivity,
planted the cross upon the sandy shores of that
hitherto unknown sea. Cortez was exceeding
ly elated with this discovery, for he considered
it another bribe with which to purchase the fa
vor of his sovereign. He immediately made
arrangements for establishing a colony on the
Pacific shores, and ordered four vessels to be
built to prosecute farther discoveries. He lost
no time in transmitting to the emperor the tid
ings of this great achievement.
" I have received, most powerful sire," he
wrote, " some account of another sea to the
south, and learned that at two or three points
it was twelve, thirteen, and fourteen days' jour-

282 HernanDo Cortez.
Cortez's dispatch. He sends to take possession of the coast
ney from this city. The information gave me
much pleasure, for it appeared to me that the
discovery would prove a great and signal serv
ice to your majesty, especially as all who pos
sess any knowledge or experience in navigation
to the Indies have considered it certain, that
the discovery of the South Sea in these parts
would bring to light many islands rich in gold,
pearls, precious stones, and spiceries, together
with many other unknown and choice produc
tions. The same has been affirmed also by
persons versed in learning and skilled in the
science of cosmography. With such views,
and a desire that I might render your majesty
a distinguished and memorable service in this
matter, I dispatched four Spaniards, two by one
route and two by another, who, having obtained
the necessary information as to the course they
were to take, set out, accompanied by several
of our allies as guides and companions. I or
dered them not to stop until they had reached
the sea, and when they had discovered it, to
take actual and corporal possession in the name
of your majesty.
" One of these parties traveled about one
hundred^ and thirty leagues, through many fine
provinces, without encountering any obstacles,

The Conquest Consummated. 283
Tl_e exploring parties. Release of the captives.
and arrived at the sea, of which they took pos
session, and, in token thereof, set up crosses
along the coast. After some days they returned
with an account of their discovery, and inform
ed me very particularly concerning it. They
brought with them several of the natives from
that quarter, together with good specimens of
gold from the mines found in the provinces
through which they passed, which, with other
specimens, I now send to your majesty.
" The other party were absent somewhat
longer, for they took a different course, and
traveled one hundred and fifty leagues before
they reached the sea, of which they also took
possession, and brought me a full account of
the coast, with some of the natives of the coun
try. I received the strangers in both parties
graciously, and having informed them of the
great power of your majesty, and made them
some presents, I suffered them to depart on their
return to t-heir own country, and they went
away much gratified.
" In my former relation, most catholic sire,
I informed your majesty that, at the time when
the Indians defeated me, and first drove us out
of the city of Tenochtitlan, all the provinces sub
ject to that city rebelled against your majesty

284 Hernando Cortez.
Rebuilding the city. Power of Cortez.
and made war upon us ; and your majesty will
see, by this relation, how we have reduced to
your royal service most of the provinces that
proved rebellious.
"As the city," he continues, " of Tenochtitlan
was a place of great celebrity and distinction,
and ever memorable, it appeared to me that it
would be well to build another town upon its
ruins. I therefore distributed the ground among
the proposed inhabitants, and appointed alcaldes
and regidores in the name of your majesty, ac
cording to the custom of your realms; and
While the houses were going up, we determined
to abide in the city of Cuyoacan, where we at
present are. It is now four or five months
since the rebuilding of the city was commenced,
and it is already very handsome. Your majes
ty may be assured that it will go on increasing
to such a degree that, as it was formerly the
capital and mistress of all these provinces, it
will still be so hereafter. It is built so far and
will be completed in such a manner as to ren
der the Spaniards strong and secure, greatly su
perior to the natives, and wholly unassailable
by them."
The power of Cortez was now unlimited.
The whole native population were virtually his

The Conqest Consummated. 285
Progress of affairs in Spain.
slaves. He had the address to secure the friend
ly co-operation of the principal chiefs, and the
Indians, in any numbers which he required,
were driven by them to their reluctant toil.
The Spaniards assumed the office of overseers,
while the natives performed all the menial and
painful labor. Timber was cut and dragged
by the men of burden from the adjacent for
ests, and from the ruins of Tenochtitlan the new
and beautiful city of Mexico rose as by magic.
Charles V., King of Spain and Emperor of
Germany, was overwhelmed by the cares of his
enormous empire. The scenes transpiring far
away in the wilderness of the New World, im
portant as they were, could claim but a small
share of his attention. Velasquez succeeded
in gaining very influential friends at court, and
plied all his energies, with untiring diligence, to
secure the disgrace of Cortez. Pride, ambition,
and revenge alike inspired him to work, if pos
sible, the ruin of the bold adventurer who had
set his power at defiance. The sovereign was
at this time in Germany, and the reins of gov
ernment in Spain were temporarily placed in the
hands of Adrian, who had been private tutor of
the emperor.
Influenced by the coadjutors of Velasquez,

286 Hernando Cortez.
Warrant against Cortez. The commissioner. His reception.
Adrian issued a warrant, signed at Burgos on
the 11th of April, 1521, which, after recapitu
lating the offenses of which Cortez had been
guilty against the majesty of the Spanish gov
ernment, appointed a commissioner to repair to
Mexico, seize the person of Cortez, suspend him
from his functions, sequestrate his property, and
bring him to trial upon the weighty charges
contained in the indictment.
The accomplishment of a task so difficult re
quired a man of consummate tact and energy ;
but, unfortunately, the agent selected was to
tally unqualified for his task. Christoval de
Tapia, the appointed commissioner, was a fee
ble, fussy old man, a government inspector of
metals in Saint Domingo. He landed at Vera
Cruz in December, with his commission in his
hand. The authorities there, quite devoted to
Cortez, and fully aware that in his fall their
fortunes must also decay, threw every obstacle
in their power in the path of Tapia. They dis
puted his credentials, and, by innumerable em
barrassments, prevented him from entering the
interior. Cortez, on the other hand, while cordially ac
cepting this important co-operation on the part
of his friends, the more valuable since it did

The Conquest Consummated. 287
Tapia's weak points. His return. Cortez's dispatch.
not involve him in any responsibility, wrote to
Tapia a letter full of expressions of courtesy,
and of veneration for the authority of the em
peror. The imbecile old man soon became en
tangled in a labyrinth of diplomacy from which
he knew not how to extricate himself. He had
not sufficient force of character to cut the tan
gled threads. It is said that every one has his
weak point. Love of money was the great frail
ty of Tapia. United with this there was great
timidity of character. Cortez, with his accus
tomed tact, discovered the peculiarities of the
man, and, with his habitual adroitness, assailed
him where his armor was weak. The old
man's fears were assailed with threats, and his
avarice was approached by bribes, and he very
soon capitulated. Re-embarking in his ship,
he returned to Hispaniola, leaving Cortez in
undisputed authority.
This affair alarmed Cortez exceedingly. The
account which he himself gives of it in his
dispatch to the emperor is so curious and char
acteristic of the man, that we must give it in
his own words. The dispatch itself will be
more interesting and valuable than any narra
tive we might give of the event. Upon the
departure of Tapia, Cortez immediately sent

288 Hernando Cortez.
Cortez's account of the arrival of Tapia.
deputies to the emperor with a glowing account
of his new discoveries and conquests, with many
rich gifts, and the promise of immense future
contributions. He gave, as it were incidental
ly, an account of the mission of Tapia, explain
ed with great naivete the reasons of its fail
ure, and implored anew that He might be in
trusted with the government of the wide realms
which his skill and the valor of his followers
had attached to the Spanish crown.
" While engaged in this business," he writes,
" I received accounts from Vera Cruz of the ar
rival at that port of a ship, in which came Chris-
toval de Tapia, smelting inspector in the island
of Hispaniola. The next day I had a letter
from him, informing me that the object of his
coming to the country was to assume the gov
ernment of it by your majesty's command, and
that he had brought with him his royal com
mission, which he should nowhere exhibit until
he saw us, but hoped this would be soon. As,
however, the horses he had brought were affect
ed by the voyage, he was not able to set out
immediately, arid begged that we would direct
how the interview should .take place, whether
by his coming here, or by my going to the sea-
coast.

The Conquest Consummated. 289
Cortez unable to visit Tapia.
" As soon as I had received his letter, I an
swered it, saying that I was much pleased with
his arrival ; that no one could come provided
with an order from his majesty to assume the
government of these parts with whom I should
be better pleased, both on account of the ac
quaintance that existed between us, and the
neighborly intercourse we had enjoyed together
in the island of Hispaniola.
" Tranquillity not being firmly established
in this quarter, and any novelty being likely to
estrange the natives, I begged Father Urrea,
who has been present in all my labors, and who
knew well the situation of affairs to the present
moment, and by whose coming your majesty's
service has been promoted, and ourselves bene
fited by his spiritual teachings and counsels,
to undertake the task of meeting the said Ta
pia, and of examining the orders of your majes
ty. Since he knew better than any one what
the royal interests, as well as those of this
country, required, I requested that he would
give such directions to the said Tapia as he
deemed most proper, from which he knew I
would not deviate in the least degree.
"I made this request in the presence of your
majesty's treasurer, who joined his solicitations
T

290 Hernando Cortez.
Father Urrea dispatched to Vera Cruz.
to mine. He accordingly departed for the town
of Vera Cruz, where the said Tapia was ; and
in order that suitable attentions might be paid
to the inspector, either in the town or wherev
er they should meet, I dispatched with the fa
ther two or three respectable persons from my
companions, and when they had gone I waited
the issue. In the mean time, I employed my
self in regulating the affairs of my. command,
and in such a way as best to promote your
majesty's interests, and the peace and security
of these parts.
" In ten or twelve days after, the magistrate
and municipal authority of Vera Cruz wrote me
that the said Tapia had exhibited the orders of
your majesty, and of your governors acting in
the royal name, which they had treated with all
suitable reverence ; but that as to the execu
tion of the orders, they had answered that, since
the most of the government were with me, hav
ing been concerned in the siege of the city, they
should be informed of them, and in the mean
time they would do whatever the service of
your majesty and the good of the country re
quired. This answer, they added, was received
by the said Tapia with great displeasure, and
lie had since attempted some scandalous things.

The Conquest Consummated. 291

Cortez prepares to go to Vera Cruz, but is dissuaded.

"Although this answer occasioned me some
regret, I answered them, and begged and en
treated that they would look chiefly to the serv
ice of your majesty, and endeavor to content
the said Tapia, giving him no occasion for mak
ing a disturbance ; and that I was about going
to meet him, and to comply with whatever your
majesty commanded, and the most your service
required. "As I was now preparing to depart, the mem
bers of the council entreated me, with many
protestations, not to go, as all this province of
Mexico, having been but a short time reduced,
might revolt in my absence, whence much in
jury would be done to your majesty's service,
and great disturbance caused in the country.
They also urged many other arguments and
reasons why it was inexpedient for me to leave
the city at present ; and added that they, with
the authority of the council, would go to Vera
Cruz, where the said Tapia resided, examine
the orders of your majesty, and perform all that
the royal service demanded. As it seemed so
essential to our safety that the said councilors
should go, I wrote by them to Tapia informing
him of what had passed, and that I had author
ized Gonsalvo de Sandoval, Diego de Soto, and

292 Hernando Cortez.
Embassadors to Tapia. Delay asked. Departure of Tapia.
Diego de Valdenebro, who were then in the town
of Vera Cruz, jointly with the council of Vera
Cruz and the members of the other town coun
cils, to see and perform whatever the service
of your majesty and the good of the country re
quired. "When they reached the place where the
said Tapia was, who had already set out on his
journey to this city, accompanied by Father Pe
dro, they requested him to return, and all went
together to the city of Zempoalla, where Chris-
toval de Tapia presented your majesty's orders,
which all received with the respect due to your
majesty. In regard to thefr execution, they
said that they asked some delay of your maj
esty as demanded by the royal interests, for
causes and reasons contained in their petition,
and more fully set forth therein. After some
other acts and proceedings between the inspec
tor Tapia and the deputies, he embarked in his
own ship, as he had been requested to do, since
from his remaining, and having published that
he had come as governor and captain of these
parts, there would have been disturbances.
" The coming of the said Tapia, and his want
of knowledge respecting the country and its in
habitants, had already excited sedition, and his

The Conquest Consummated. 293
Advice respecting Tapia. Reasons for not sending letters by him.
stay would have led to serious evils if God had
not interposed to prevent it. Much greater
service would have been rendered to your maj
esty if, while he was in the island of Hispani
ola, instead of coming hither, he had first ad
vised with your majesty. The said Tapia had
been often advised by the admiral, judges, and
other officials of your majesty residing in the
island of Hispaniola not to come into these
parts until your majesty had first been inform
ed of all that had taken place here, and on this
account they had prohibited his coming under
certain penalties, which prohibition, however,
by means in his power, looking more at his in
dividual interest than the service of your maj
esty, he had succeeded in getting removed.
" I have prepared this account of every thing
in relation to this matter for your majesty, be
cause, when the said Tapia departed, neither the
deputies nor myself drew up any statement, as
he would not have been a suitable bearer of our
letters ; and also that your majesty may see and
believe that, by not receiving the said Tapia,
your majesty was well served, as will be more
fully established whenever it shall be neces
sary." While thus engaged, Cortez received intelli-

294 Hernando Cortez.
Insurrection. Punishment. Severe chastisement.
gence that the province of Panuco was in a
state of insurrection. As most of his captains
were absent on various expeditions, he prompt
ly placed himself at the head of a force of one
hundred and thirty horsemen, two hundred and
fifty infantry, and ten thousand Mexicans, and
marched to inflict such punishment upon the
rebels as should intimidate all others from a
similar attempt.
The two hostile bodies soon met. Accord
ing to the estimate of the Spaniards, the num
ber of the enemy amounted to above seventy
thousand warriors. "But it was God's will,"
the historian records, "that we should obtain
a victory, with such a slaughter of the rebels
as deprived them of all thought of making any
head for the present." Cortez ravaged the
country, mercilessly crushing all who offered
the slightest resistance. Having thus quench
ed in blood the flickering flame of independence,
he returned victorious to the metropolis.
Here he was informed that some of the in
habitants of the neighboring mountains had
manifested a restive spirit, and had caused dis
turbance in other peaceable districts. Sternly
he marched to chastise them. The punishment
was prompt and severe ; thousands were shot

The Conquest Consummated. 295
Nuno de Guzman. ' Influence at court. Charges against Cortez.
down, and thefr chiefs were hanged. " They
were punished," says Diaz, "with fire and
sword ; and greater misfortunes befell them
when Nuno de Guzman came to be their gov
ernor, for he made them all slaves, and sold
them in the islands."
The father of Cortez, who was in Spain, and
who was a man of much elevation of character,
now came forward to aid his son with his influ
ence at court. Implacable enemies were in
triguing against the bold Spanish adventurer
in the court of Charles V., who had returned
from his long absence in Germany, and was
now at Madrid. Don Martin Cortez had se
cured the co-operation of a powerful nobleman,
the Duke of Bejar. The young monarch, be
wildered by the accusations which were brought
against Cortez on the one hand, and by the de
fense which was urged upon the other, referred
the whole matter to a commission specially ap
pointed to investigate the subject. The charges
which were brought against him were serious
and very strongly sustained by evidence.
1. He had seized rebelliously, and finally de
stroyed, the fleet intrusted to him by Governor
Velasquez, whose authority he was bound to
obey.

296 Hernando Cortez.
Cortez's defense to the charges against him.
2. He had usurped powers in contempt of
the authority of his lawful sovereign.
3. He had made war upon Narvaez, who
had been sent with full authority to supersede
him, and had slain many of his companions.
He had also refused to receive Tapia, though
he was invested with the authority of the
crown. 4. He had cruelly, and in dishonor of the
Spanish name, put Guatemozin to the torture.
5. He had remitted but a small part of the
treasures obtained to the crown, squandering
vast sums in schemes to promote his own ag
grandizement.
^ 6. His whole system of procedure was one of
violence, extortion, and cruelty.
It was. urged in defense,
1. Two thirds of the cost of the expedition,
nominally fitted out by Velasquez, were de
frayed by Cortez.
2. The interests of the crown required that
colonies should be established in Mexico. Ve
lasquez was invested with power to traffic only,
not to found colonies ; consequently, Cortez, in
the discharge of his duty, was bound to estab
lish colonies, and to send to the crown for the
ratification of the deed, as he had done.

The Conquest Consummated. 297
Defense triumphant. Cortez appointed governor. His powers.
3. It was the wish of Cortez to meet Narvaez
amicably ; but that commander, assuming a hos
tile attitude, had compelled Cortez to do the
same. The treatment of Tapia was defended
as in the dispatch which Cortez had transmit
ted to the emperor.
4. The torture of Guatemozin was declared
to have been, not the act of Cortez, but of one
of his officers, who was driven to it by the
clamors of the soldiers.
5. It was clearly proved that Cortez had
transmitted more than one fifth of the treasure
obtained to the crown. It was also pretty
conclusively proved that his administration was,
in general, characterized by far-reaching sagac-
fry. The defense was triumphant. Cortez was
acquitted, his acts were confirmed, and he was
appointed governor, captain-general, and chief
justice of the immense empire which he had
subjugated. The power with which he was in
vested was vast — almost unlimited. He was
authorized to appoint to all offices, civil and
military. He could also banish from the conn-
try any persons whose conduct should be dis
pleasing to him. A large salary was conferred
upon him, that he might maintain the splendor

298 Hernando Cortez.
Letter from the emperor. Depression of his enemies.
becoming his rank. His officers were richly re
warded. The emperor even condescended to
write a letter to the little army in Mexico with
his own hand, applauding the heroism of the
soldiers and the grandeur of their chieftain.
This was one of the greatest of the victories of
Cortez. The depression of his enemies was
equal to his own elation. Velasquez was
crushed by the blow. He survived the tidings
through a few months of gloom, and then sank
into the grave, the only refuge for those weary
of the world.
When the envoys arrived in Mexico with the
decision of the court, they were received with
universal rejoicing. Every soldier of Cortez
felt that his fortune was now made. But their
intrepid commander was not the man for repose.
New discoveries were to be urged, new tribes
subjugated, and far-distant regions explored.
Murmurs loud and deep soon ascended from the
disaffected, who now wished to repose from toil
in the enjoyment of their wealth and honors.
Here is a specimen of their complaints :
" I will now relate," says Diaz, " what Cor
tez did, which I call very unfair. All those
who were the dependents of great men, who
flattered him and told him pleasing things, he

The Conquest Consummated. 299
Unfair dealings. Escape from remonstrants.
loaded with favors. Not that I blame him for
being generous, for there was enough for all ;
but I say that he ought to have first consider
ed those who served his majesty, and whose
valor and blood made him what he was. But
it is useless detailing our misfortunes, and how
he treated us like vassals, and how we were
obliged to take to our old trade of expeditions
and battles ; for, though he forgot us in his dis
tribution of property, he never failed to call
upon us when he wanted our assistance. When
we went to the general with the request that he
would give us some part of the property which
his majesty had ordered that we should receive,
he told us, and swore to it, that he would pro
vide for us all, and not do as he had done, for
which he was very sorry. As if we were to be
satisfied with promises and smooth words !"
Cortez had a very effectual way of escaping
from such remonstrants. He immediately dis
patched such men as were troublesome on some
important expedition, where all their energies
of mind and body would be engrossed in sur
mounting the difficulties which they would be
called to encounter. A man by the name of
Rangel, who had some considerable influence,
was complaining bitterly. Cortez immediately

300 Hernando Cortez.
Expedition to Zapoteca. Great peril. They abandon the scheme.
decided that the distant province of the Zapote-
cans was in a threatening attitude, and needed
looking after. They were a fierce people, dwell
ing among almost inaccessible cliffs, where no
horse could climb and no artillery be dragged.
From such an enterprise it was little probable
that the troublesome man would ever return.
He was consequently honored with the com
mand of the expedition. For apparently the
same reason, Bernal Diaz, whose complaints we
have just read, was appointed to accompany the
detachment. The forlorn party entered boldly the defiles
of the mountains, and wading through marshes,
and struggling through ravines, and clambering
over rocks, with the utmost difficulty and peril
penetrated the savage region. The natives,
nimble as the chamois, leaped from crag to crag,
whistling an insulting defiance with a peculiar
ly shrill note, with which every rock seemed
vocal. Stones were showered down upon them,
and immense rocks, torn from thefr beds, leaped
crashing over thefr path. Thefr peril soon be
came great, and it was so evidently impossible
to accomplish any important result, that they
abandoned the expedition, nearly all wounded,
and many having been killed.

The Conquest Consummated. 301
Progress of the new city. Cortez's palace. Religious zeal.
During the period of four years Cortez de
voted himself with untiring zeal to the promo
tion of the interests of the colony. The new
city of Mexico rose rapidly, with widened streets
and with many buildings of much architectural
beauty. Where the massive temple once stood,
dedicated to the war-god of the Aztecs, and
whose altars were ever polluted with human
sacrifices, a majestic temple was reared for the
worship of the true God. Cortez erected for
himself a gorgeous palace fronting on the great
square. It was built of hewn stone. All the
houses constructed for the Spaniards were mass
ive stone buildings, so built as to answer the
double purpose of dwellings and fortresses.
The zeal of Cortez for the conversion of the
natives continued unabated. In addition to the
spacious cathedral, where the imposing rites of
the Catholic Church were invested with all con
ceivable splendor, thirty other churches were
provided for the natives, who had now become
exceedingly pliant to the wishes of the con
queror. Father Olmedo watched over the in
terests of religion with great purity of purpose
and with unwearied devotion until his death.
Twelve Catholic priests were sent from Spain.
Benighted as they were in that dark age, the

302 Hernando Cortez.
Catholic priests. Approach to the metropolis. Reception by Cortez.
piety of many of these men can hardly be ques
tioned. Cortez received them with great dis
tinction. Immediately upon being informed of
their arrival at Vera Cruz, he ordered the road
to Mexico to be put in order, to render their
journey easy, and houses to be furnished, at
proper distances, with refreshments for their ac
commodation. The inhabitants of all the towns
along their route were ordered to meet them
with processions and music, and all demonstra
tions of reverence and joy. As they approach
ed the metropolis, Cortez, at the head of a brill
iant cavalcade, which was followed by a vast
procession bearing crucifixes and lighted tapers,
set out to receive them. The Catholic mis
sionaries appeared with bare feet and in the
most humble garb. Cortez dismounted, and,
advancing to the principal father of the frater
nity, bent one knee to the ground in token of
reverence, and kissed his coarse and thread
bare robe. The natives gazed with amazement
upon this act of humiliation on the part of their
haughty conqueror, and ever after regarded the
priests with almost religious adoration.
When conversion consists in merely inducing
men to conform to some external ceremony,
while the heart remains unchanged, it is easily

The Conquest Consummated. 303
Success of the missionaries. Colonies. Arrival of Donna Catalina.
accomplished. The missionaries, with great
zeal, embarked in the enterprise of establishing
the Catholic religion in every village of the
subjugated empire. They were eminently suc
cessful, and in a few years almost every ves
tige of the ancient idolatry had disappeared
from Mexico.
Cortez did every thing in his power to induce
the natives to return to the capital. He intro
duced the mechanic arts of Europe, and all the
industrial implements of that higher civiliza
tion. The streets were soon again thronged
with a busy population, and the Indian and the
Spaniard, oblivious of past scenes of deadly
strife, mingled together promiscuously in peace
ful and picturesque confusion.
Many colonies were established in different
parts of the country, and settlers were invited
over from Old Spain by liberal grants of land,
and by many municipal privileges. .
In the midst of these important transactions,
while Cortez was living quietly with the ami
able Marina, who had borne him a son, a ship
arrived at Vera Cruz bringing Donna Catalina,
the wife of the wayward adventurer. This
lady, accompanied by her brother, weary of the
solitude of her plantation, where she had now

304 Hernando Cortez.
Death of Catalina. Suspicions of murder.
been left for many years, came in search of her
unfaithful spouse. Cortez made great preten
sions to religion. It was his crowning glory
that he was the defender of the faith. It would
have been altogether too great a scandal to have
repudiated his faithful wife.
" Cortez," says Bernal Diaz, " was very sor
ry for their coming, but he put the best face
upon it, and received them with great pomp and
rejoicing." In three months from this time the
unhappy Donna Catalina died of an asthma.
Her death was so evidently a relief to Cortez,
and so manifestly in accordance with his wish
es, that many suspicions were excited that she
had fallen by the hand of violence. Though
Cortez had many enemies to accuse him of the
murder of his wife, tliere is no evidence what
ever that he was guilty. Cortez had many and
great faults, but a crime of this nature seems
to be quite foreign to his character. The ver
dict of history in reference to this charge has
been very cordially Not proven.

Expedition to Honduras. 305
The natives reduced to slavery.

Chapter XI.
The Expedition to Honduras.
THE great object of the Spanish adventurers
was to extort gold from the natives. The
proud cavaliers would not work, and the na
tives were not willing to surrender the fruits of
thefr toil to support thefr haughty conquerors
in splendor. Cortez consequently, though re
luctantly, doomed them to slavery. They were
driven by the lash to unpaid toil. It was an
outrage defended only by the despotic assump
tions of avarice. The Tlascalans, however, in
acknowledgment of their services as allies of
the Spaniards, were exempt from this degrada
tion. In all other parts the wretched natives
toiled under thefr task-masters, in the fields and
in the mines, urged by the sole stimulus of the
lash. The country thus became impoverished
and beggared, and masters and slaves sank to
gether. ¦
Cortez had now reduced, in subjection to the
crown of Spain, an extent of country reaching
along the Atlantic coast twelve hundred miles,

306 Hernando Cortez.
Laws and institutions. Colony at Honduras.
and extending fifteen hundred miles on the Pa
cific shore. With energetic genius which has
rarely been surpassed, the conqueror establish
ed laws and institutions, many of them emi
nently wise, for this vast realm.
Cortez had sent one of his captains, Chris-
toval de Olid, to Honduras, to found a Spanish
colony there. This intrepid man, giddy with
the possession of vast power, and encouraged
by the success with which Cortez had thrown
off his dependence upon Velasquez, determined
to imitate his example, and assert independence
of all authority save that of the Spanish crown.
But Cortez was the last man to allow his au
thority to be thus trifled with. He immedi
ately sent an expedition under Francisco Las
Casas, with five ships and a hundred veteran
Spanish soldiers, to arrest the disobedient offi
cer. With pennants flying, Las Casas sailed
from Vera Cruz, and was rapidly borne by pros
perous gales around the immense promontory
of Yucatan, a voyage of nearly two thousand
miles, to the bay in Honduras named the Tri
umph of the Cross, where Olid had established
his post. Olid opposed his landing, but, as
many of his soldiers chanced to be absent in
the interior, he could present no effectual re
sistance.

Expedition to Honduras. 307
Olid wrecked and taken prisoner. Cortez starts for Honduras.
After a short battle, Olid, hoping for the
speedy return of his absent forces, applied for
a truce. Las Casas weakly consented ; but
that same night a tempest arose which wrecked
all his ships, and thirty of the crew perished in
the waves. Las Casas and all of the remain
der of his party, drenched and exhausted, were
taken prisoners. Olid exulted greatly in this
unanticipated good fortune; and, considering
his foe utterly powerless, released the men upon
their taking the oath of allegiance to him, and
retained Las Casas surrounded with the cour
tesies of friendly and hospitable captivity. Aft
er a time, however, Las Casas succeeded in
forming a conspiracy, and Olid was seized and
beheaded. Cortez had heard of the wreck of the ships.
No other tidings reached him. But disaster
ever added strength to his energies. Vigorous
ly he fitted out another expedition, and headed
it himself. Leaving a strong garrison to guard
the city of Mexico, and appointing two confi
dential" officers to act as deputies during his ab
sence, he prepared to march across the coun
try, a perilous journey of five hundred leagues,
through a wilderness of mountains, rivers, lakes,
and forests. Unknown and doubtless hostile

308 Hernando Cortez.
Diaz's account. The two captives.
tribes peopled the whole region. It was one
of the boldest of the many bold adventures of
this extraordinary man. He has given a mi
nute narrative of the march in a dispatch to
Charles V. Bernal Diaz also, who accompanied
the expedition, has given an interesting yet
gossiping recital of all its wild adventures.
It was on the 12th of October, 1524, that
Cortez commenced his march almost due south
from the city of Mexico. His force consisted,
when he started from Mexico, of about one
hundred Spanish horsemen and fifty infantry,
together with about three thousand Mexican
soldiers. Apprehending that Guatemozin and
the cacique of Tacuba, from their strong influ
ence over the natives, might excite disturbance
during his absence, he took them as captives
with him. Several Catholic priests were taken
to conduct the services of religion, and to con
vert the heathen tribes. The imperial retinue,
for Cortez now moved with the pomp of an em
peror, was conducted on the grandest scale the
time and the occasion would admit. A large
herd of swine followed the army a day's jour
ney in the rear. Most of the food, however,
was to be collected by the way.
By the aid of a rude map and Indian guides,

Expedition to Honduras. 309
Difficulties to be encountered. Marina married to Xamarillo.
Cortez designed to direet his steps across the
neck of the broad peninsula of Yucatan to the
head of the Bay of Honduras. For many days
thefr path conducted along a low and marshy
country intersected by innumerable streams.
Some they were able to ford ; over others their
ingenious architects would speedily throw a
bridge. Occasionally they would arrive upon
the banks of a stream so wide and deep that
many days would be employed in rearing a
structure over which they could pass. Cortez,
in his letter to Charles V., enumerating the dif
ficulties encountered, states that in a distance
of one hundred miles he found it necessary to
construct no less than fifty bridges.
The amiable Marina accompanied Cortez on
this expedition, since her services were very es
sential as interpreter. But Cortez now, having
buried his lawful wife, and probably looking
forward to some more illustrious Spanish alli
ance which might strengthen his influence at
court, regarded Marina as an embarrassment.
He therefore secured her marriage with a Cas
tilian knight, Don Juan Xamarillo. A hand
some estate was assigned to the newly-married
couple in the native province of Marina, through
which the expedition passed on its way to Hon-

310 Hernando Cortez.
Don MaTtin Cortez. Demonstrations of homage.
duras. We hear of Marina no more. Her son,
Don Martin Cortez, aided by the patronage of
his powerful father, became one of the most
prominent of the grandees of his native land.
He filled many posts of opulence and honor.
At last he was suspected of treason against the
home government, and was shamefully put to
the torture in the Mexican capital.
As Cortez and his army advanced day after
day through provinces where his renown was
known, and where Spanish adventurers were
established, he was received with every possi
ble demonstration of homage. Triumphal arch
es crossed his path. Processions advanced to
greet him. Provisions were brought to him in
abundance. Bonfires, with thefr brilliant blaze,
cheered the night, and festivities, arranged with
all the possible accompaniments of barbaric
pomp, amused him by day. He arrived at the
banks of a wide, deep, and rapid river. To his
great gratification, he found that the natives had
collected three hundred canoes, fastened two and
two, to ferry his army across. At this place
Bernal Diaz joined the expedition. Weary of
the hardships of war, he complains bitterly that
he was- compelled again to undergo the fatigues
of an arduous campaign.

Expedition to Honduras. 311
Complaints of Diaz. Scarcity of provisions.
" The general ordered," he says, "all the set
tlers of Guacacualco who were fit for service to
join his expedition. I have already mention
ed how this colony was formed out of the most
respectable hidalgos and ancient conquerors of
the country, and now that we had reason to
expect to be left in quiet possession of our hard-
earned properties, our houses and farms, we
were obliged to undertake a hostile expedition
to the distance of fifteen hundred miles, and
which took up the time of two and a half years ;
but we dared not say no, neither would it avail
us. We therefore armed ourselves, and, mount
ing our horses, joined the expedition, making,
in the whole, above two hundred and fifty vet
erans, of whom one hundred and thirty were
cavalry, besides many Spaniards newly arrived
from Europe."
But as they marched resolutely along, week
after week, over mountains, through morasses,
and across rivers, the country became more wild
and savage, the natives more shy, and provis
ions less abundant. Several days were often
occupied in constructing a bridge to cross a riv
er. Scouts were sent out upon either wing of
the army foraging for food. The natives fled
often from their villages, carrying their food

312 Hernando Cortez.
Energy and forethought. Construction of canoes.
with them. Famine began to stare them in
the face. Sickness diminished the ranks, and
emaciate men, haggard and way-worn, tottered
gainfully along the rugged ways.
But the indefatigable energy and wonderful
foresight of Cortez saved the army. He seem
ed to have provided for every emergency which
mortal sagacity could anticipate. One day the
starving army, almost in despair, came to the
banks of a large river. The broad current roll
ed many leagues through a pathless wilderness,
and emptied into the Gulf of Mexico. The
army, to its great surprise, found fifty large ca
noes in a little sheltered bay, laden with pro
visions, and awaiting its arrival. The river
was the Tabasco. At its mouth there was an
important Spanish colony. Cortez had fore
seen the want at that point, and provided the
timely supply.
After resting here for a few days to recruit,
the army continued its march, and soon came
to a river so wide and deep that they could not
bridge it. Here they remained four days,
while every skillful hand was employed con
structing canoes. It then required four days
more for the immense host to be paddled across
in these frail barks. The horses swam after the

Expedition to Honduras. 313
The slough. Foraging parties.
boats, led by halters. Upon the other side of
the river they entered upon a vast swamp, ex
tending for many leagues, and tangled by the
dense growth of the tropics. They were three
days floundering through this dismal slough,
the horses being most of the time up to their
girths in the morass.
From this gloomy region of reptiles, torment
ing insects, and mire, they emerged upon a fer
tile country, where they found an abundance
of Indian corn or maize. But the terrified in
habitants fled at thefr approach. Foraging par
ties were, however, sent out to plunder the vil
lages of thefr stores. They did this efficiently,
and the encampment was again filled with plen
ty. After a halt of three days, the soldiers,
having replenished their knapsacks with parch
ed corn, again took up their line of march.
Each man carried food for three days. Some
of the native chiefs, who had been enticed into
the camp, deceived them with the assurance
that in three days they would arrive at a large
city, where they would find every needful sup
ply. They soon reached the banks of a broad
river, deep and rapid. It required three days
to construct a bridge to cross it. The knap
sacks were now empty. They were hungry

314 Hernando Cortez.
The tangled wilderness. The Indian path.
and faint, and there was no food to be obtain
ed. Painfully the famishing men toiled along
another day, eating the leaves of the trees, and
digging up roots for food. Some poisonous
quality in this innutritions diet parched their
lips and blistered their tongues. To add to
their despair, there was no longer any path, and
the dense underbrush, with tough vines and
sharp thorns, impeded their march and lacerated
their flesh. The trees towered above them
with foliage impenetrable by the rays of the
sun. They were wandering through a dark
and dismal wilderness, from which there was
no apparent outlet, compelled with sword and
hatchet to cut every step of their way through
tangled shrubs.
Cortez, guided only by the compass and a
rude Indian map, now manifested for the first
time deep concern. He could not conceal from
his companions the anxiety which oppressed
him, for his army was literally starving. He
was overheard to say, " If we are left to strug
gle another day through this wilderness, I know
not what will become of us."
Suddenly, to thefr great joy, they came upon
an Indian path. This soon conducted them to
a village. The inhabitants had fled, but the

Expedition to Honduras. 315
The cannibal' chiefs. Their punishment. Hostile attitude.
Spaniards found some granaries well supplied
with corn. During this terrible march of sev
en days, many perished by fatigue and hunger.
It was also discovered that some of the Mexi
can chiefs, in their extremity, had seized some
of the natives whom they encountered, and had
killed and eaten them. The bodies were baked,
in accordance with their cannibal customs, in
ovens of heated stones under the ground.
" Cortez," says Bernal Diaz, " severely rep
rehended all those concerned, and one of the
reverend father Franciscans preached a holy and
wise sermon on the occasion ; after which, by
way of example, the general caused one to be
burned. Though all were equally guilty, yet,
in the present circumstances, one example was
judged sufficient."
After a few days' rest the army again re
sumed its march, but pioneers were sent in
advance to mark out the way. Their course
now lay for many leagues through a low coun
try, abounding in lakes, and miasmatic marsh
es, and sluggish rivers. The bayous and la
goons were so numerous that most of the com
munication from city to city was by canoes.
The people at first assumed a hostile attitude,
but soon, overawed by the magnitude of the

316 Hernando Cortez.
The soldiers ravenous. Influence of the priests.
force of Cortez, they with great obsequious
ness furnished him with all required supplies.
Still, it was an exceedingly difficult region for
the army to traverse. Many days were labori
ously employed in bridging the innumerable
streams. One wide one delayed them four
days, and their provisions were entirely ex
hausted. Diaz, a man of tact and energy, was
sent with a strong party to forage for the fam
ished camp. He returned in the night with a
hundred and thirty men of burden heavily laden
with corn and fruit. The starving soldiers,
watching their return, rushed upon them like
wolves; in a few moments, every particle of
food which they had brought was devoured.
Cortez and his officers came eagerly from their
tents, but there was nothing left for them.
But even in this strait, when the soldiers for
got entirely thefr generals, and even refused to
save any for them, they did not forget their spir
itual guides. Every soldier was anxious to
share his portion with the reverend fathers. It
speaks well for these holy men that they had
secured such a hold upon the affections of these
wild adventurers. Though superstition doubt
less had its influence, there must also have
been, on the part of the priests, much self-deni-

Expedition to Honduras. 317
Care for the officers. Plot against two chiefs.
al and devotion to their duties., Diaz, appre
hensive of the scene of plunder, had concealed
at a short distance in the rear a few loads for
the officers, which, he says, they went and got,
with great gratitude, when the soldiers were all
asleep. For eight weary days the army now toiled
along, struggling against hardships and hunger.
Many were sick, many died, and not a few, in
despair, deserted their ranks, and endeavored to
find thefr way back to Mexico. Cortez, know
ing full well the heroism of his two captives,
Guatemozin and the cacique of Tacuba, was
now very apprehensive that they might take
advantage of his weakness, incite the natives
to revolt, and thus secure his destruction. The
peril was so obvious that it must have occurred
to every mind. The Mexicans knew that the
Spaniards were now in their power, and the
Spaniards could not deny it.
Under these circumstances, Guatemozin was
accused of having entered into a plot to assas
sinate the Spaniards, and then to return to
Mexico and rouse the whole native population
to arms, and drive the invaders from the coun
try. There seems to have been but little proof
to substantiate the charge ; but the undeniable

318 Hernando Cortez.
The chiefs executed. Their heroism.
fact that Guatemozin could now do this, ex
cited to the highest degree the anxiety of the
ever-wary Cortez. The stern conqueror, act
ing upon the principle that the end justifies the
means, resolved to escape from this peril by the
death of his imperial captive and the Tacnban
lord. Cortez accused them of the crime, and,
notwithstanding thefr protestations of inno
cence, ordered them both to be hung. A scaf
fold was immediately erected, and the victims,
attended by priests, were led out to their exe
cution. Both of these heroic men met their
fate with dignity. As the monarch stood upon
the scaffold, at the moment of his doom he
turned to Cortez and said,
"I now find in what your false promises
have ended. It would have been better that I
had fallen by my own hands than to have in
trusted myself in your power. Why do you
thus unjustly take my life ? May God demand
of you this.innocent blood."
The Prince of Tacuba simply said, "I am
happy to die by the side of my lawful sover
eign." They were then both swung into the air, sus
pended from the branches of a lofty tree by the
road-side. There are many stains resting upon

Expedition to Honduras. 319
Opinions of the Spaniards. Night wanderings.
the character of Cortez, and this is not amon.o;
the least. Diaz records, " Thus ended the lives
of these two great men ; and I also declare
that they suffered their deaths most undeserv
ingly ; and so it appeared to us all, among
whom there was but one opinion upon the sub
ject, that it was a most unjust and cruel sen
tence." The march was now continued, but the gloom
which ever accompanies crime weighed heavily
upon all minds. . The Mexicans were indignant
and morose at the ignominious execution of
their chiefs. The Spaniards were in constant
fear that they would rise against them. Even
Cortez looked haggard and wretched, and his
companions thought that he was tortured by
the self-accusation that he was a murderer.
Difficulties were multiplied in his path. Fam
ine stared his murmuring army in the face.
Sleep forsook his pillow. One night, bewil
dered and distracted, he rose, and wandering in
one of the heathen temples, fell over a wall, a
distance of twelve feet, bruising himself se
verely, and cutting a deep gash in his head.
Still they toiled along, occasionally coming to
towns where there were granaries and abund
ance, and again, in a few days, as they could

320 Hernando Cortez.
Plenty and want. The terrible march.
carry but few provisions with them, finding
themselves in a starving condition. Every va
riety of suffering seemed to be allotted them.
At one time they arrived upon a vast plain,
spreading out for leagues, as far as the eye
could extend, without a bush or shrub to inter
cept the sight. A tropical sun blazed down
upon the panting troops with blistering heat.
Many deer, quite tame, ranged these immense
prairies. At another time they approached a
large lake of shallow water, and upon an island
in its centre found a populous town. The sol
diers waded to the island through the clear wa
ters of the lake. They found fishes very abund
ant, and again had a plentiful supply of food.
Thus far the weather had been fair ; but now
it changed, and a season of drenching rains com
menced. Still, the band, impelled by their in
domitable leader, pressed on. They now en
tered upon a very extraordinary region, where
for leagues they toiled through dismal ravines,
frowned upon by barren and craggy rocks. The
ground was covered with innumerable flint-
stones, peculiarly hard and sharp, which, like
knives, pierced the feet of the men and the
horses. In this frightful march nearly every
horse was wounded and lamed, and eight per-

Expedition to Honduras 321
New embarrassments. " Famine.
ished. Many of the men also suffered severe
ly. The difficulty and suffering were so great,
that upon emerging from this rocky desert the
army was assembled to return solemn thanks
to God for thefr escape.
But now they encountered new embarrass
ments. The streams, swollen by the rains,
came roaring in impetuous torrents from the
mountains, and the intervales and the wide-
spreading meadows were flooded. One stream,
foaming through enormous precipices, emitted
a roar which was heard at the distance of six
miles. It required three days to throw a bridge
across this raging mountain torrent. The na
tives took advantage of this delay to flee from
their homes, carrying with them all their pro
visions. Again famine threatened the camp.
This was, perhaps, the darkest hour of the
march. The horses were lame. The men were
bleeding, and wayworn, and gaunt. Death by
starvation seemed inevitable. "I own," says
Diaz, "I never in my life felt my heart so de
pressed as when I found nothing to be had for
myself or my people."
Cortez, however, sent out some very efficient
foraging parties in all directions. Impelled by ,
the energies of despair, the detachment succeed-

322 Hernando Cortez.
They reach Taica. Humility of Diaz.
ed in obtaining food. This strengthened them
until they reached a large town called Taica,
where they again rejoiced in abundance. The
rain still continued to fall in torrents, and the
soldiers, drenched by night and by day, toiled
along through the mire. Even Cortez lost his
habitual placidity of temper and began to com
plain. The vain and gossiping Diaz would not
have his readers unmindful of the eminent serv
ices he rendered in these emergencies. With
much affected humility he narrates his exploits.
" Cortez," says he, " returned me thanks for
my conduct. But I will drop this subject;
for what is praise but emptiness and unprofit
ableness, and what advantage is it to me that
people in Mexico should tell me what we en
dured, or that Cortez should say, when he want
ed me to go on this last expedition, that, next
to God, it was me on whom he placed his re
liance ?"
They now arrived upon the banks of a river
which led to the sea-coast. At the mouth of
this river Olid had established one of his im
portant settlements. A march of four days was
required to reach the coast. Cortez, who was
entirely ignorant of the death of Olid, and of
the overthrow of his power, sent forward scouts

Expedition to Honduras. 323
Cortez finds there is no insurrection to be quelled.
to ascertain the state of things, as it was his in
tention to fall upon Olid by surprise at night.
The army moved slowly down the stream, feed
ing miserably upon nuts and roots. The scouts
returned with the intelligence that there were
uo enemies to be met ; that the insurrection
was entirely quelled, and the colony, consisting
of several scattered settlements, was in perfect
subjection to the authority of Cortez. It is
difficult to imagine the feelings with which this
intelligence was received. Cortez must have
felt, at least for a few moments, exceedingly
foolish. The Herculean enterprise of a march
of eighteen hundred miles through a pathless
wilderness, peopled with savage foes, where
many hundreds of his army had1 perished from
fatigue and famine, and all had endured incon
ceivable hardships, had been utterly fruitless.
It had been what is sometimes called a wild-
goose chase, upon a scale of grandeur rarely
paralleled. They soon arrived at a half-starved colony at
the mouth of the river, consisting of forty men
and six women. The energies of Cortez were,
however, unabated. Foraging parties were sent
out to plunder the natives, which was done pit
ilessly, without any apparent compunctions of

324 Hernando Cortez.
Exploring tour. The brigantines. Submission.
conscience, as the hunters of wild honey destroy
the bees and rob the hives. Cortez himself set
out with a strong party on an exploring tour,
and returned after an absence of twenty-six
days, sorely wounded in the face from a conflict
which he had with the natives. If the natives
assumed any attitude of resistance, they were
shot like panthers and bears.
Here Cortez built two brigantines, and sail
ed along the coast some three hundred miles to
Truxillo. He established on the way, at Port
Cavallo, a colony, to which place he ordered a
division of his army to march. Others of the
troops were to assemble at Naco, quite an im
portant town, where Olid had been executed.
Cortez, upon his arrival at Truxillo, which was
the principal establishment of the colony in
Honduras, was received by the colonists with
great distinction. The Indians in the neigh
borhood were immediately assembled, and were
urged to acknowledge submission to the King
of Spain, and to adopt the Christian religion.
With wonderful pliancy, they acceded to both
propositions. " The reverend fathers," says
Diaz, " also preached to the Indians many holy
things very edifying to hear." From this place
Cortez sent a dispatch to the King of Spain,

Expedition to Honduras. 325
Present to the king. Disappointment of Cortez. The dispatches.
and also a valuable present of gold, "taken,"
says Diaz, "in reality from his sideboard, but
in such a manner that it should appear to be
the produce of this settlement."
Cortez, to his extreme disappointment, found
the country poor. There was no gold, and but
little food. Worn down by anxiety and fatigue,
he was emaciated in the extreme, and was so
exceedingly feeble that his friends despaired of
his life. Indeed, to Cortez, death seemed so
near, that, with forethought characteristic of
this enthusiast, he had made preparations for
his burial.
One day, as Cortez, in the deepest dejection,
was conversing with his friends, a vessel was
discerned in the distant horizon of the sea. The
ship had sailed from Havana, and brought to
Cortez dispatches from Mexico. He retired to
his apartment to read them. As he intently
perused the documents, his friends in the ante
chamber heard him groan aloud in anguish.
The tidings were indeed appalling, and suffi
cient to crush even the spirit of Cortez. For
a whole day his distress was so great that he
did not leave his room. The next morning he
called for an ecclesiastic, confessed his sins, and
ordered a mass. He then, somewhat calmed

326 .Hernando Cortez.
Bad news. Reports of the death of Cortez. Troubles in Spain.
by devotion, read to his friends the intelligence
he had received.
It was reported in Mexico that the whole
party which had entered upon the expedition to
Honduras had perished. Consequently, all the
property of the adventurers had been sold at
public auction. The funeral service of Cortez
had been celebrated with great pomp, a large
part of his immense property having been de
voted to defray the expenses. The deputies
whom Cortez had left in charge of the govern
ment had quarreled among themselves, and two
strong parties rising up, the colony had been
distracted by civil war and bloodshed. Every
day there was fighting. The natives, encour
aged by these disorders, had revolted in three
provinces. A force which had been sent to
quell the insurrection had been attacked and de
feated. The same dispatches also contained a letter
from the father of Cortez, informing him that
his enemies were busy, and successful in then-
intrigues in the court at Madrid, and that two
very important colonies in Mexico had been
wrested from his command, and placed, by or
der of the king, under the government of others.
Cortez decided to return immediately, but

Expedition to Honduras. 327
The attempted voyage. Fruitless endeavors to recall his friends.
privately, to Mexico. His enemies, who had
usurped the government,, had given out that he
was dead. Cortez was apprehensive that, were
his return anticipated, he would be waylaid and
assassinated. He therefore made arrangements
for his friends to return by land, while he pri
vately embarked for Vera Cruz. A violent
storm arose, with head winds, and the vessel,
after struggling a few days against the gale,
was compelled, with shattered rigging, to re
turn to Truxillo. Again, after a few days, the
Vessel weighed anchor, and again it was com
pelled to return. Cortez now, in extreme de
bility of body and dejection of mind, was ex
ceedingly perplexed respecting his duty. ' "He
ordered a solemn mass," says Diaz, " and pray
ed fervently to the Holy Ghost to enlighten him
as to his future proceedings."
He now decided to remain in Truxillo, and
to unite Honduras and Nicaragua into a colony
which, in extent and resources, would be wor
thy of him. He dispatched messengers with
all speed to overtake his friends, who had un
dertaken to return by land, arid recall them to
Truxillo. They, however, refused to return.
Again another messenger was dispatched to
them by Cortez, with still more urgent entreat-

328 Hernando Cortez.
Commissions. The usurpers imprisoned.
ies. To this they replied by a letter, stating
very firmly that they had suffered misfortunes
enough already in following him, and that they
were determined to go back to Mexico. San
doval, with a small retinue on horseback, took
this answer to Cortez. He was also commis
sioned to do every thing in his power to per
suade Cortez also to embark again for Mexico.
Though thus forsaken, he still refused to
leave Honduras. Weakened by bodily sick
ness, which plunged him into the deepest mel
ancholy, his usual energies were dormant. He,
however, sent a confidential servant, named
Orantes, with a commission to Generals Alvara
do and Las Casas, who had returned from Hon
duras to Mexico, to take charge of the govern
ment and punish the usurpers. Orantes per
formed his mission successfully. The people,
hearing with joy that Cortez was safe, rallied
around the newly-appointed deputies, and the
prominent usurpers were seized and imprisoned
in a timber cage. Cortez remained in Hondu
ras until he received intelligence that the dis
turbances in Mexico were quelled. He now
decided to leave the government of Honduras
in the hands of a lieutenant, and to return to
Mexico. His health, however, was so very

Expedition to Honduras. 329
Poor health of Cortez. His return to Mexico.
feeble that he hardly expected to survive the
voyage. He therefore, before embarking, con
fessed his sins, partook of the sacrament, and
settled all his worldly affairs.
It was on the 25th of April, 1526, that the
pale and emaciate adventurer, accompanied by
a few followers, embarked on board a brigantine
in the anchorage at Truxillo. The morning
was serene and cloudless, and a fresh breeze
filled the unfurled sails. Rapidly the low line
of the shores of Honduras sank below the hori
zon, and Cortez bade them adieu forever.

330 Hernando Cortez.

The party are obliged to put into Havana for repairs.

Chapter XII.
The Last Days op Cortez.
FOB, a few days a fair wind bore the voy
agers rapidly forward over a sunny sea.
They had arrived nearly within sight of the
Mexican shore, when clouds blackened the sky,
and a tropical tempest came howling fiercely
upon them. The light brigantine was driven
before the gale like a bubble, and, after being
tossed for several days upon the angry deep,
the voyagers found themselves near the island
of Cuba, and were compelled to enter the har
bor of Havana for repairs and supplies.
It was not until the 16th of May that they
were enabled again to set sail. After a voyage
of eight days, Cortez landed near St. Juan de
Ulua. Here he assumed an incognito, and pro
ceeded on foot fifteen miles to Medellin. His
aspect was so changed by sickness and dejec
tion that no one recognized him. Here he made
himself known, and was immediately received
with the most enthusiastic demonstrations of
joy. He now pressed forward to the capital in

The Last Days of Cortez. 331
Triumphal march to the capital. Reception at Tezcuco.
truly a triumphal march. The whole country
was aroused, and processions, triumphal arches,
bonfires, and music, with the ringing of bells
and the roaring of cannon, greeted him all the
way. The natives vied with the Spaniards in
the cordiality of their welcome and in the splen
dor of their pageants.
Arrangements were made to receive him at
the capital with a triumphant fete. He arrived
at Tezcuco, on the borders of the lake, in the
evening, and there passed the night. It was
now the lovely month of June. The sun the
next morning rose cloudless, and smiled upon
a scene of marvelous beauty, embellished by all
the attractions of hills, and valleys, and placid
waters. The lake was alive with the decorated
boats of the natives, and the air was filled with
the hum of peace and joy. Smiles again flitted
over the wan and pallid cheeks of Cortez as the
shouts of the multitude, blending with the clari
on peals of the trumpet, the chime of bells, and
the thunders of artillery fell upon his ear. He
immediately repaired to the church publicly to
return thanks to God for all his mercies. He
then retired to his magnificent palace, and again
assumed the responsibilities of government.
,. The enemies of Cortez were still indefatiga-

332 Hernando Cortez.
Enemies at work. Serious charges. The commissioners.
ble in the court of Charles V., and they so mul
tiplied and reiterated their charges that the em
peror deemed it expedient to order an investi
gation. He was charged with withholding gold
which belonged to the crown, of secreting the
treasures of Guatemozin, of defrauding the rev
enues by false reports, and of surrounding him
self with grandeur and power that he might as
sert independence of Spain, and establish him
self in unlimited sovereignty.
A commissioner, Luis Ponce de Leon, was
accordingly sent by the emperor to assume the
government of Mexico temporarily, and to bring
Cortez to trial. But a few weeks had passed
after Cortez returned to the capital before this
messenger arrived. Cortez, surprised by his
sudden appearance, was greatly perplexed as to
the course he should pursue. The intelligence
was communicated to him as he was perform-*
ing his devotions in the church of St. Francis.
"He earnestly," says Diaz, "prayed to the
Lord to guide him as seemed best to his holy
wisdom, and, on coming out of the church, sent
an express to bring him information of all par
ticulars." After much painful deliberation, Cortez de--
cided to receive the royal commissioner with ap-

The Last Days op Cortez. 333
Offers of courtesy. The banquet. Unfortunate effects.
parent courtesy and submission. He sent to
him a friendly message, wishing to know which
of two roads he intended to take on his approach
to the capital, that he might be met and greet
ed with suitable honors. The friends of Leon
cautioned him to be on his guard, for they as
sured him that Cortez would, if possible, secure
his assassination. Leon warily sent word that,
fatigued by his voyage, he should not immedi
ately visit the capital, but should rest for a
time. Having dispatched this message, he im
mediately mounted his horse, and, with his ret
inue, commenced his journey. The vigilant offi
cers of Cortez, however, met him at Iztapalapan.
A sumptuous banquet was prepared, and some
delicious cheese-cakes were placed upon the ta
ble. All who ate of the cheese-cakes were taken
sick, and it was reported far and wide that Cor
tez had attempted to poison Leon with arsenic.
There is no proof that Cortez was guilty. The
circumstances alone, as we have stated them,
awakened suspicion. These suspicions were
fearfully increased by unfortunate events, to
which we shall soon allude.
Leon arrived in the city of Mexico, and in
the presence of all the civil and military offi
cers produced his authority from the emperor.

334 Hernando Cortez.
Notice for complainants. Leon's sudden death. Its cause.
Charles V., to assume the governorship of the
colony, and to bring Cortez to trial. The
humbled and wretched conqueror kissed the
document in token of submission.
Leon now issued" public notice that all who
had complaints to bring against the adminis
tration of Cortez should produce them. A host
of enemies — for all men in power must have
enemies — immediately arose. The court was
flooded with accusations without number. Just
j as Leon was opening the court to give a hearing
to these charges, he was seized with a sudden
and a mysterious sickness. After lying in a
state of lethargy for four days, he died. In a
lucid moment, he appointed an officer named
Aguilar, who had accompanied him from Cas
tile, as his successor. " What malignities and
slanders," exclaims Diaz, " were now circu
lated against Cortez by his enemies in Mexi
co!" The faithful historian, however, affirms
that Leon died of what is now called the ship
fever. Notwithstanding all these unfortunate
appearances, it is generally believed that Cortez
was not abetting in his death.
Aguilar was a weak and infirm old man, so
infirm that "he was obliged to drink goat's
milk, and to be suckled by a Castilian woman

The Last Days of Cortez. 335
Aguilar's administration. He determines to return to Spain.
to keep him alive." This decrepit septuagena
rian could accomplish nothing, and after a va
cillating and utterly powerless administration of
eight months, during which time the influence
of Cortez was continually increasing, he died.
The treasurer, Estrada, by the governor's tes
tament, was appointed his successor. The af
fairs of the colony were now in a state of great
confusien. These new governors were imbecile
men, totally incapable of command. The pop
ular voice, in this emergence, loudly called upon
Cortez to assume the helm. Estrada, alarmed
by this, issued a decree ordering the instant ex
pulsion of Cortez from the city of Mexico. Cor
tez, thus persecuted, resolved to return to Spain,
and to plead for justice in the court of his sov
ereign. At the same time, he received letters
informing him of the death of his father, and of
the renewed activity of his enemies at court.
Purchasing two ships, he stored them with a
great abundance of provisions, and by a procla
mation offered a free passage to any Spaniard
who could obtain permission from the governor
to return to Spain. After a voyage of forty
days he landed on the shores of his country, at
the little port of Palos, in the month of Decem
ber, 1527. Cortez immediately sent an express

336 Hernando Cortez.
Reception of the emperor. Marquis of the Valley. Captain General.
to his majesty, informing him of his arrival.
In much state he traveled through Seville and
Guadaloupe to Madrid, winning golden opinions
all the way by his courtly manners and his
profuse liberality.
Upon his arrival at Madrid, he was received
by the emperor with great courtesy. Cortez
threw himself at the feet of his majesty, enu
merated the services he had performed, and vin
dicated himself from the aspersions of his ene
mies. The monarch seemed satisfied, ordered
him to rise, and immediately conferred upon
him the title of Marquis of the Valley, with a
rich estate to support the dignity. Cortez fell
sick, and the emperor honored him with a visit
in person. Many other marks of the royal far-
vor Cortez received, which so encouraged him
that he began to assume haughty airs, and ap
plied to the emperor that he might be appoint
ed governor of New Spain. The emperor was
displeased, declined giving him the appoint
ment, and a coldness ensued. Cortez, however,
at length regained some favor, and obtained the
title of Captain General of New Spain, with
permission to fit out two ships on voyages of
discovery to the south seas. He was also en
titled to receive, as proprietor, one twelfth of the

The Last Days of Cortez. 337

Cortez's marriage. Envy of the queen. He embarks for New Spain.
lands he should discover, and to rule over the
countries he might colonize.
Cortez was now a man of wealth and renown.
His manners were highly imposing, his conver
sation was rich and impressive, and his favor
at court gave hiija a vast influence. His in
come amounted to about one hundred and
twenty thousand dollars a year. There was
no family in Spain which would not have felt
honored by his alliance, and when he sought
the hand of the young, beautiful, and accom
plished niece of the Duke of Bejar, his address
es were eagerly accepted. The storm-worn
yet still handsome cavalier led to the altar his
blushing bride so glittering with brilliant jew
els, cut by the exquisite workmanship of the
Aztecs, as to excite the envy even of the queen
of Charles V.
Cortez soon became weary of a life of idle
ness and luxury, and longed again for the stir
ring adventures of the New World. Early in
the spring of 1530, he again embarked, with his
wife and mother, for New Spain. With his
characteristic zeal for the conversion of the na
tives, he took with him twelve reverend fathers
of the Church. After a short tarry at Hispani
ola, he landed at Vera Cruz on the 15th of
y

338 Hernando Cortez.
Effects of displeasing a queen. Cortez's abode. The contrast.
July. As it was feared "that Cortez might in
terfere with the government of the country, the
Queen of Spain, who was quite displeased that
the wife of Cortez wore more brilliant jewels
than she possessed, had issued an edict prohib
iting Cortez from approachjng within thirty
miles of the Mexican capital. He accordingly
established himself at one of his country
estates, on the eastern shores of the lake. His
renown gave him vast influence. From all
parts of the country crowds flocked to greet
him. With regal pomp he received his multi
tudinous guests, and his princely residence ex
hibited all the splendors of a court. Most of
the distinguished men of the city of Mexico
crossed the lake to Tezcuco to pay homage to
the conqueror of Mexico. The governor was
so annoyed by the mortifying contrast present
ed by his own deserted court, that he despotic
ally imposed a fine upon such of the natives of
the city as should be found in Tezcuco, and,
affecting to apprehend a treasonable attack from
Cortez, made ostentatious preparations for the
defense of the capital.-.
For a long time there was an incessant and
petty conflict going on between Cortez and the
jealous government of the colony. At lastt

The Last Days of Cortez. 339
He goes to Cuarnavaca. Devotes himself to industrial interests.
Cortez became so annoyed by indignities which
his haughty spirit keenly felt, that he withdrew
still farther from the capital, to the city of Cu
arnavaca, which was situated upon the south
ern slope of the Cordilleras. This was the
most beautiful and opulent portion of that wide
domain which the energy of Cortez had annex
ed to the Spanish crown. Here the conqueror
had erected for himself a magnificent palace in
the midst of his vast estates. The ruins of the
princely mansion still remain upon an eminence
which commands a wide extent of landscape of
surpassing loveliness. Cortez devoted himself
with characteristic energy to promoting the ag-.
ricultnral and industrial interests of the coun--
try. Thousands of hands were guided to the
culture of hemp and flax. Sugar-mills were
reared, and gold and silver mines were worked
with great success. Cortez thus became great
ly enriched, but his adventurous spirit soon
grew weary of these peaceful labors.
In the year 1532, Cortez, at a large expense,
fitted out an expedition, consisting of two ships,
to explore the Pacific Ocean in search of new
lands. The ships sailed from the port of Aca
pulco, but, to the bitter disappointment of Cor
tez, the enterprise was entirely unsuccessful.

340 Hernando Cortez.
The expeditions and failures. Cortez heads another party.
The crew mutinied, and took possession of one
of the ships, and the other probably foundered
at sea, for it was never again heard from.
But the Marquis of the Valley, with his in
domitable spirit of energy and perseverance,
fitted out another expedition of two ships.
This adventure was as disastrous as the other.
The two captains quarreled, and took occasion
of a storm to separate, and did not again join
company. The southern extremity of the great
peninsula of California was, however, discover
ed by one of the ships. Here, at a point which
they called Santa Cruz, a large part of the
ship's company were massacred by the savages.
The storm-battered ships eventually returned,
having accomplished nothing.
Cortez, still undismayed, prepared for anoth
er attempt. He now, however, resolved to take
command of the ships himself. His celebrity
induced adventurers from all quarters to seek
to join the expedition. Three ships were launch
ed upon the bay of Tehuantepec. Many mpn
crowded on board, with their families, to colonize
the new lands which should be discovered.
More than twice as many adventurers as the
ships could carry thronged the port, eager to
embark in the enterprise. In the month of

The Last Days of Cortez. 341
Arrival at Santa Cruz. . The fleet returns. Disasters.
May, 1537, the. squadron set sail upon the calm
surface of the Pacific, the decks being crowded
with four hundred Spaniards and three hundred
slaves. About an equal number were left be
hind, to be sent for as soon as the first party
should be landed at the port of their destination.
Sailing in a northwesterly direction, favorable
winds drove them rapidly across the vast Gulf
of California until they arrived at Santa Cruz,
on the southern extremity of that majestic pen
insula. A landing was immediately effected,
and the ships were sent back to Mexico to bring
the remaining colonists. Cortez did not take
his wife with him, but she was left in their
princely mansion on the southern slope of the
Cordilleras. But disasters seemed to accumu
late whenever Cortez was not personally pres
ent. The ships were delayed by head winds
and by storms. The colonists at Santa Cruz,
in consequence of this delay, nearly perished of
famine. Twenty-three died of privation and
hunger. At length, in the midst of general
murmnrings and despair, one of the ships re- <
turned. It brought, however, but little relief,
as the ships which were loaded with provisions
for the supply of the colonists were still missing.
The discontent in the starving colony be-

342 Hernando Cortez.
Discontent. Search for the vessels. The colonists eat too voraciously.
came so loud, that Cortez himself took fifty sol
diers and embarked in search of the missing
ships. With great care he cruised along the
Mexican shore, and at last found one stranded
on the coast of Jalisco, and the other partially
wrecked upon some rocks. He, however, got
them both off, repaired them, and brought them,
laden with provisions, to the half-famished col
ony at Vera Cruz.
The imprudent colonists ate so voraciously
that a fatal disease broke out among them, which
raged with the utmost virulence. Many died.
Cortez became weary of these scenes of woe.
The expedition, in a pecuniary point of view,
had been a total failure, and it had secured for
the conqueror no additional renown. The
Marchioness of the Valley, the wife of Cortez,
became so anxious at the long absence of her
husband, that she fitted out two ships to go in
search of him. Ulloa, who commanded these
ships, was so fortunate as to trace Cortez to his
colony. Cortez not unwillingly yielded to the
solicitations of his wife and returned to Mexico.
He was soon followed by the rest of the wretch
ed colonists, and thus disastrously terminated
this expedition.
In these various enterprises, Cortez had ex-

The Last Days of Cortez. 343
Cortez resolves to replenish his resources. Departure for Spain.
pended from his private property over three
hundred thousand crowns, and had received
nothing in return. As he considered himself
the servant of his sovereign, and regarded these
efforts as undertaken to promote the glory and
the opulence of Spain, he resolved to return to
Castile, to replenish, if possible, his exhausted
resources from the treasury of the crown. He
had also sundry disputes with the authorities
in Mexico which he wished to refer to the ar
bitration of the emperor. He was a disappoint
ed and a melancholy man. His career had been
one of violence and of blood, and "his ill for
tune," says Diaz, "is ascribed to the curses
with which he was loaded."
Taking with him his eldest son and heir, Don
Martin, the child of Donna Marina, then but
eight years of age, and leaving behind him the
rest of his family, he embarked in 1540 again
to return to his native land. The emperor was
absent, but Cortez was received by the court and
by the nation with the highest testimonials of
respect. Courtesy was lavished upon him, but
he could obtain nothing more. For a year the
unhappy old man plead his cause, while daily
the victim of hope deferred. He might truly
have said with Cardinal Wolsey,

344 Hernando Cortez.
Neglect and disappointment. Letter to the emperor.
" Had I but served my God with half the zeal
I served my king, he would not in mine age
Have left me naked to mine enemies."
Cortez soon found himself neglected and avoid
ed. His importunities became irksome. Two
or three years of disappointment and gloom
passed heavily away, when, in 1544, Cortez ad
dressed a last and a touching letter to the em
peror. "I had hoped," writes the world-weary old
man, " that the toils of my youth would have
secured me repose in my old age. For forty
years I have lived with but little sleep, with bad
food, and with weapons of war continually at
my side. I have endured all peril, and spent
my substance in exploring distant and un
known regions, that I might spread abroad the
name of my sovereign, and extend his sway
over powerful nations. This I have done with
out aid from home, and in the face of those who
thirsted for my blood. I am now aged, infirm,
and overwhelmed with debt." He concluded
this affecting epistle by beseeching the emperor
to " order the Council of the Indies, with the
other tribunals wliich had cognizance of his
suits, to come to a decision, since I am too old
to wander about like a vagrant, but ought rath-

The Last Days of Cortez. 345

Unavailing appeal. The will. His bequests.
er, during the brief remainder of my life, to re
main at home and settle my account with heav
en, occupied with the concerns of my soul rath
er than with my substance."
His appeal was unavailing. For three more
weary years he lingered about the court, hop
ing, in the midst of disappointments and inter
mittent despair, to attain his ends. But at last
all hope expired, and the poor old man, with
shattered health and a crushed spirit, prepared
to return to Mexico in gloom and obscurity to
die. He had proceeded as far as Seville, when,
overcome by debility and dejection, he could go
no farther. It was soon apparent to all that
his last hour was at hand. The dying man,
with mind still vigorous, immediately executed
his will. This long document is quite charac
teristic of its author. He left nine children,
five of whom were born out of wedlock. He
remembered them all affectionately in his pa
ternal bequests.
He founded a theological seminary at Coju-
hacan, in one of the provinces of Mexico, for
the education of missionaries to preach the Gos
pel among the natives. A convent of nuns he
also established in the same place, in the chapel
of which he wished his remains to be deposited.

346 Hernando Cortez.
An uneasy conscience. Removal to Castilleja. Cortez's death.
He also founded a hospital in the city of Mex
ico, to be dedicated to Our Lady of the Concep
tion. In these solemn hours of approaching death,
his conscience does not appear to have disturb
ed him at all in reference to his wars of inva
sion and conquest, and the enormous slaughter
which they had caused, but he was troubled in
view of the slavery to which they had doomed
the poor Mexicans. With dying hand he in
scribes the following remarkable lines :
"It has long been a question whether one
can conscientiously hold property in Indian
slaves. Since this point has not yet been de
termined, I enjoin it on my son Martin and his
heirs that they spare no pains to come to an
exact knowledge of the truth, as a matter which
concerns the conscience of each one of them no
less than mine."
As the noise of the city disturbed the dying
man, he was removed to the neighboring village
of Castilleja. His son, then but fifteen- years
of age, watched over his venerated father, and
nursed him with filial affection. On the second
day of December, fifteen hundred and forty-
seven, Cortez died, in the sixty-third year of
his age. He was buried with great pomp in

The Last Days of Cortez. 347

His funeral. The removal of his remains. Solemnities.

the tomb of the Duke of Medina Sidonia at
Seville. A vast concourse of the inhabitants
of the whole surrounding country attended his
funeral. Five years after his death, in 1562,
his son Martin removed his remains to Mexico,
and deposited them, not at Cojuhacan, as Cor
tez had requested, but in a family vault in the
monastery at Tezcuco. Here the remains of
Cortez reposed for sixty-seven years. In 1629
the Mexican authorities decided to transfer them
to Mexico, to be deposited beneath the church
of St. Francis. The occasion was celebrated
with all the accompaniments of religious and
military pomp. The bells tolled the funeral
knell, and from muffled drums and martial bands
sublime requiems floated forth over the still wa
ters of the lake, as the mortal remains of Cor
tez were borne over the long causeway, where
he had displayed such superhuman energy dur
ing the horrors of the dismal night.
Here the ashes of Cortez reposed undisturb
ed for. one hundred and sixty-five years, when
the mouldering relics were again removed in
1794, and were more conspicuously enshrined
in the Hospital of Our Lady of the Conception,
which Cortez had founded and endowed. A
crystal coffin, secured with bars of iron, in-

348 Hernando Cortez.
The monument erected over his remains.
closed the relics, over which a costly and beau
tiful monument was reared.

THE END.

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