CHAPTER V.
The Spanish Army
advances into the Country.
THE wants
we experienced now required some relief, and Alvarado was accordingly sent with
a hundred soldiers principally of the party of Velasquez, to search the
country, and procure maize, and other provisions; for it was thought most
politic, that the whole of those who were friends to Cortes should remain with
him. It must be observed that this neighbourhood
where the language of Culva was spoken,
was dependent upon
The
address and activity of Cortes made him daily acquire an interest amongst the
former adherents of Velasquez, some with gold which breaks the solid rocks, and
more with promises were successively drawn over to him. He first brought his
prisoners from the ships where they had been in confinement, and in a few days
released them
entirely, attaching them sincerely to his interest, and all by
the softening effects of gold.
We now
proceeded to the fortress of Quiabuistlan, and on our
march thither along the coast, I recollect that we passed a great fish which
was left behind by the tide. We then arrived at a river where the present town
of
We now
quitted the coast, and struck into the country towards the west, where, in some
large plains without any beaten track, we saw herds of deer feeding. Alvarado
with his swift chesnut mare gave chace
to one of them, which he wounded with his lance, but the animal escaped from
him into the woods. Just at this time twelve Indians came to us, bearing
provisions; they had been seat by their chief with an invitation to go to his
town, which vas distant one day’s journey. Cortes thanked them, and we proceeded
on, to a town where we halted for the night. We found here the remains of human
sacrifices, both of men and women, with the repetition of the further details
of which, I will not tire the reader.
Early in
the morning we proceeded under the conduct of our friendly Indians, and sent
forward to the chief of Cempoal to inform him of our
approach. When we came within a league of the place, we were met by twenty
principal persons, who presenting Cortes and the cavalry with very odoriferous
flowers tied in bunches, told him, that they came with an excuse on the part of
their chief, who was so fat and unwieldy that he was not able to come out, but
had sent them to invite us to his town. Cortes thanked them, and we proceeded.
When we
entered, we were surprised with the beauty of the buildings and situation, and
the various plantations of trees. All the streets as we passed were filled with
men and women, attracted by curiosity. Our advanced guard having gone to the
great square, the buildings of which lead been lately whitewashed and plaistered, in which art these people are very expert, one
of our horsemen was so truck with the splendor of their appearance in the sun,
that he came back in full speed to Cortes, to tell him that the walls of the
houses were of silver. When we came to know the reality we all laughed heartily
at him, and used in future to say that every thing that was white,
was silver in his eyes. These buildings were appointed for our lodgings, and
large apartments aligned to us, which contained the whole; and here the fat
cacique, for so I am in future to call him, came to pay his respects to Cortes.
They had provided an entertainment for us, with baskets of plums, and bread of
maize. We were well pleased with our situation, and teamed the town Villa Viciosa; though some called it
As soon
as the fat cacique understood that we had dined, he signified to Cortes his
intention of waiting on him, which he shortly after did, attended by many of
the principal inhabitants, dressed in rich mantles, and ornamented with gold.
Cortes went out to meet them with great ceremony, and having embraced the fat
cacique, the latter ordered a present to be brought, composed of gold and
mantles, but of little value, which he offered to Cortes, saying, “Great lord,
receive this present kindly, for if I had more it should be yours.” Cortes
answered that he would repay it with good works, and desired to know what
services he could render him, having been sent by the emperor whose vassal he
was, to redress wrongs, punish the wicked, and prevent the sacrifice of human
souls. He then said many things to him concerning our holy faith. As soon as
the fat cacique had heard them out, giving a deep sigh, he complained bitterly
of Montezuma and his officers, saying, that having lately been compelled to
submit to the
yoke of that monarch, he had seized all his gold, and now held
him completely enthralled.
Cortes
promised that he would soon take such measures as should free him from the
tyranny he complained of. The cacique then made a very discreet answer, and
they parted for the present. On the ensuing day we quitted this place attended
by above four hundred Indians to carry our baggage. These persons are called Tamenes: they carry a burthen of about fifty pounds for the
space of five leagues, where they are relieved; and we understood that in
peaceable and orderly times, in these countries, each cacique was obliged, on
demand, to provide them through his district. At night we arrived at a village
hard by the town of
At
Cortes
was now informed of the approach of the fat cacique, who shortly appeared, borne
in a litter by his principal nobility; and on his arrival, he immediately
joined with the chiefs of this place, in bitter complaints of the tyranny of
Montezuma; one of the heaviest articles of which was, his demand of their
children for the purposes of sacrifice, or slavery; and they asserted that this
was the practice, with many other acts of outrage committed by his officers,
through the whole of the country where the language of Totonaque
was spoken; a tract which contained above thirty towns. Cortes consoled them,
promising redress, and whilst they were thus conversing
a person came to inform the chiefs, that there were just then arrived five
Mexican officers, or collectors of tribute. This intelligence drove the colour from the cheeks of all the natives, and they went
trembling, to receive them, leaving Cortes quite alone.
For these
officers lodgings were prepared with the greatest dispatch, and chocolate got
ready for their refreshment. As they went to their apartments they passed us by
with great state, not deigning to cast a look upon Cortes. They were dressed in
mantles elegantly wrought, and drawers of the same; their hair shining, and as
it were tied at the top of the head, and each of them had in his hand a bunch
of roses, which he occasionally smelt to. They were attended by servants who
fanned them, and each of whom carried a cord and a hooked stick. They were also
attended by a numerous company of the principal persons, who did not quit them
until they had taken their refreshment, after which they sent for the fat
cacique, and those of this place, and gave them a severe reprimand for
receiving and entertaining us, contrary to the will of their sovereign,
Montezuma; and having used many threats of punishment, they concluded with a
demand of twenty men and women to sacrifice to their gods, in order to expiate
the offence.
This
being made known to our general he acquainted the caciques, that in conformity
to his duty, he deemed it proper to seize the person of these officers, until
their lord, Montezuma, should be informed of the
tyrannies they committed on his subjects. This proposal terrified
and astonished the chiefs, and they at first refused to lay hands on them, but
Cortes was determined, and caused them to be seized and fastened by the neck in
a kind of pillory made of large staves and collars. They were so fixed as not
to be able to stir, and one of them also being refractory was beaten soundly.
Cortes then proclaimed that neither tribute nor obedience should be paid to
Montezuma, and this he ordered to be made universally known through these
districts, and also, that wherever he should hear of any officers of Montezuma
coming, he would send for and arrest them. The intelligence of these measures
soon spread through the country, which the natives said were to be attempted
only by superior beings, or Teules, the name which
they give to their idols, and by which they henceforward distinguished the
Spaniards.
The
chiefs were now violent to sacrifice the officers, whom before their arrest
they hardly dared to look at; and this they said was in order to prevent them
from conveying intelligence to Mexico; but when it came to the knowledge of
Cortes, he prevented it by taking them into his own custody, and putting them
under a guard of soldiers. At
sailors, who had orders to put them on shore beyond the
In the
morning, when the caciques found that two of their prisoners were flown, they
were very determined on sacrificing the rest, but Cortes assuming the
appearance of great displeasure at the loss, ordered a chain to be brought, in
which he sent the remainder of the Mexicans to the ships, and this he did to
get them out of the power of the others, for as soon as they were on board he
released them, with a promise that they should soon be permitted to return to
Mexico. The caciques now reverted to Cortes for advice how they should act, as
Montezuma must inevitably know the manner in which his officers had been
treated, and would in consequence overwhelm them with his great armies; to
which Cortes with a cheerful countenance replied, that he and his brothers
there would guard them against all attacks. The caciques on their part offered
to support us with all their powers, and they at this time entered under
allegiance to his Majesty before Diego de Godoy the royal notary, and caused
proclamation thereof to be made through the province, the people of which
rejoiced in the exemption from the vexatious demands of Montezuma’s officers.
The
strong alliance which we had now made, induced us to
lose no time in establishing our settlement in so
advantageous a situation. For the scite of our town
we chose a plain, half a league from the fortress where we now were and tracing
out the foundations of the church, square, arsenal, and fort, we raised all the
buildings to the first story, and also the walls and parapets of the fort, with
loop holes and barbacans. Cortes was the first to
carry earth, or stones, or dig in the foundations; and his example was followed
by all the officers and soldiers, some digging, and
others making the walls of clay, bringing water, and at the kilns making bricks and
tiles; others seeking provisions or timber, and the smiths preparing the iron
work. In this manner we continued, until, with the assistance of the natives,
we had nearly completed the church, houses, and
fortresses.
At this
time, it appears, the great Montezuma received intelligence of the manner in
which his officers had been treated, and of the rebellion of the provinces. He
was much enraged with Cortes, and had ordered two armies to march, one to
punish his refractory subjects, the other against us, but when they were ready
to let out, the arrival of the two officers whom Cortes had, released, and the
account of the manner in which they had been treated while in our power,
assuaged his anger, and induced him to send us a peaceable message. For this
purpose he selected two of his nephews, whom he sent to us under the care of
four old noblemen of the first rank about his court, with a present of gold,
and mantles, worth two thousand crowns, and also to return his thanks to
Cortes, for the civility shewn to his officers; but
adding a complaint of his having instigated these people to throw off their
allegiance, for which he would at a future opportunity punish them, though he
refrained from doing so at the present, on account of our being amongst them;
because he was convinced that we were those of whom the ancient prophecies had
spoken, and that we were of the fame ancestors with himself. Cortes informed
the ambassadors, that he and all of us were the most humble servants of the
great Montezuma, for whom we had taken care of those officers, three of whom
were now on board of our ships, and these he ordered to be immediately brought
and delivered to their friends.
Cortes
then complained of Montezuma, and the uncivil flight of his officer the
governor, laying, that was the reason of his now coming to this country, where
he had received much kindness; hoping what had passed would be pardoned, and
that as to tribute, it was not possible to serve two masters, and the people of
these provinces were now the vassals of our lord the emperor; but that he
expected soon to wait on the great Montezuma, and then every thing should be
done to his satisfaction by us. He presented the young princes with glass
diamonds and beads, and treated them with much honor, ordering the cavalry out
to exercise in their presence, a sight which afforded them great sa-
tisfaction; after which they returned to
Cortes at
this time lost his horse, whose place he supplied by that called El Harriero: he was a dark chesnut
and one of the best that were brought to
The fat
cacique now waited on Cortes, to complain of the outrages committed by a garrison
of Mexican troops which occupied a town called Cingapacinga,
nine leagues distant from the place where we were. Aster some consideration,
Cortes laughing said to those about him, “Gentlemen you see that these people
esteem us to be a superior race of beings, let us encourage the prejudice, and
impress them with the idea that one of us is enough to drive an army before
him. For this purpose I will send old Heredia the Biscayan musketeer, whose fierce and scarred face, great beard, one eye, and
lame leg, will terrify them.” This man had been a soldier in
When the soldiers were warned for this duty, those of the party of
Velasquez refused to obey orders, saying, that they would go on no expedition,
but insisted on returning to the
were
brought before Cortes and asked by him how they could behave so ill, they
insolently replied, that they wondered at his idea of colonizing amongst such
numbers of the natives; that for their parts they were tired of being dragged
about, and would go to their plantations in Cuba. Cortes replied that he would
not oppose their going, though he disapproved of their conduct; accordingly
they embarked, and brought their provisions of bread, oil, and vegetables, on
board, and one of them named Moron sold a good horse to one Juan Ruano, who was to pay for it by an assignment of certain
articles of his property in Cuba.
Just as
the vessel was ready to sail, the soldiers, headed by the alcaldes,
and other civil officers of the settlement, waited on Cortes with a quest that
he would permit no persons whatever to quit their colours,
a crime for which those who committed it deserved to suffer death. Cortes for
some time appeared to be unwilling to withdraw the permission, but at length
suffered himself to be persuaded, and the seven malcontents were obliged to
come back to us and sustain the ridicule their conduct brought on them; Moron
also lost his horse, which the other kept, referring him for the payment, to
his assignment on his property in the Island of Cuba.
Our
internal troubles being appeased for the present, Cortes let out upon his expedition
with four hundred soldiers, being joined at Cempoal
by a thousand of our allies divided into four companies. The first days march
was five leagues, and on the ensuing day we reached the outskirts of the town
of
to rob and murder them. They admitted that a Mexican garrison had been in
their town, but it had retired on the arrest of the officers of Montezuma. They
therefore prayed that we would grant them our favor.
As soon
as this was explained to Cortes, he gave orders to his troops not to suffer any
of the allies to advance. This order was speedily communicated, but they were
already plundering the people in the suburbs, at which Cortes was greatly
enraged, and ordering the captains into his presence, he commanded them to
return what had been taken, adding, that they deserved the punishment of death
for, their misrepresentations, when their real and evident intention was, to
rob and sacrifice their neighbours: an injustice
which we were bound to prevent or redress. The chiefs of Cempoal,
duly impressed by these menaces, instantly surrendered their prisoners and
plunder. Cortes then, with an enraged countenance commanded them to quit the
place for the night, which they accordingly did. This conduct won the hearts of
the people of the district, and both chiefs and priests listened attentively
to, and were convinced by, the truths which Cortes told them relative to our
holy faith, and his exhortation to quit their abominable worship and customs,
insomuch that, calling in the people of the neighbouring
districts, the whole engaged under allegiance to his Majesty; after having done
which, they made heavy complaints of the tyranny of Montezuma.
On the ensuing
morning, Cortes called for the chiefs of Cempoal, and
effected a permanent reconciliation between them and this people. We then
departed by a different route, and being much fatigued, we halted in a town
which was in the district of the place we had left. It happened here that a
certain soldier named De Mora, took two fowls from the house of one of the
inhabitants, and Cortes on hearing of it was so incensed at such an outrage
being committed in a peaceable country, that he immediately hung him up, but
Captain de Alvarado drawing his sword, cut the rope just in time to save the
poor man’s
life; this soldier was afterwards killed in an action at a rock
in Guatimala. I mention the circumstance as a proof
of the strictness with which Cortes enforced discipline.
Proceeding
from the place where this happened, we arrived at some huts where we found the
fat cacique waiting for us with refreshments and provisions. Our conduct on
this expedition made the natives hold us in higher estimation than before; for
although untaught, they could see that justice is holy and good, and that the behaviour of Cortes was conformable to what he professed,
when he declared that he came to redress and prevent tyranny. Here we rested
for the night, and on the ensuing day all the caciques attended us to our
lodgings in their town.
They were
doubly interested now to retain us amongst them, for they were in great dread
of the vengeance of Montezuma; they therefore in order to fix us proposed an
intermarriage, and for that purpose offered to us eight ladies, all of the
first families, who were introduced richly dressed, and ornamented with gold
collars and ear rings, and attended by a number of female slaves. The fat
cacique then said to Cortes, “Tlecle or lord, these
seven young women are for the captains of your army, and this my niece who is
proprietor of towns and vassals, I beg leave to present to you.” Cortes
received the offer as it merited, but took the opportunity to observe, that in
order to strengthen the friendship with us, it was necessary that they should
first renounce their idolatrous worship, the abominable custom of male youths
appearing in women’s dress, and their human sacrifices; for every day our sight
was offended by the repetition of four or five of these horrid murders, the
unfortunate victims being cut up and their limbs sold in the public markets, as
beef is in the towns of Old Castille. He also added,
that before we could accept their proposal relative to these ladies, it was
necessary that they should undergo the ceremony of baptism.
The
chiefs and priests replied, that they could not think of re-
nouncing the worship of their gods in any
respect: but as to the other evil practice a stop should be put to it. This
answer however did not by any means satisfy us, and Cortes strongly represented
the necessity of suppressing by force their idolatrous worship, and his
determination, though it cost the lives of all, on that very day to prostrate
their false gods. For this purpose we therefore immediately got under arms, and
then Cortes declared his intention to the chiefs. As soon as the fat cacique
heard it, he ordered the people to arm and assemble in defence
of their temple, and they all appeared greatly agitated; but when they saw that
we were preparing to ascend the great flight of steps, the chief abovementioned
came up to Cortes and expostulated with him, asking him why he proceeded upon a
measure whereby he would bring destruction upon them and us also. Cortes
answered that he was determined sine they paid no regard to what he said, to
hurl their pretended gods down the steps. The chiefs replied,
that they were unworthy to approach them, but if we were resolved on doing what
we said, they could not help themselves. Accordingly, they had hardly laid
this, when fifty of us going up for the purpose, threw down and broke to pieces
the enormous idols which we found within the temple, some in the form of
dragons, others of half human shape, and others like dogs. At this, sight the
chiefs and priests wept and prayed for pardon, but the warriors prepared to
attack us with their arrows. Perceiving their intention, we immediately seized
the fat cacique and six more chiefs and priests, Cortes exclaiming, that if any
outrage was attempted, they should every man die that moment. The fat cacique
then called to his warriors to desist, and matters being soon brought to a
state of quiet, Cortes took an opportunity of haranguing the people upon the
subject of religion.
He next
ordered that the fragments of the idols should be burned, and immediately eight
priests who used to have the care of them came, and collecting them together,
brought them into the temple, where they were consumed.
These
priests were dressed in long black mantles like sheets with hoods resembling
those of our canons hanging to the shoulders, their robes reached to the feet,
and they had a smaller hood like the dominicans.
Their long hair was matted together with clotted blood; with some it reached to
the waist, and with others to the feet, their ears were torn and cut, and they
smelt horribly, as it were of sulphur, and putrid
flesh. They were said to be all of noble families, and they were addicted to
the evil practice of the country. On certain days they fasted: I have seen them
make food of the seeds or kernels of the cotton plant, what else they might
have used at other times I cannot say.
Cortes
then harangued the people, raying that now we were really brothers, Montezuma
should no longer oppress them, and he would place them under the protection of
the great Lady whom we adore, the mother of Christ, with many other good and
holy reasons and arguments, which could not be better expressed by any one, and
all which the people listened to with great attention. He then caused a number
of Indian masons to be collected, with lime, which abounded in that place, and
had the walls cleared of blood, and new plaistered.
He also constructed an altar which he hung round with rich mantles, and adorned
with wreaths of rotes. The temple being thus purified and cleaned, he commanded
four priests to cut off their hair, and change their black garments for white
ones, and entrusted them with the care of the attar, and he placed an old
soldier named Juan de Torres de Cordova, who was lame, as a hermit to reside in
the temple. He also planted a cross against a column of timber, and on the next
day mass was said there by F. Bart. de Olmedo. We likewise taught the natives to make candles of
wax, and they were enjoined to keep them always burning before the holy altar.
The
principal persons of this and the neighbouring
districts attended at divine service, and the eight ladies were at this time
baptized and instructed in our holy faith. The niece of the fat cacique was
named Donna Catalina; she was as ugly as possible, but the general re-
ceived her by the hand affectionately. Puertocarrero
was more fortunate; his lady was for an Indian very handsome; she was the
daughter of a great cacique named Cuesco, and was
called Donna Francisca. The alliance consolidated the friendship between us and
this people, of whom we now took our leave, and returned to Villa Rica.
On our
arrival we found a vessel from
The works
of our town were nearly finished, and many of us now grew anxious to pay a
visit to the great Montezuma, and expressed to Cortes our wish to try our
fortune. Consultations being held hereon, it was determined in the first place
to send a deputation to his Majesty, with an account of what we had done, and
also with the gold and other articles of value which had been obtained. This
determination was agreed to by Cortes, and was immediately carried into effect,
and Diego de Ordas, and Francisco de Montejo, two men of business, going through the whole of
the officers and soldiers, and representing to them, that, although to such as
claimed their share it should not be denied, yet it was for the general
interest that the whole of the treasure should be sent to his Majesty, all our
companions gave their consent, and renounced their claim to a partition. Alonzo
Hernandez Puertocarrero, and Francisco de Montejo were
named as our agents, the last mentioned of whom Cortes had already secured in
his own interest by a gift of two thousand crowns. By these gentlemen Cortes
wrote his private letters, the contents of which we never knew. The council
also wrote conjointly with those of the soldiers who were most solicitous for
the establishment of the colony, and the election of Cortes as captain general.
In this letter nothing was omitted that could serve
our cause; my hand was to it with the rest: and besides
these, a letter to the following purport was written in the name of the whole
army.
Beginning
with the expressions of respect due to so great a monarch, it proceeded to
inform him of the events which had occurred during our expedition, to the
period of our election of Cortes, until his Majesty’s pleasure on the subject
should be known; with our engagement to yield him a fifth of all treasure,
after the deduction for his Majesty. It also contained an account of our
discovery of the two Spaniards in this country, and our war in Tabasco, until
we brought those people to submission to his Majesty, and to embrace our holy
faith, of our obtaining two excellent linguists, of our arrival at St. Juan de Ulua, and our interviews with the ambassadors of Montezuma;
our subsequent march into the country, and our alliance with the people here,
who had in consequence renounced obedience to the Mexican monarch, of the
expedition to Cingapacinga, the construction of our
fortress, and our present determination to advance into the country, to the
court of the great Montezuma. The letter also gave an account of the military
and religious customs of the inhabitants, of the former expeditions of our
countrymen, and an enumeration of the various articles of treasure which we sent
by our agents, and how we also sent by the same opportunity, four natives, whom
we rescued out of the cages of Cempoal, where they
were fattening for victims. After these accounts we further stated, how we were
at preterit four hundred and fifty soldiers, surrounded by hosts of enemies,
and ready to lay down our lives for the service of God, and his Majesty, and we
supplicated, that his Majesty would be pleased not to bestow the government of
so great and rich a country, which deserved to be ruled by a great prince or
lord, on any unworthy person. We also stated to his Majesty our apprehension,
that the Governor of Cuba might be attempted to be put in upon us, through the
interest of his patron the Bishop of Burgos, whom he had attached to him by the
assignment of valuable estates in that Island, in which he failed in his duty
to his Majesty, who was by right entitled to them. That these things we were
bound to represent, and await the
return of his gracious answer prostrate on the ground; and that
if the Bishop of Burgos sent any person over us, we should suspend our
obedience, until his Majesty’s pleasure was known, and that in the mean time,
we remained under the command of his Majesty’s faithful servant Cortes, whose
merits we exalted to the skies.
This
being all drawn up in due form, our general desired to be permitted to read it,
and on the perusal he expressed his highest satisfaction thereat. The only two
articles he excepted to were, the mention of his share
of the treasure, and of the names of the preceding discoverers; for it seems
that he had in his private letter ascribed all the honor and merit to himself.
These parts he desired to suppress, but there were not
wanting those who told him, that his Majesty was to know, not only the
truth, but the whole truth. This business completed, the letters were intrusted to our agents, with strict injunctions by no
means to touch at the Havannah, nor
at the
After
mass on
Velasquez
on receiving the intelligence communicated by Montejo,
as is said, heartily cursed Cortes, his secretary, and the contador,
by whose advice he had chosen him. He immediately sent two vessels armed in
search of our ship, of which the unwelcome intelligence was soon received, that
she was by that time considerably advanced towards
the
Bishop of Burgos, and the court of royal audience in St. Domingo, but the
reverend fathers sent him back an answer highly favorable to us, whole services
they were by this time made acquainted with. This answer, which was brought by
a licentiate named Zuazo, or arrived about the same
time with him, vexed the governor so much, that from being very fat, he grew
quite lean. He now made the utmost exertions to collect a powerful armament in
order to overwhelm us, on which business he went in person, and by the fury and
determination he exhibited, he induced most of the settlers of Cuba to take
part in the expedition, and prepared a fleet of eighteen sail great and small,
under the command of Pamphilo de Narvaez.
Our
agents passing the canal of Bahama, under the
guidance of Alaminos, the first pilot who ever
navigated through it, proceeded to the Islands of Terceras,
and from thence to Seville; and in a few days arrived at the court, which was
then at Valladolid; the Bishop of Burgos biting president of the royal council
of the Indies. Our agents went to wit on him in great spirits, expecting a
gracious reception, but having presented their letters and requested a speedy
transmission of them and their present, to his Majesty, who was then in
Flanders, the bishop returned a very repulsive and haughty answer, saying, that
he would sake his own representations of our conduct, in having thrown off our
obedience to the governor of Cuba. The arrival of Benito Martinez the chaplain
of Velasquez at this time, contributed much to set our affairs in an
unfavorable situation, and the bishop in consequence of a remonstrance which
was made to him by A. H. Puertocarrero, one of those
employed by us, and a cavalier of rank, caused him to be thrown into prison, on
a pretended misdemeanor, in carrying away with him to the Indies a woman of
Medellin, named Maria Rodriquez. All this it was necessary, according to the
dictates of prudence, to keep silence upon, until the proper time and place.
The
bishop now wrote to his Majesty, representing the transactions in the molt
favorable light for Velasquez, and the most opposite
one for us, and entirely suppressed all mention of our
letters, or presents, of which he appropriated a great part to his own use. Our
agents then, in concert with Martin Cortes father to the general, and the
licentiate Nunez, relator of his Majesty’s royal
council and a neat relation to Cortes, with the countenance of some noblemen
their friends, and others who were jealous of the haughty manners of the
bishop, resolved to send the duplicates of our letters to his Majesty, and also
others, complaining of the partiality of this prelate. It was the will of God
that the said accounts should reach his Majesty’s hands, and that he should be
well pleased with them, insomuch that, for many days, nothing was talked of but
the services of Cortes, and us his soldiers. The Emperor was ever after
dissatisfied with the Bishop of Burgos for the part he had acted. When he heard
the turn our affairs had taken at court he was more furious against Cortes and
the rest of us than ever, but it was the will of God that by the time two years
more had elapsed, his courage should be cooled, for he was censured, while we
continued to be held in estimation as loyal subjects to his Majesty, and the
Emperor was pleased to say, that he would shortly come to Castille, and there
attend to our memorials, and reward our services.
In four
days after the departure of our agents, a plot was formed by certain persons
who were enemies to Cortes on various accounts, such as the return to Cuba
being precluded to them, and their being deprived of a share of the gold.
Amongst these conspirators were one Escudero, and one
Cermeno, Gonzalo de Umbria a pilot, Bernaldino de Coria, a clergyman
named Juan Diaz, and certain sailors who had been whipped in
orders protected him, but he got a great fright. Escudero and Cermeno were hanged,
the pilot
In the
consultations which we held at Cempoal upon our
intended expedition to Mexico, the friends of Cortes advised him to destroy the
fleet, in order to prevent attempts similar to that related in the last
chapter, and also to obtain so considerable a reinforcement as the whole body
of mariners, who amounted to above a hundred. It appeared to me that Cortes had
already determined this in his own mind, but he preferred that it should come
as an application from us, in order that if damages were sued for on account of
the loss incurred, we should be all responsible as himself.
Cortes therefore ordered his friend Juan de Escalante who bore a bitter enmity
to Velasquez on account of not being given a good district in
to perform, and I recollect they immediately hereupon began, much against
his will and endeavours, to fumigate Escalante with
their incense. This officer was placed here in order to repel any attempts
which might be made by Velasquez, as he was thoroughly attached to the interest
of Cortes. Gomara here asserts that Cortes dared not
publish to the soldiers his intention of marching to
After
having rendered the vessels unserviceable, but not privately as Gomara asserts, being one morning assembled after mass, and
conversing on military affairs with Cortes, he desired our attention, and
addressed us, saying, “We now knew the business which was before us; that with
the aid of our Lord we should conquer, and it was necessary to do so, for in
case of a defeat there was no escape; nor had we any support but in our valour, and the mercy of God.” To this he added many comparisons
of our situation with those drawn from the history of the ancient Romans. We
one and all replied, “That we were prepared to obey him; that the lot was now
cast, let fortune take what turn she would, as Caesar said in passing the
Rubicon, for that all our services were devoted to God and his Majesty.” Cortes
then addressed us again in a very eloquent and impressive speech, which having
concluded, he called for the fat cacique, and having informed him of our
determination, he injoined him to take care of our
church, and holy cross.
When we
were just ready to depart, a soldier arrived with a letter to Cortes from Juan
de Escalante, whereby he was informed that a strange ship was then at anchor in
a river three leagues distant from Villa Rica, and that he could not obtain any
answer to his signals from
from those on board. Upon this, Cortes appointed Alvarado,
and Sandoval who already began to shew himself the
officer he afterwards was, to take the command of the army in his absence;
(Avila being passed by, and Sandoval preferred on this occasion, first caused a
certain jealousy on the part of the former;) he then set out with four of the
cavalry to Villa Rica, ordering thirty of the lightest infantry to follow him
thither, which number accordingly arrived there that night.
When we
arrived at Villa Rica, Escalante offered to Cortes to go with twenty men to the
vessel, lest the should make her escape, and that Cortes might take some
repose; but Cortes replied, that he could not think of that, for “A lame goat
took no afternoon’s nap.” Accordingly, without eating a morsel, we proceeded
along the coast, and on our road fell in with four Spaniards, who were sent to
take possession of the country, by Captain Alonzo Alvarez de Pineda. One of
these, who was named Guillen
de la Loa, was a notary, and the rest attended him as witnesses. Cortes having
questioned these men as to what brought them there they replied, that Francisco
de Garay, governor of Jamaica; had obtained from the
court, a commission of adelantado and governor of
such districts as he should discover on that coast, northward, from the river
of St. Peter and St. Paul, by virtue of which, he had sent three ships, with
two hundred and seventy soldiers, under the captain already named, who was then
in the river Panuco. Cortes treated them with much
kindness, and asked them if they thought that we could get possession of their
ship; to which Guillen de la Loa replied that they
would do their utmost to assist us, but no signs nor invitations that they made
could induce those on board to approach, and we were told by them that their
captain was aware of our being on the coat, and they supposed, when the boat
did not come off, that we had been discovered. Cortes now bethought himself of
a stratagem, and it was this; he dressed four of his soldiers in the clothes of
these men, and left them there upon the spot, tracing back the way that he had
come along the shore, so that we might be observed from the ship. Thus we
proceeded, until we were out of sight of it, when we struck
into the woods and made a stolen march back, reaching about