CHAPTER VIII.
Return of Cortes to
of the author to
AFTER
five days refreshment at the Havannah, Cortes
embarked, and in twelve days arrived at the Port of Medellin, opposite to the
Island De los Sacrificios, where he disembarked with
twenty soldiers, and proceeding to the town of San Juan de Ulua,
which was distant about half a league, it was his fortune to light upon a
string of horses and mules which had conveyed travellers
to the coast, and which he engaged to take him to Vera Cruz. He ordered those
about him to give no hint to any one, who he was, and two hours before day
break arriving at the town, he went direly to the church the doors of which
were just opened. When the sacristan saw the church filled with people whom he
did not know, he became alarmed and ran into the street, calling to the civil
power to assist him. The alcaldes, three alguazils and some of the neighbours
came with arms in consequence of the noise. Cortes was squalid, and the white
habit of the reverend father was dirty from the sea voyage, nor did any one
recollect them until Cortes began to speak; but as soon as he was recognized by
them, they all fell upon their knees, kissed his hands, and bid him and his
attendants welcome. All his old fellow soldiers assembled around him, and after
mass, escorted him to the quarters of Pedro Moreno Medrano, where he remained
for eight days, during which time he was feasted and entertained by the
inhabitants. Intelligence was also sent to
abundant presents, and when he set out for the city of
When he
arrived at Tescuco, where the contador
came to wait upon him, he thought it proper to remain there for that night, and
on the next morning but one he entered the city, being met by all the officers,
cavaliers, and other inhabitants, in great state. The natives in their best
dresses, and armed as warriors, filled the lake with their canoes; the dancing
continued in every street during the day, and at night the city was illuminated
with lights at every door. Immediately on his arrival he went to the monastery
of St. Francisco, to return thanks to God for all his mercies to him. From that
he went to his magnificent palace, where he was served and esteemed, and
feared, as a sovereign prince, all the provinces making their submissions, and
sending presents and congratulations to him. The entry of Cortes into
The
reader has already been informed of the charges brought against Cortes in
Castille, and of the orders issued to the admiral of St.
Domingo, of the interposition of the Duke of Bejar,
and the appointment of Luis Ponce de Leon. The licentiate at this period of
which I am writing, had arrived at
The
persons whom the licentiate principally consulted were the alcalde
major Proano, a native of Cordova, and his brother
the alcalde of the citadel; named Salazar de la Pedrada, who shortly after his arrival died of a pleurisy,
Marcos de Aguilar a licentiate or bachelor, a soldier named Bocanegra
de Cordova, and certain fathers of the order of St. Domingo, the provincial of
whom was one Fray Thomas Ortiz. He had been a prior some where that I do not
now recollect, and all those who came with him described him to be a man more
fit for worldly affairs than those which particularly concerned his holy
office. With
these persons the licentiate consulted as to his proceeding to
During
this time Cortes remained in
On the
ensuing day, the council of
military officers, and the veteran soldiers, were assembled by
order; and in their presence the licentiate Ponce de Leon produced his
authority from his Majesty, which Cortes having kissed, and placed upon his
head in token of submission, they all declared our obedience to, as in duty
bound. The licentiate then received and returned back the rod of justice, in
token of the surrender of the government into his hands, saying to Cortes,
“General, this government I receive from you by his Majesty’s orders, wherein
however it is by no means implied that you are not most worthy of this, or
higher trusts.” To which the general replied, that he
was always happy in obeying his Majesty’s commands, and that it was also a
satisfaction to him, that he would be thereby enabled to prove the falsehood
and malice of his enemies. The licentiate in answer said, that where were good men, there were also bad, and such was the world;
but that to each would be repaid in kind. This was all the material business of
the day. On the next, Cortes attended the summon of the new governor, who sent
it with much respect, and they had a conference, at which no one was present
except the prior Thomas Ortiz; but it is said and believed that the licentiate
addressed Cortes to the following effect. He first observed that it had been
his Majesty’s intention, that those who had most merit in the conquest of this
country, should be well provided for in the distribution of plantations,
considering more especially the soldiers who first came thither from Cuba; and
that it had been understood, that this was not the case, for that they had been
neglected, while others newly arrived had wealth heaped upon them, without any
just pretensions. Cortes, to this, replied, that all had got shares, but that
some of these it was true turned out much inferior to others; however it was in
his power as governor now to rectify that. The governor then asked him how it
happened that he had left Luis de Godoy to perish for want in a distant
settlement, when the veterans ought to have been suffered to remain and enjoy
the comforts of established possessions in
had been taken care of. Cortes replied, that for business of
danger it was useless to employ any but his veterans; but that they would soon
he expected return to
After
Cortes had retired, Fray Thomas Ortiz called on three persons intimate friends
of the general, and with great earnestness told them the same which he on the
ensuing morning told to Cortes himself; for coming to him at that time, and
desiring to speak to him in private, he then assured, him with many
protestations of friendship, and wishes to serve him, that the governor had
secret orders from his Majesty, immediately to behead him, and that he had
thought it proper, in conformity with the duty of his sacred function, as well
as from his privates regard, to give him early intelligence. This
friendly communication. it may be supposed gave Cortes a good deal to
reflect upon; he had been informed of the intriguing and simulating character
of the friar, and was induced to think that this might be done to induce him to
give a bribe for his intercession. Others said afterwards that Ortiz acted by
the directions of the governor. Cortes, however, received his pretended
friendly information with many thanks, declaring his hopes that his Majesty had
a different opinion of his services, than to proceed against him in that
manner, and that he had too high an opinion of the governor, to suppose he would
do any thing without warrant. When the friar found that his tricks were not
attended by the effect
that he had flattered himself with, he remained much
confused, and did not know what to say.
The new
governor issued public notice, that all who had complaints to make against the
former administration of the country, should bring them forward, whether they
were concerning Cortes, the civil, or the military officers. In consequence of
this a host of accusers, litigants, and claimants, started up. All the
general’s private enemies brought accusations against him; others who had
really justice on their side laid claim to what was due to them. Some alledged that they had not received their proper shares of
gold, others that they had not been sufficiently rewarded, and others demanded
remuneration for their horses killed in the wars, although they had gotten ten
times the value in gold; and some demanded satisfaction for personal injuries.
Just at the period when the governor had opened his court to give a hearing to
all the parties, it was God’s will, and for our sins and misfortunes, that he
should be taken suddenly ill of a fever, and a lethargy coming on him he
remained in that state four days. His three physicians then advised him to
confess and receive the sacrament, which he did with great devotion, and
appointed as his successor in the government, Marcos de Aguilar who had come
with him from Castille. Some said that the latter was only a bachelor and not a
licentiate, and therefore incapable of acting; however the governor left him
orders not to proceed further with the business of the court, but that all
should be laid before his Majesty. On the ninth day from the time he was taken
ill, the governor gave up his breath to our Lord. The whole city went into
mourning on the occasion. The military deplored his loss with particular
reason, for he certainly intended to redress all abuses, and to reward us
according to our merits.
I heard
an anecdote of him, at the time of his death, and it was this. He was of a gay
disposition and fond of music; to divert his lethargy, his attendants brought a
lute, and played upon it in his apart-
ment; and they said that while they played him a favourite air, he beat time to it, and just as it was
finished he expired. What malignities and
It was
the wish of those who were enemies to Cortes, that the
enquiry should be proceeded on in the same manner as was intended before the
death of the late governor. Cortes asserted his readiness, provided that the
new governor Aguilar would take upon him the responsibility of acting contrary
to the testament of his predecessor. The council of
I will
now go to a distance both in time and place, to relate that which happened to
us on our journey to Mexico from Naco, where we were
waiting to hear from Sandoval, who was to send us notice of the sailing of
Cortes, which intelligence we never received, Saavedra,
I have already mentioned, maliciously suppressing the letters with which he was
intrusted.
When our
captain Marin and the rest of us found that we were disappointed, in the
receipt of our expected intelligence, we determined to send a party to Truxillo to learn the truth. Accordingly ten of the cavalry,
of which I was one, set out, and on our arrival at a place named Olancho, we
learned from some Spaniards that Cortes had sailed. This intelligence was soon
after confirmed to us in a communication we had with Saavedra;
we therefore returned to our Captain Marin with the good news, and soon after
we all set out with joyful hearts for
On our
way, at a place called Maniani, we met five soldiers
who had been sent by Alvarado in search of us. They were commanded by one of
our veterans named Diego de Villanueva, a brave soldier. As soon as we had
recognized each other and saluted, we enquired for his Captain Alvarado, who,
he informed us was not far distant, and whom accordingly, after two days march
farther, we fell in with. Our meeting took place at the town of Cholulteca Malalaca, and a third
party joined us there, composed of captains under Pedro Arias de Avila, who met
Alvarado’s party to adjust some difference about bounds. We remained here
together for three days. Alvarado at this time sent one Gaspar Arias de Avila,
a confidential friend of his to treat with Captain Pedro Arias, about some
particular business, I believe relative to a marriage; for Captain P. A. de
Avila seemed much devoted to Alvarado.
Continuing
out march, we crossed a hostile country where the
natives killed one of our soldiers, and wounded three others. The want of time
prevented our punishing them as they deserved. Further on, in Guatimala, they had also manned the passes against us, and
we were detained three days in forcing our way; here I received a wound of an
arrow, but it was of little consequence. We then arrived at the valley where
the city of
were all hostile; I recollect that here we had a number of
shocks of an earthquake, very long in their duration, and so violent as to
throw several of the soldiers to the ground.
When we
passed old Guatimala, the natives had assembled to
give us an hostile reception, but we drove them away before us, and took
possession of their magnificent dwellings and quadrangles, for that night, and
on the ensuing day we hutted ourselves on the plain, where we halted for ten days;
during which time Alvarado sent summons to the neighbouring
Indians, to come in and submit. We delayed here to receive their answers, which
none of them thought proper to send. We then proceeded on our journey by long
marches, until we reached the station of Alvarado’s main force, at Olintepeque. After halting there for some days we proceeded
on towards
When we
arrived at Guaxaca, we learned the news of the death
of the governor Ponce de Leon. Anxiously pressing forward for
and all our friends, and Cortes among the rest, sent us
presents of necessaries, as also gold and cocoa for our expences.
On the
next day my friend and I, accompanied by Sandoval and Andres de Tapia,
proceeded to wait upon the governor Aguilar, who received us with much
politeness, but declared his inability to make any new arrangements, the whole
being left to his Majesty’s arbitration; but that if he was authorised,
he would do every thing that lay in his power to give us satisfa1ion. At this
time arrived from the Island of Cuba, Diego de Ordaz
whom I have already mentioned as the circulator of the report of our deaths; he
was severely taxed for his impropriety, but most solemnly denied it to us,
averring that he had only written an account of the unfortunate affair at Xicalonga as it really happened, and any misrepresentation
that was made, the factor was accountable for; and for the truth of what he
asserted he referred to his letters. Cortes had at this time too much business
on his hands to embarrass himself any further with this; he therefore thought
proper to drop it, and endeavour to rescue his
property, which had been disposed of upon the supposition of his death. A great
part of it had been appropriated to the expences of
celebrating his funeral service, and to the saying masses for his soul and
ours, to give credit to the report; and these perpetual masses which had been
so purchased out of the property of Cortes upon the supposition of his death,
and for the good of his soul, were now that he was found to be alive, and no
longer to be in need of them, purchased by one Juan de Caceres, for the benefit
of his own foul, whenever he was to die; so that Cortes was more removed from
the re-attainment of his property than ever.
Ordas who was a wise man and one of experience in worldly
affairs, seeing that Cortes was neglected and had fallen in public estimation
since his being superceded by the governor Ponce de Leon, advised him to assume
more consequence and a more stately appearance than his natural disposition
prompted him to, in order to maintain the respect that
was due
to him; but such was his natural plainness of manners, that he never at any
time liked to be called otherwise than simply, Cortes, and truly it was a great
and noble name in itself, and as much revered as Caesar’s and Pompey’s in the
time of the Romans, Hannibal’s among the Carthaginians, or in our time that of
Gonzalo. Hernandez, or the molt valiant and ever invincible Diego Garcia de Paredes. Ordaz also informed
Cortes of the report that was circulated through
The
treasurer Estrada at this time married off two of his daughters; one to Jorge
de Alvarado, another to Don Luis de Guzman son to the Count De Castellar. It was then settled that Pedro de Alvarado
should go to Castille to solicit the government of Guatimala,
and he in the mean time sent his brother Jorge to that province with a force of
our allies of different nations, to reduce it. The governor also about that
period sent a force against the province of Chiapa
under the command of Don Juan Enriquez de Guzman, a near relation of the duke
of Medina Sidonia; an other to the province of
Tabasco under Balthasar Ossorio,
and a third against the Zapotecan mountaineers under
Alonzo de Herrera, one of our veterans.
After
lingering for eight months, the governor Marcos de Aguilar gave up the ghost,
leaving by testament the treasurer Alonzo de Estrada his successor. At this
time, the council of Mexico and many principal Spaniards were solicitous that
Cortes should be associated with the treasurer in. the government, the latter
appearing entirely incompetent at the present juncture, more particularly for
the following reason. Nuno de Guzman
who had for two years governed the
It was
determined on the peremptory refusal of the latter, that Sandoval who was alguazil major, should at conjointly with the treasurer,
and he was willingly accepted as an associate by him. His first business on
entering into office was, to endeavour to bring to
justice one Ruano, who had fled from
Certain
persons, the inveterate and active enemies of Cortes, now persuaded the
treasurer to write to Castille, to represent at court, that he had been
compelled by the influence of Cortes, to associate Sandoval with him in the
government, contrary to his inclination, and to his Majesty’s service. They by
the same opportunity transmitted a volume of malignant falsehoods, which they
had raked up against the general, such as that he had poisoned Luis Ponce de
the veedor and factor, and an officer named Don Pedro de la Cueva commendador major of Alcantara, was ordered to go with three hundred soldiers,
at the cost of Cortes, and in case of his guilt being proved, to inflict the
punishment of death upon him, and distribute his property amongst the veteran
conquerors of Mexico. This was however to be done under the judgment of a royal
court of audience, to be present upon the spot for the purpose. All these
preparations however ended in nothing; for neither Don Pedro de la Cueva, nor the court of royal audience ever arrived.
The
treasurer was now greatly elevated by the countenance which he received at court,
and which he attributed to his being considered a son of the catholic king. He
disposed of governments at his pleasure, sending his relation Mazariejos to make enquiry into the conduct of Don Juan
Enriquez de Guzman in Chiapa, where they say more pillage
and plunder took place than ought to have done. He also sent a force against
the Zapotecans and Minxes under one De Barrios, said
to be a brave soldier, and who had served in
custom was buried with them. In this manner he collected to the
value of above one hundred thousand crowns, and with this wealth, which was
increased by presents, he set off for
When the
governor heard how his friend had been maltreated by Herrera, he sent the
officers of justice to apprehend him; he however escaped to the rocks and
woods, but they took a soldier who used to accompany him, and brought him
prisoner to
A servant
of Sandoval also at this time wounded a servant of the treasurer, in a quarrel.
The treasurer had him arrested, and commanded his right hand to be cut off.
Cortes and Sandoval were at this time at a place called Quernavaca,
partly from motives of prudence. On hearing of this insult they posted off to
base and unworthy: and that he would set out immediately, and
demand justice from his Majesty.
Instantly
therefore quitting the city, he went to one of his country residences at Cuyoacan, from whence in a few days he proceeded towards the
coast. At this time the lady of the treasurer, a person well worthy of memory
for her many virtues, seeing the dangerous consequences likely to result from
his absurd and arbitrary conducts expostulated with him on it, reminding him of
the many favours he had received from Cortes, the
ingratitude with which he had repaid him, and the many friends that Cortes had.
These representations are said to have operated on the mind of the treasurer,
so as to cause sincere repentance of the steps that he had taken.
At this
time arrived in New Spain Fray Julian Garrios, first
bishop of Tlascala, and who in honour to our lord the
most christian Emperor was
named Carolense. When this reverend prelate heard of
the proceedings of the governor against Cortes, he was highly displeased with
them, and two days after his arrival in
the unalterable determination of Cortes to go to Old Spain,
and a severe censure from himself, upon the misconduct of those who had been
the cause of his quitting