The pleasant historie of the conquest of the VVeast India, now called new Spayne

Hovv Cortez vvan a great Citie called Zimpanzinco

An euill Spirite appeared

A couragious Captayne

In an euening Cortes went vp to the toppe of his Tower, and looking rounde aboute hym, he espyed aboute foure leagues distant in the Mountaynes among rockes and procéeding out of a wodde dyuers smokes, whereby he ymagined people to be there: he opened not his minde to anye man, but commaunded two hundred of his men to followe hym, and some Indians hys friendes, and within thrée or foure houres of the nyghte he toke hys iourney towarde the Mountaynes, béeing very darke. He had not fully gone a league, when suddaynely appeared the lykenesse of a great Bull whiche ouerthrewe them that they could not stirre. The firste Horseman béeing fallen, they aduysed Cortez thereof, who aunswered, that he shoulde returne wyth hys Horse to the Campe: and incontinente fell another, Cortez commaunded hym the lyke: and when thrée or foure were fallen, his company retyred, saying, it was an euill token, desiring him to returne and abyde the morning, that they myghte sée whether they wente. He aunswered, saying, yée oughte to gyue no credite to witchcraftes or fantasies, for God, whose cause we take in hande, is aboue all nature: wherefore I will not leaue my pretended iourney, for I doe ymagine that of thys nyghtes trauell shall come greate ease and pleasure, saying, that the Deuill hathe in this forme of a Bull appeared, to disturbe vs. He hadde no sooner ended his talke, when hys Horse fell likewise: then counsell was taken what was best to be done.

It was determined that the Horses which were fallē, should be returned to the Campe, and that of the residue, eache Horseman should leade hys Horse by the bridle, and so proceede on theyr way, and shortly after the Horses were well agayne, but they neuer knewe of what motion they hadde fallen: wyth the darkenesse of the nyghte they lost theyr way to the Mountaynes, and chanced into a cragged rockie waye, that they thoughte neuer to haue come out thereof.

A famous Cortez

And after a whyle that they had gone this euill waye, wyth their heare standing with very feare, they espyed a little lyghte, and tooke the way thyther, where they founde a little house, wherein were two Women, and those Women, with other two women that afterwards they mette, conducted them to the Wildernesse, where they had espyed the smoke, and before day they sette vpon certayne Villages, and slewe many, yet they burned not those Villages, bycause they should not be perceyued through the lyght thereof. They receyued there aduyse, that néere at hand were great populations and soone after he came to Zimpanzinco, a towne of twenty thousand houses, as after dyd appeare by the visitation of Cortes. These inhabitantes béeyng vnaduised of this suddayne happe, were taken in their beddes, and came out all naked through the stréetes to knowe what the great mourning and lamentation meante: at the first entrance many were slayne, but bycause they made no resistance, Cortez commaunded to ceasse from killyng, nor yet to take any of theyr goodes, or women.

The feare of these poore inhabitantes was so greate, that they fledde without respect of the father to the child, or husbande to the Wyfe, or yet eyther of house or goodes.

Cortes commaunded sygnes of peace to be made vnto them, and with that they stayed, and before the Sunne rising, the Towne was pacifyed.

Cortez went vp into a Tower to descry the Countrey, and there espyed a moste greate population: he then demaunded what it was: aunswere was made that it was called Tlaxcallan, and the Townes therevnto apperteynyng. Then he called hys Spanyardes, and sayd vnto them: beholde, what woulde it haue preuayled vs to kyll these poore soules, hauyng yonder so manye enimies? and wythoute doyng anye more hurte in that Towne, hée wente to a fayre Fountayne there at hande, and thyther came the Rulers of that Towne, and other foure hundred menne withoute weapon, and broughte wyth them muche victuall, most humbly they besought Cortes to doe them no more hurte, gyuing hym likewise greate thankes, that hée hadde so fauourablye vsed them, offering both to serue and obey hym, and from that daye forwarde they woulde not onely kéepe hys friendshippe, but also trauell wyth the Lordes of Tlaxcallan and others, that they should doe the same. Cortez replyed, that sure he was, howe they had foughte agaynste hym before that time, although that nowe they broughte hym meate, yet notwithstandyng hée pardoned them, and also receyued them into hys seruice and friendshippe, to the vse of the Emperoure.

Wyth thys communication he departed from them, and returned to the Campe verye ioyfull wyth so good successe, hauyng such a daungerous beginning, wyth the suddayne fall of theyr Horses, wherein the Prouerbe is fulfylled, whyche sayeth, Speake not euill of the daye, till it be at an ende.

They hadde also a greate hope, that those newe friendes woulde bée a meane, to cause the Tlaxcaltecas to leaue from Warre, and to become theyr friendes.

From that day forward he commaunded that none of hys Campe shoulde doe any hurte to any Indian, and certifyed his men that the same daye his warres were at an ende with that prouince.

The desire that some of the Spanyardes had to leaue the warres

Murmuration

When Cortez was returned so ioyfull to his Camp, he founde some of his men discouraged with the suddayne mishappe of the Horses, fearing that likewise some misfortune hadde happened to Cortes, but when they sawe him come well and with victorie, their ioy was great, although true it is that manye of his men were not well pleased, but desired muche to leaue the warres, and to returne to the coast, as they had often requested, but nowe chiefly séeyng such a great Countrey, and full of people, who woulde not permitte theyr abiding there, and they béeing so fewe in number in the middest among them withoute hope of succoure, certaynely things to be feared. With this murmuration they thought it good to talke with Cortes, & also to require him to procéede no further, but returne backe agayne to Vera Crux, from whence by little and little they mighte haue intelligence with the Indians, and therevppon procéede according to tyme, and that he mighte prouide more Horses and men, whiche was the chiefest prouision of the warre.

And although some secretely enformed Cortes of thys matter, yet he gaue no eare to their talke, but on a night as hée came out of hys Tower to ouerlooke the watche, hée hearde a loude talke out of one of the Cotages, and beganne to hearken what theyr communication was: and the matter was, that certaine souldiers sayde these wordes: If our Captayne be madde, and go where he may be slayne, let him goe alone, what néede we to follow him. Cortez hearyng this talke, called twoo of his friendes for witnesse, willyng them to harken his souldiers talke, for he that durst speake suche wordes would be ready to doe it. Also he hearde others say, what shall our iourney be as Pedro Carbonerotes was? who went into Barbaria to take Mores, and he and all his were there slayne, wherefore sayde they let vs not follow him but turne in time. It grieued Cortez muche to heare this talke, who would fayne haue corrected them but it was not then tyme, wherefore he determined to leade them with sufferaunce, and spake vnto them as followeth.

The Oration made by Cortez to his Souldiers

Maisters and louyng friendes, I did choose you for my fellowes, and ye chose me for your captaine, and all was for the seruice of God, and the augmenting of his holy faith, & also the seruice of our soueraigne Lord the King now Emperour: and next for our owne commoditie, I (as yée haue séene) haue not fayled nor yet displeased yée, nor yée likewise haue otherwise done to me vnto this day. But now I do féele faintnesse in some, yea and an euill will to goe forwarde in the warres whiche we haue in hande: but (God be praysed) it is now finished, at the least the ende is vnderstood, what it may be, and also the wealth that may follow, as partely you haue séene, but much without comparison of that you haue not séene, whiche is a thing that doth excéede the greatnesse of our wordes or thoughts.

Feare not my louyng fellowes to goe and abide with me, God forbidde that I should thynke, yea or that any shoulde reporte, that feare vexeth my company, or else disobedience to their Captayne, whiche is a perpetuall infamie, if wée shoulde leaue this Lande, this Warre, this way already made, and returne as some doe desire, shall wée then lyue at reste, loytring as idell and loste folke: God forbidde, that euer oure nation shoulde haue suche a name, hauyng warres of honour. And whether (I pray) shall the Oxe goe where he shall not helpe to ploughe the grounde? doe yée thinke peraduenture that yée shall finde lesse people, worse armed, and not farre from the sea? I doe assure you, that in so thynkyng yée séeke after fiue féete for a Catte, yea and you shall trauell no way, but that you shall méete some euill passage (as the Prouerbe sayth) yea and farre worser than this that we haue in hande. For why (God be thanked) since wée came into this Countrey, we neuer wanted meate, friendes, neyther money nor honour. For nowe yée sée that yée are estéemed more than menne, yea as persons immortall, and Goddes, if it mighte be spoken, for these Indians beyng so many and without number, and so armed as ye your selues affirme, yet can they not kyll one of vs: and as touchyng theyr weapons, you sée that they are not poysoned, as the Indians of Cartagena, Veragna, and the Caribez doe vse, whiche haue killed many of our nation therewith, dying as madde menne ragyng.

And if there were no other cause than this onely, you shoulde not séeke others with whome to warre: I doe confesse that the Sea is somewhat farre from vs, and neuer Spaniarde trauelled so farre into the mayne lande of India, as wée haue done: for why? nowe we leaue the Sea a hundreth and fiftie myles behinde vs, nor yet euer any hath come to neare Mexico where Mutezuma dothe reside, from whome suche messages and Treasure wée haue receyued. It is nowe but thrée score myles thyther, and the worste is paste, as you doe sée, if we come thither, as I truste in Iesus wée shall, then shall we not onely gette and winne for the Emperoure oure naturall Lorde a riche Lande, greate Kingdomes, infinite Vassalles, but lykewyse for oure selues muche riches, as Golde, Siluer, Pretious stones, Pearles, and other commoditie, and besides thys, the greatest honour that euer any nation did obtayne. For loke howe great a King this is, howe large his countrey is, and what greate multitude of people hée hath, so muche the more is our glory.

Besides all this, wée are bounde as Christians to exalte and enlarge oure Catholyke fayth, as wée haue begonne, abolishyng Idolatrie and blasphemie agaynst our Sauiour Christe, takyng away the blouddy Sacrifice and eatyng of mannes fleshe, so horrible and agaynste nature, and many other grieuous sinnes so muche here vsed, for the foulenesse whereof I name them not.

And therefore (I saye) feare you nor yet doubte you the victorie, consideryng that the worste is paste. Of late wée ouercame the Indians of Tabasco, and also an hundreth and fiftie thousande this other daye of the Tlaxcaltecas, who haue the onely name of breakers of Lyons iawes: so with Gods helpe you shal be Conquerers of the reste, if ye faynt not and folowe me.

All hys company was pleased and contente with this comfortable exhortation, and those that were faynt harted recouered strength. And hys valiaunt Souldiers recouered double courage, & those who hated him began to honour him: and in conclusion he departed from thence excéeding welbeloued of all his company. But all his former talke was very néedefull as time then requyred: for why? some of his (as you haue heard) were desirous to returne: likewise vpon dissention, rebellion mought haue growen, and he forced to returne to the sea coaste, where all his toyle and trauell taken had bene lost.

Hovv Xicotencatl came for Embassadour to Cortez his Campe

Cortez had not so soone made an ende of his talke, when Xicotencatl came entryng into the campe, who was chiefe and generall captayne in Tlaxcallan, & of all the warres: he brought in his company fiftie persons of auctoritie to kéepe him cōpany. They approched neare where Cortes was, and saluted eche other according to the vse of their countrey. Their salutations ended and the parties setten downe, Xicotencatl began the talke, saying: Sir I am come on mine owne behalf and also of my fellow Captaine, and Lieuetenant Maxixca, and in the name of many other noble personages, and finally in the name of the whole state and common weale of Tlaxcallan, to beséeche and pray you to admitte vs into your friendshippe, and to yéelde our selues and countrey vnto your King, crauyng also at your hande pardon for our attempt in takyng armes agaynst you, wée not knowyng what you were, nor what you sought for in our countrey. And where we presumed to resiste and defende your entrance, we did it as agaynst straungrrs whome we knewe not, and suche menne as we had neuer here tofore séene: and fearyng also that you had bene friendes to Mutezuma, who is and alwayes hath bene our mortall enimy. And these things wée suspected, seyng Mutezuma his seruaunts in your company, or else we imagined that you were comen to vsurpe our libertie, the which of tyme without memory we haue possessed, as our forefathers did with the shedyng of their bloud. And of our owne naturall prouision we wante cotten woolle to clothe vs, wherfore in tyme paste we wente as naked as we were borne, but some of vs vsed other clothe to couer our nakednesse, made of the leaues of the trée called Metl: and Salte also wée wanted, of which twoo things so necessarie to humayne lyfe, Mutezuma had greate store, and other our enimies, with whome we are rounde aboute enuironed. And lykewise where wée haue no gold, stones of value, or any riche thyng to barter with them, of very pure necessitie many times we are forced to sell our owne bodies to buy these wantes. And this extremitie (sayde he) wée néeded not, if that we woulde be subiectes and vassalles to Mutezuma. But yet had we rather all in generall to end our lyues, than wée woulde putte oure selues in suche subiection, for we thynke our selues as valiaunt menne in courage as our forefathers were, who alwayes haue resisted agaynst him and his grandfather, who was as mightie as nowe is he: wée woulde also haue withstoode you and your force, but wée coulde not, although we proued all our possibilitie by night and day, and found your strength inuincible, and we no lucke agaynst you. Therefore sithence our fate is such, we had rather be subiect vnto you than vnto any others. For wée haue knowen and hearde by the Zeampoallanezes, that you doe no euill, nor came not to vere any, but were moste valliaunt and happie, as they had séene in the warres, beyng in your companie. For whiche consideration, we truste that our libertie shall not be diminished, but rather our owne persons, wyues, and familie better preserued, and our houses and husbandry not destroyed. And in sūme of all his talke, the teares trickling downe his chéekes, he besought Cortes to wey that Tlaxcallan did neuer at any tyme reknowledge any superiour King or Lorde, nor at any time had commen any person among them to commaunde, but onely he, whome they did voluntarily electe and chose as their superiour and ruler.

It can not be tolde, howe muche Cortes reioyced with this Embassage, and to sée such a mighty Captayne come vnto his campe to submitte himselfe: and also it was a matter of great wayght to haue that Cittie in subiection, for the enterprice whiche he had in hande, whereby he fully made an account that the warres were at an ende, to the great cōtentation of him and his company, and with great fame and reputation among the Indians.

Cortes with a mery and louing countenaunce answered, laying to their charge the hurte and damage whiche he had receyued in their countrey, bycause they refused at the firste to harken vnto him, and quietly to suffer him to enter into their countrey, euen as he had required and desired by his Messengers of Zeampoallan sente vnto them from Zaclotan. Yet al this notw^tstandyng, he did both pardon the kyllyng of his twoo horses, the assaultyng of him in the highe way, and the greate lies whiche they had moste craftily vsed with hym, (for where as they themselues fought agaynst him, yet they layde the faulte to others) likewise their pretence to murder him in the ambush prepared for him, (enticing him to come to their Citie,) without makyng firste defiance according to the law of armes.

These causes notwithstanding, he did louingly receyue their offer made in subiection to the Emperour, and in this sorte departed, saying, that shortely hée woulde be with him in Tlaxcallan, and presently he coulde not goe with him for the dispatche of the Ambassadours of Mutezuma.

The receyuing and entertaynement of Cortez in Tlaxcallan

It grieued muche the Embassadours of Mutezuma, to sée Xicotencates in the Spanishe Campe, and the offer made vnto Cortes in the behalfe of his King, of their persons, Cittie and goodes, aduising Cortes to gyue no credite vnto them, for all their saying (quoth they) is treason and lies, and to the entent to locke you vp in their Cittie.

Cortes answered, that although their aduise were true, yet he did determine to go thither, for that he feared them lesse in the towne than in the fielde. They hearyng this answere and determination, besought him to giue vnto one of them licence to returne vnto Mexico, to aduertise Mutezuma of all that was past, with an answere to their Ambassage, promising within sixe dayes to haue newes from Mexico, and till then prayed him not to departe with his Campe.

Cortes graunted their request, and abode there the time appointed, expectyng the answere. In this meane season came many of Tlaxcallan to the camp, some brought Ginnea cockes, other brought bread and Cherries, and gaue it for nothyng in comparison, with merry countenaunce, desiryng them to goe home with them vnto their houses.

A riche present

The sixth day the Mexican came, accordyng to promise, and brought vnto Cortes tenne Iewelles of Golde, bothe riche and well wrought, and a fiftene thousand garments of Cotten excéeding gallant, and moste earnestly besought hym on the behalfe of Mutezuma, that he shoulde not daunger himselfe in trustyng to the wordes of the Tlaxcaltecas, who were so poore y^t with necessitie they would robbe him of the thyngs whiche his mayster had sente him, yea and lykewise murder him, knowyng of the friendshippe betwéene his mayster and him: likewise all the chiefest Lordes of Tlaxcallan, came to intreate hym to goe with them to Tlaxcallan where he shoulde be cherished, lodged, and well prouided. For it was a greate dishonour and shame for them to permitte suche personages to abyde in suche vyle cotages as they were in. And if (quoth they) you truste vs not, that then wée are ready to gyue you for your securitie what soeuer gages you shall demaunde: notwithstandyng they dyd bothe sweare and faithfully promise, that they might safely goe with them, saying also that the Othe and fayth of theyr common weale should neuer be broken for all the goodes in the worlde.

Entraunce into Tlaxcallan

Wherevpon Cortez seyng the good will of so many Gentlemen his newe friendes, and lykewise the Indians of Zeampoallan, of whome he had good credite, did so importune him and assure him of his goyng, he commaunded his fardage to be laden and also his ordinaunce, and departed towarde Tlaxcallan, whiche was sixe leagues from that place, with as good order as it had bene to a battayle: And at the Tower where he had pitched hys campe, he lefte certayne Crosses for a memorie, with a greate heape of stones, and entred into Tlaxcallan the eightenth of September. There came out such a multitude of people to sée him and to méete him in the way, that it was a wonder to sée.

He was lodged in the greatest temple, which had many great and fayre lodgyngs, sufficient for hym and all his companie, except the Indians hys friends which were lodged in other Temples. He set certayne limittes, out of the whiche he commaunded straightely that none of hys company should passe, vpon payne of deathe, and also commaunded that they shoulde take nothing, but what shoulde be giuen them. His commaundement was well obserued, for none presumed to goe a stoanes cast without his licence. The Indian Gentlemen shewed greate pleasure and curtesie to the strangers, and prouided thē of all things necessarie, and manye of them gaue theyr daughters vnto them, in token of true friendshippe, and likewise to haue fruite of their bodyes, to be brought vp for the warres, beyng such valiant men.

This Countrey lyked well oure men, and the greate loue of the people. They abode there at their pleasure twenty dayes, in whiche time they did procure to knowe particularly the estate of their common weale and secretes, and also were sufficiently instructed of the estate of Mutezuma.