The pleasant historie of the conquest of the VVeast India, now called new Spayne
TekstThe Solemne pompe vvherevvith Cortez was receyued into Mexico
From Iztacpalapan to Mexico is twoo leagues all vpon a fayre calsey, vpon the which eight horsemē may passe on rāke, and so directly straight as though it had bene made by line. And who soeuer hath good eiesight might discerne the gates of Mexico from thence. Coyoacan is a towne of sixe thousande dwellers, Vizilopuchtli is of fiue thousand. These townes are planted in the lake, and are adorned with many temples, whiche haue many fayre towers, that doe beautifie excedingly the lake. There is great contractatiō of Salte, which is made there, and from thence is carried abrode to fayres and markets, whiche thing was a greate rente to Mutezuma. Vpon this Calsey are many drawebridges buylt vpon fayre arches that the water passeth through.
Cortes passed this calsey with .400. Spaniardes, & .6000. Indians his friends: theyr passage was with much ado, by reason of the great multitude of Indians which came to sée him, & cōming neare the citie, there adioyned another calsey with a broder passage, where standeth a strong bulwark of stone of the heigth of .ij. fadom, with two towers on eche side, and two gates very strong. Here at this forte came thrée thousande Courtiers and Citizens to receyue him, & euery of them touched the grounde with his right hand and kissed it, and passed forwards in the order as they came. These salutatiōs endured an houre & more. From the bulwark the calsey lieth directly, and before the entraunce into the streate there is an other drawe bridge made of timber ten paces broade, vnder the which the water passeth too and fro. At this bridge came Mutezuma to receyue Cortes vnder a Canapie of gréene feathers & golde with much argentery hangyng thereat, whiche Canapie foure noble men did carry. And the two princes Cuetlauac, and Cacama his neuewes, did leade him by eache arme: all thrée were riche appareled & al of one fashion, except Mutezuma, whiche had a payre of shoes of golde besette with pretious stones, and the soles were tied to the vpper part with latchets, as is paynted of the Antikes. His Gentlemen wente by two and two laying downe and taking vp mantels and couerlets vpon the ground, bicause his féete should not touche the same: then followed him as in procession .200. noble men barefooted, with garments of a richer liuery then the first thrée thousand. Mutezuma came in the middest of the streate, and the others came behinde him as nigh the wal as they mought, their faces towards the grounde, for it was a great offence to looke him in the face. Cortes alighted from his horse, and according to our vse went to embrace him, but the Princes who led him by the armes would not suffer him to come so nigh, for they held it for sin to touch him, but yet saluted ech one ye other.
Cortes put about Mutezuma his necke a coller of Margarites, Diamondes, & other stones al of glasse. Mutezuma receyued it thankfully, & wente before with one of the princes his Neuewes, & cōmaunded the other to lead Cortes by the hand next after him in the middest of the streat: and procéeding forwarde in this order, then came the Gētlemen in the richest liuery to welcome him one by one, touchyng the ground with their handes, & after returned to their standyng. And if the Citizens had come as they requested, all ye day would not haue serued for salutatiōs. The coller of glasse pleased well Mutezuma, and bycause he woulde not take without giuyng a better thing as a great prince, he commaunded to be brought twoo collers of redde prawnes, which there are muche estéemed, and at euery one of them hanged eight shrimpes of gold of excellent workemanship, & of a finger length euery one, he put these collers with the owne hands about Cortes his necke, the which was estéemed a most great fauour, yea and the Indians marueled at it. At this time they were come to the streate ende, whiche was almost a mile long, broade, straight and very fayre and full of houses on eche side, in whose dores, windowes and tops was such a multitude of Indians to beholde the strangers, that I knowe not who wondered most, our men to sée such a number of them, or else they to sée our men, their ordinance & horses, a thing so straunge vnto them. They were brought vnto a great court or house of idols, which was ye lodging of Axaiaca, at the dore where of Mutezuma tooke Cortes by the hande and brought him into a fayre hall, and placed him vpon a riche carpet, saying vnto him, Sir nowe are you in your owne house, eate and take your rest & pleasure, for I wil shortly come and visite you againe. Such (as you heare) was the receiuing of Hernando Cortes by Mutezuma a most mightie King, into his great and famous Citie of Mexico, the eight day of Nouember .1519.
The Oration of Mutezuma to the Spanyardes
A strange opinion
The house where the Spaniardes were lodged was great and large, with many fayre chambers sufficient for them all: it was nete, cleane matted, and hanged with cloth of Cotten, and feathers of many colours, pleasant to behold. When Mutezuma was departed frō Cortes, he began to sette his house in order, and placed the ordinaunce at his dore, and hauing all his things in good sorte, he went to a sumptuous dinner that was prepared for him. As soone as Mutezuma had made an ende of his dinner hearyng that the straungers were rysen from the table, and reposed a while, then came he to Cortes, salutyng him, and satte downe by him. He gaue vnto him diuers iewels of gold plate, feathers, and many garmēts of Cotten, both riche, well woven, & wrought of straunge colours, a thing comely, that did manifest his greatnesse, and also cōfirme their imagination. This gifte was deliuered honorably, and then began his talke as foloweth: Lorde and Gentlemen, I doe much reioyce to haue in my house such valiant men as ye are, for to vse you with curtesie, and entreate you with honour, according to your deserte and my estate. And where heretofore I desired that you shoulde not come hither, the onely cause was, my people had a greate feare to sée you, for your gesture & grimme beards did terrifie them, yea, they reported that yée had such beastes as swallowed men, and that your cōming was frō heauen, bringing with you lightning, thunder & thūderbolts, wherwith you made the earth to trēble & to shake, and that yée slew therewith whom ye pleased. But now I do sée & know that you are mortall mē, & that ye are quiet & hurt no man: also I haue séene your horses, which are but your seruauntes, and youre Gunnes lyke vnto shootyng Trunkes. I do now hold all for fables and lyes which hath bin reported of you, and I do also accept you for my méere kinsmen. My father tolde me that hée had heard his forefathers say, of whome I doe descende, that they helde opinion howe they were not naturals of thys lande, but come hither by chance, in companye of a mighty Lorde, who after a while that they hadde abode héere, they returned to their natiue soyle: After manye yeares expyred, they came agayne for those whome they had left héere behind them, but they would not goe wyth them, bycause they had héere inhabited, and hadde wyues and children, and great gouernement in the land. Nowe these myghtie Lords séeyng that they were so stubborne, and woulde not returne with them, departed from them sore displeased, saying, that he woulde sende his children that should both rule and gouerne them, in iustice, peace, and auntient Religion, and for this consideration, wée haue alwayes expected and beléeued, that suche a people should come to rule and gouerne vs, and cōsidering from whence you come, I doe thinke that you are they whome we looked for, and the notice which the greate Emperour Charles had of vs, who hath now sent you hither. Therefore Lorde and Captayne, be well assured, that we wyll obey you, if there be no fayned or deceytefull matter in your dealings, and will also deuide wyth you and youres all that we haue. And although this which I haue sayde were not only for youre vertue, fame, and déedes of valiant Gentlemen, I would yet do it for your worthinesse in the battayles of Tauasco, Teocazinco, and Chololla, béeyng so few, to ouercome so many.
Now agayne, if ye ymagine that I am a God, and the walles and routes of my houses, and all my vessell of seruice to be of pure golde, as the men of Zempoallan, Tlaxcallan, and Huexozinco hath enformed you, it is not so, and I iudge you to be so wise, that you giue no credit to such fables. You shall also note, that through your commyng hither, manye of my subiectes haue rebelled, and are become my mortall enimies, but yet I purpose to breake their wings. Come féele you my body, I am of fleshe and bone, a mortal man as others are, and no God, although as a King I doe estéeme my selfe of a greater dignitie and preheminēce than others. My houses you do also sée, which are of tymber and earthe, and the principallest of Masons worke, therefore nowe you do both knowe and sée what odious lyars those talebearers were. But troth it is, that golde plate, feathers, armour, iewels, and other riches, I haue in the treasory of my forefathers a long time preserued, as the vse of Kings is, all the which you & yours shal enioy at all times. And now it may please you to take your rest, for I know that you are wéery of your iourney. Cortez with ioyfull countenance humbled himselfe, séeing some teares fall from Mutezuma his eyes, saying vnto him, vppon the trust I haue hadde in youre clemencye, I insisted to come both to sée and talke wyth your highnesse, and now I know that all are lyes which hath bin tolde me. The like youre highnesse hath hearde reported of vs, assure youre selfe, that the Emperoure Kyng of Spayne is your naturall Lorde, whome yée haue expected for, he is the onely heyre from whence youre lynage dothe procéede, and as touching the offer of youre highnesse treasure, I do most hartyly thanke you.
A louing aunsvvere
After all this communication, Mutezuma demaunded whether the bearded men whiche came with him, were eyther his vassals or his slaues, bycause he would entertayne eache one according to his estate. Cortes aunswered, that they were all his bréethren, friendes, and fellowes, except some that were his seruauntes.
Then he departed, and wente home to his Pallace, and there enformed himselfe particularlye who were Gentlemen, and who were not, and according therevnto, sent euery one particular gift or present. To the Gentlemen he sente the rewarde by his Controller, and to the Marriners & other seruitors, by a Page of his housholde.
The Maiestie and order, vvherevvith Mutezuma was serued
Mvtezuma was a man of a small stature and leane, his couloure tawnie as all the Indians are. He hadde long heare on hys heade, sixe little heares vppon him, as though they hadde bin put in with a bodkin. His thinne bearde was blacke. Hée was a man of a fayre condition, and a doer of Iustice, well spoken, graue and wise, beloued and feared among his subiectes. Mutezuma doth signifie sadnesse.
To ye proper names of Kings and Lords, they do adde this sillable C. whiche is for cortesie and dignitie, as we vse Lord. The Turke vseth Zultan. The Moore or Barbarian calleth his Lorde Mulley, and so the Indians say Mutezumazin. His people hadde him in such reuerence, that he permitted none to sit in his sight, nor yet in his presence to weare shoes, nor looke him in the face, except very few Princes. He was glad of the conuersation of the Spanyardes, and would not suffer them to stande on foote, for the great estimation he had of them, and if he lyked any of the Spanyardes garments, he woulde exchange his apparrell for theirs.
He changed his owne apparell foure times euery day, and he neuer clothed himselfe agayne with the garmentes whiche he hadde once worne, but all suche were kept in his Guardrobe, for to giue in presents to his seruantes and Ambassadors, and vnto valiante souldyers which had takē any enimie prisoner, and that was estéemed a great reward, and a title of priuiledge.
The costly mātels whereof had bin diuers sent to Cortes, were of the same Guardrobe.
Mutezuma went alwayes very net and fine in hys attire. He bathed him in his hotehouse foure times euerye day. He went seldome out of his Chamber, but when hée went to his meate. He eate alwayes alone, but solemnelye and with great abundance. His table was a pillowe, or else a couple of coulloured skynnes. His Chayre was a fourefooted stole made of one péece, and hollowe in the middest, well wroughte and paynted. His table clothes, napkins and towels were made of Cotten woll, verye white and newe, for he was neuer serued but once wyth that naperie. Foure hundred Pages broughte in hys meate, all sonnes of greate Lordes, and placed it vppon a table in his greate Hall. The meate béeyng broughte in, then came Mutezuma to beholde the dishes, and appoynted those dishes that liked him best, and chafing dishes were prepared to kéepe that meate warme, and seldome would eate of any other dish, except the Lord Stewarde or Controller should highly commende any other dishe.
Before he sate downe, came twentie of his wiues of the fayrest and best estéemed, or else those that serued wéekely by turne, broughte in the bason and ewer, wyth greate humblenesse. This done, he sate him downe, and then came the Lord Steward, and drewe a wodden nette before him, bycause none shoulde come nigh his table. And this noble man alone placed the dishes, and also tooke them away, for the Pages who broughte in the meate came not néere the table, nor yet spake any word, nor no man else.
While the Lord Mutezuma was at his meate, excepte some Iester, they al serued him barefooted. There assisted alwayes somewhat a farre off, sixe auntiente and noble men, vnto whome he vsed to giue of the dish that best lyked him, who receyued the same at his hande with greate reuerence, and eate it incontinent, without loking in his face, whiche was the greatest humilitie that they coulde vse before him. He had musike of Fiddle, Flute, and of a Snayle shell, and a Caudron couered with a skinne, and suche other strange instrumentes. They hadde very euill voyces to sing. Always at dinner time he had Dwarfes, crookebackes, and other deformed counterfets, all for maiestie and to laugh at, who hadde their meate in the Hall among the Iesters and Idyots, whiche were fedde with parte of the meate that came from Mutezuma hys table, all the rest of the meate was giuen to thrée thousand of the Guard, who attended ordinarily in the yarde or court, and therefore they say that there was broughte for his table thrée thousande dishes, and as manye pottes of wine, suche as they vse, and that continually the buttrey and Pantrey stoode open, whiche was a wonder to sée what was in them. The platters, dishes, and cuppes, were al of earth, whereof the King was serued but once, and so frō meale to meale new. He had likewise his seruice of golde and plate verye riche, but he vsed not to bée serued with it, (they say) bycause he woulde not be serued twice therewith, the whiche he thoughte a base thing. Some affirme, that yong children were slayne and dressed in diuers kind of dishes for Mutezuma his table, but it was not so, only of mans flesh sacrifised he fedde nowe and then. The table being taken vp, then came againe the Gentlewomen to bring water for his hands, with the like reuerēce as they vsed at the first, and then went they to dinner with the other wiues, so that then the Gentlemen and Pages waited as their course fell.
The footeplayers that played before Mutezuma
When his table was taken vp, and his seruitors gone to meate, Mutezuma sate stil: then came in the suiters that hadde any affayres to deale with him, barefoted, for all the persons did vse that reuerence, excepte some Princes his kinsmen, as the Lordes of Tescuco, and Tlacopan, and a fewe others: and béeing colde weather, they vsed to weare olde ragged clothes vppon theyr riche garmentes. Al suiters vsed to make thrée or foure curtesies, not loking toward his face, and speaking vnto him their heads downewardes, and in that order retyred backe agayne. Mutezuma aunswered his suiters very grauely, with lowe voyce, and in fewe words, and not to al suiters, for others his secretaries or counsellers that stoode by, answered for him, and hauyng their aunswere, they returned backewardes, not turning their tayles to the prince. After these businesses done, hée vsed some recreation, hearing Iesters or songs, wherein he delighted much, or else to looke vpon the players, who play with their féete, as we doe with oure handes. These haue a cudgell like vnto a pastlers rowler, whiche they tosse high and lowe, as it were a bal in the ayre, straunge to beholde. They vse other playes to passe the tyme, in such an order, that it séemed maruellous to the lookers on. Cortez broughte into Spayne some of these players. Also they vse Matachines, in suche sorte they do play, that they stand each vppon others shoulders, and he that standeth highest, sheweth many feates. Sometime Mutezuma did beholde the players, who played at a game called Patoliztli, whiche is muche like oure Tables, and they play with beanes, squared like dice, which they call Patolli, and throw them out of both their hands vpon a matte, or else vpon the ground, where are made certaine strikes, vpon which they set downe the chance that is throwen: and at this game they play all that they haue, and many tymes they valew theyr owne bodyes, and play that into captiuitie, and to remayne a slaue, I meane such as are common gamesters of small estate.
The Tennis play in Mexico
Sometimes Mutezuma went to the Tennis Courte. Their ball is called Villamaliztli, and is made of the gumme which commeth from a trée called Vlli. This trée groweth in a hote Countrey. The gumme being kneded togither, and so made roūd, is as blacke as pitch, and somewhat heauie, and very harde for the hande, but yet good and light to rebound, and better than our windballes. They play not at chases, but at bādie, or at check, that is, if the ball touch the wall, it loseth. They maye strike the ball with any part of their body, but there is alwayes a penaltie if they only strike not with the buttoke or side, whiche is the finest play: wherefore they vse a skynne vpon eache buttocke. They play so many to so many for a packe of mantels, or according to the abilitie of the players. Also they play for golde and feathers, and sometime for their owne bodyes, as they vse at Patolli, which is there permitted & lawfull. The Tennis Court is called Tlachco, and is a Hall long and narrow, but wyder vpwards, than downewardes, and higher on the sides than at ye ends, which is an industrie for their play. The house is always white and smooth in the side walles: they haue certain stones like vnto mylstones, wt a little hole in the middest that passeth through the stone, the hole is so small, that scarcely the ball maye passe through, but hée that chanceth to strike the ball into the hole, whiche seldome happeneth, winneth the game, and by an auntiente lawe and custome among Tennis players, he ought to haue the clokes of all those that stande and beholde the play, on that side that the ball went in, and in some Tennis Courtes, the halfe of the garmentes of them that stande lookyng on. The winner is then bounde to make certayne sacrifice to the God of the Tennis play, and to the stone where the ball entred. The beholders of the play woulde saye, that suche a wynner should be a thiefe and an adulterer, or else that he shoulde dye quickly.
They vsed in the Temple of the Tennis play two Images of the God of the ball, which stoode vpon the two lower walles. Their Sacrifice was celebrated at midnighte, with many Ceremonies and Witchcraftes, and songs for that purpose. Then came a Prieste from the Cathedrall Churche, wyth other Religious persons to blesse the Sacrifice, saying certayne diuelishe prayers, and throwing the ball four tymes in the Tennis Court. In thys order was the Tennis play consecrated, and after thys consecration it was lawfull to play, or else not, for this dilligence was firste to be done when any Tennis Court or play was newly built.
The owner of the Tennis Courte also woulde neuer suffer any to play, vntill he had first offered something to the Idoll, theyr superstition was so great.
Mutezuma broughte the Spanyardes to behold this pastyme, and gaue thē to vnderstande, yt he delyghted much in thys game, and also to sée our men play at Cardes and Dyce.