The pleasant historie of the conquest of the VVeast India, now called new Spayne
TekstThe recreation of Hunting, vvhiche Mutezuma vsed
Mvtezuma had not only al the libertie that he desired in the Citie, béeyng prisoner among the Spanyardes, but also Cortes permitted him to hunt and hauke, or to go to the temple, for he was very deuoute, and a great hunter.
When he went a hunting, he was carried vpon mens shoulders with eyght or ten Spanyards in his guard, and thrée thousande Mexicans, who were Gentlemen, his seruants, and hunters, of whome he hadde a great number, some to séeke the game, others to beate the couertes, and others to marke. Some of those Hunters were only for hares and connyes, other for all sorts of Déere, Wolues, foxes, and such like. They were very perfite with theyr bowes, and good markemē, for he that missed his marke at fourescore pases distant was punished. It was strange to sée the number of people that wente with him on hunting, and to sée the slaughter of beasts killed, with hande, staues, nettes, and bowes, some of those beastes were tame, and other braue and fearefull, as Lyons, Tigers, and Ounces. It is a harde thing to take a fierce Lion in hunting as they do, being in manner a naked people, and the beast couragious and strong, but yet the Prouerbe saith, slight and cunning is better than strength.
It is a more straunge thyng to take any foule that flieth in the ayre as their Fauconers doe, for after they haue once marked and set eye vpon any foule, the Faulconers of Mutezuma will vnder take to catch him, although the foule be neuer so swifte of wing, beyng at the least so commaunded by the King. It happened one day that Mutezuma stoode in his gallerie with his Guarde of Spanyardes, who had espied a fayre Hauke soryng in the ayre, oh quoth they what a fayre Hauke flieth yonder, Mutezuma hearyng their talke, called vnto him certayne of his Faulconers, commaundyng them to followe that Hauke & to bring him vnto him. The Faulconers wente to fulfill his request, and followed that foule with such diligence, that in shorte space they brought the Hauke vnto him, who presented the same vnto the Spanyards, a thing truely almoste incredible, but yet certified by worde and wrytings of the present witnesses. Their chiefest and most pleasant pastime of Hauking was, of Kightes, Rauens, Crowes, Pies, and other birdes of hardie stomake and slowe in flight, greate and small of all sortes, for the which he had Egles, Buyters, and other foule of rapyne marueylous swifte of wing, and suche as would mounte very high in the ayre, with the whiche they murdered Hares, Wolues, and (as some say) Hartes.
He had other foulers, that vsed Nettes, Snares, and sundry engins. Mutezuma vsed much to shoote in a tronke, and with his bow killed many wilde beastes. His houses of pleasure as I haue before declared, stoode sixe myles from the Citie in pleasant wooddes: and alwayes when he went a huntyng after the tyme that he was prysoner, the same day he would returne agayne to Cortes his lodging, although he banketed & feasted with the Spaniardes at his places of sporting and pastime, and would alwayes at his returne to his lodgyng giue some present vnto thē, that had accompanied him that day.
Cortes seyng the liberalitie of Mutezuma, sayde vnto him: sir, my company are vnruly fellowes, and as I vnderstand, they haue founde out some of your treasure, and haue made spoyle thereof: wherfore I would know your pleasure what shal be done with thē. And in effect it was the treasure that Cortes himselfe had founde out. Mutezuma answered, saying, sir that treasure which they haue founde, did appertayne vnto the Goddes: But yet notwithstandyng, let them leaue the feathers, and all suche things as are neyther golde nor siluer, and all the residue take for you and them, and if you will haue more, I will prouide it for you.
Hovv Cortez began to plucke dovvne the Idols of Mexico
When Mutezuma went vnto the temple, he went leaning vpon a noble mans arme, or else was leade betwéene two, and a noble personage wente alwayes before him with thrée small wandes in his hande, signifying thereby that the King in person was there at hand, and in token also of iustice and correction. If he had bene carried vpon mens shoulders then at his alighting downe he tooke one of those roddes into his owne hand. He was a Prince ful of ceremonies in al his doings, but the substaunce of his estate is already declared, from the time that Cortes entred into Mexico vntil this present. Those first dayes that the Spaniardes came to the Citie, & as often as Mutezuma went to the temple, Indian men were slayne in sacrifice. And to prohibite suche adhominable crueltie & sinne, cōmitted in the presence of the Christians who wēt in company of Mutezuma, Cortes required Mutezuma to commmaunde that no mans fleshe should be any more spoyled, or bloud shedde in sacrifice, and in not fulfilling his request, he would destroy bothe the temple and Cittie. Also he signified vnto him, that he himselfe woulde throw downe the idols, before his presence and all the Citizens.
Mutezuma replied to his demaūd, saying: It may please you to leaue of your determination, least that in so doing all the Citie fall into an vprore and rebellion to defende their good Gods, and auncient Religion, the which Gods had alwayes prouided them of water, bread, health, light, and all other things néedefull. This notwithstanding, the first time that Mutezuma wente to the temple after his imprisonment, Cortes and his company wente with him, and euery of them layde handes vpon the idols, & threwe them downe headlong from their seates, and Altars, and other Chapels. Mutezuma with this sight was in great agonie, yea and his subiects ready to take weapon to slay them there present, but yet Mutezuma commaunded his subiectes to stay from their pretence: beséechyng Cortes to stay from his procéedings, at whose request Cortes ceased, for he thought, as yet time serued not for the purpose and pretence: but he declared vnto them by his interpreters as followeth.
The exhortation that Cortez made to Mutezuma and to the Citizens of Mexico, concerning their Idols
All creatures in the world (mightie prince, and yée Gentlemen and religious persons whether it be yée here or we in Spayne, or whatsoeuer other nation that it may be) haue I say, all one begynnyng and ending of mortall lyfe, whiche is had from God: we are al formed and made of one mettall, and haue all soules and senses, euen so doubtlesse as we are like in proportion of body and soule, yea and kinsfolke in bloud, although that by the prouidence of the same our God, some are borne fayre and beautifull, and other some fowle and disfigured: some of one colour, and some of another: some prudent and wise, and other some fonde and foolishe, without eyther iudgement or vertue: in the which his maruellous works God sheweth himselfe iuste, holy and almightie, giuyng those seuerall giftes, to the entent that the wise and learned mought teache the rude and ignorant, and to guyde the blinde into the right way of saluation, by the steppes of true and vnfayned religion.
Therfore I and my fellowes, as your gestes and kinsmen, according to equitie doe procure and wish the same vnto you. A man and his life consisteth in thrée things as yée shal vnderstande, that is body, soule, and goodes: as for your goodes and ritches, whiche is the least that wée desire, for yée know well that we haue taken nothing forcible from you, but onely those things whiche yée haue fréely and liberally giuen vs. Likewise we haue not hurt, misused or molested your persons, wiues or chyldren, nor yet do meane any such thing, your soules health onely is the thing we séeke, for your saluation, and that we nowe pretende to shewe, and to giue vnto you perfite notice of the true and euerlasting God. There is none of naturall iudgement can denie, but that there is one God, but yet through ignoraunce and deceyte of the Diuell, will also thinke that there are many Goddes, and not acerte vnto the true God. But I doe say and moste assuredly certifie you, that there is no other true God, but onely he whome we Christians doe serue, adore, and worshippe, the which is one eternall, without beginnyng and without ende, the onely creator & gouernour of things created: he alone made the Heauens, the Sunne, the Moone, and Starres, the whiche his creatures ye doe worship: he (I say) founded and made the Sea, and the sundry and maruelous fishes therein: he planted and made the lande with all the monstrous beastes therein, foules likewise in the ayre, Plantes, Hearbes, Stones and suche like. Al the whiche creatures ye as blinde and ignorant do hold for Goddes.
It vvas maruel that Cortes vvas not taken for an heretike
Our almighty God after he had finished and made all the former workes with his own blessed hands, made one man & one woman, and being so formed and wrought, he put a soule and breath into each body, and then deliuered the worlde vnto them, shewyng them Paradise and glory. So that of that manne and woman, we all mortall menne procéeded in generation, and in this sorte are the handy worke of God, kinsmen and brethren. Nowe if we will come vnto God our father, it is néedefull and necessary that we be good, vertuous, pitifull, innocent and vnder obedience, the whiche yée can not be if you worshippe statues, images, idols, and vse bloudy sacrifice of mans fleshe. Is there any of you that woulde willingly be slayne? no truely: why then doe you slea other so cruelly, and where you can put no soules, why doe you take them from thence? there is none of you, nor your false Gods, that can make soules, nor can forge mens bodies of fleshe and bone, for if yée coulde, there is none of you woulde be without children, accordyng to your owne appetite and desire, in fashion, beautie and workemanship. But where our God of heauen dothe make al creatures, he vseth therein his owne discretion, and giueth chyldren to whome hée pleaseth: and therefore is he GOD alone, and for these causes shoulde yée haue, estéeme, and worshippe him for suche a mightie God, desiryng of him by prayers to giue rayne and temperature, that the earth may bryng foorth Corne, Fruite, Hearbes, Fleshe, Foule, and all other necessaries for the sustentation of lyfe. All these thyngs the harde stones giueth not vnto you, no nor yet your dry woodden images & colde mettall, neyther yet the small séedes wherewith your seruaunts and slaues, with theyr filthy handes doe make these images and foule statues, the whiche yée doe worshippe. O what fonde people and madde religious persons, who worship theyr owne workemanshippe, doe ye thynke that they are Gods that rotte and moldre away, and haue no lyfe, and can neyther helpe nor kill: Therefore I say vnto you, that nowe and hereafter there is no cause that yée shoulde haue any moe idolles, nor yet any moe slaughters for sacrifice, no nor yet to make any moe prayers or supplications vnto them, beyng bothe Blinde, Deafe, and Dumme.
Will yée knowe who is God, and where he is: lifte vp your eyes vnto Heauen, and then shall you vnderstande that aboue is a Godhead or Deitie that moueth the heauens, and gouerneth the course of the Sunne, ruleth the Lande and replenisheth the Sea, who prouideth for Man and Beast bothe Corne and Water. This God whome yée nowe imagine in your hartes, him (I say) serue and worshippe, not with death of menne or blouddy sacrifice abominable, but with deuotion and humble prayer as we Christians doe. And consider well, that to teach and instruct you these things, was the cause of our commyng hither.
With this exhortation, Cortes aplaked the yre of the Priestes and Citizens: theyr idols beyng throwen downe, Mutezuma tooke order that no moe shoulde be sette vp, commaundyng to swéepe and make cleane the Chappels of the stinking bloud that was in thē, forbidding sacrifice of mans flesh. Mutezuma and his officers made a solēpne vowe and promise to permitte no more slaughter of men, and to set vp a Crosse for remembrance of the death and passion of Iesu Christe borne of the virgin Marie. The whiche their promisse was well fulfilled, for after that day the Spanyardes coulde neuer heare nor finde of any moe sacrifice: But yet there abode in their hartes a mortall rancor, the whiche coulde not long be dissimuled.
Truely in this worthy facte Cortes gotte more honour than though he had ouercomen them in battayle.
The burning of the Lorde Qualpopoca and other Gentlemen
After twentie dayes that Mutezuma had bene prysoner, returned the messengers who had gone with the seale for Qualpopoca, and brought him, his Sonne, and other fiftene principall persons, with them, the whiche by inquirie made, were culpable and partakers in the counsell and death of the nine Spaniardes. Qualpopoca entred into Mexico accompanied like a greate Lorde as he was, beyng borne vpon his seruaunts shoulders in rich furniture. As sone as he had saluted Mutezuma, he & his Sonne were deliuered vnto Cortes, with the other fiftene Gentlemen. Cortes placed them asunder, and commaunded them to be put in Irons, and theyr examinations taken, they confessed that they had slayne those Spaniardes in battayle.
Cortes demaunded of Qualpopoca if he were subiect to Mutezuma, why (quoth he) is there any other Prince to whome I might be in subiection? giuing almost to vnderstand that he was a Lorde absolute. Cortes answered, that a farre greater Prince was the King of Spayne, whose subiects vnder colour of friendship and salfeconduct he had slayne. But (quoth he) nowe shalte thou make payment thereof. And beyng agayne more straighter examined, they confessed that they had slaine two Spaniards by the aduice and inducement of the greate prince Mutezuma, and the residue were slayne in the warres, and had assaulted their houses, and entred their countrey, wherefore they helde it lawfull to kill them.
Through the confession pronounced by their owne mouthes, sentence was giuen against them, and they condēned to be burned, whiche sentence was openly executed in the market place in sight of all the people, without any mutine or slaunder, and with great silence, terrour & feare of the newe maner of iustice which they sawe there executed vpon so noble a man, in the chiefe seate and kyngdome of Mutezuma, beyng gestes and straungers.
The cause of the burnyng of Qualpopoca
At the time that Cortes departed from Vera Crux, he left in cōmission to Pedro Hircio, to procure to inhabite in that place which is called Almeria, & not to permit Francisco de Garray to soiourne there, for so much as once he was driuen frō that coast. Now Hircio to fulfill his cōmission, sente to requyre those Indians with peace and friēdship, and to yéeld themselues for vassals of the Emperour. Qualpopoca Lorde of Nahutlan, which is now called as aforesaid Almeria, sent to aduertise Pedro Hircio, that he could not come to yéelde his obedience, for the enimies that were in the way: but if it would please him to sende some of his men, for the securitie of the way, he would willyngly come vnto him.
Hircio hearing this answere, sent foure of his men, giuing credite to his message, and for the desire he hadde to inhabite there.
When the foure Spanyardes came into the prouince of Nahutlan, there mette with them many armed men, who slew two of them, and made thereof a great triumph: the other two escaped sore wounded, and returned with that newes to the Towne of Vera Crux. Pedro Hircio beléeuing that Qualpopoca had done that iniurie, armed out agaynst hym fiftie Spanyardes, and ten thousand Indians of Zempoallan, with two horses, and two péeces of Ordinance.
Qualpopoca hearing this newes, came with a mightie power to driue them out of his Countrey, and in that encounter, seauen Spanyardes were slayne, and many Zempoallanezes, but at the ende he was ouercome, his Countrey spoyled, and Towne sacked, and many of his army slaine and taken captiues. The prisoners declared, that by the commaundement of the greate Lorde Mutezuma, all this vprore was attempted by Qualpopoca: it mighte well be, for at the houre of death they confessed the same. But some affirme, they sayde so, but to excuse themselues, and to lay the fault to the Mexicans. Hircio wrote these newes to Cortez béeyng in Chololla, and through these letters Cortez apprehended Mutezuma (as is afore declared.)
Hovv Cortez put a payre of giues on Mutezuma his legges
Before the execution of Qualpopoca and hys fellowes, Cortes declared vnto Mutezuma, that Qualpopoca and his company had confessed, that by hys aduice and commaundemente, the nine Spanyardes were slayne, wherein he had done very euill, they being his friendes and guestes: but (quoth he) if it were not in respect of the loue I beare vnto you, this matter shoulde not in this sort be shut vp, and then knocked a payre of giues on his legges, saying, he that killeth ought to be killed, according to the lawes of God. These things did Cortes, bycause he shoulde occupye himselfe in his owne griefe and sorrow, and to let other mens passe.
Mutezuma waxed pale wt countenāce of death, through the great feare that he was in, séeyng himselfe in Irons, a new and strange thing for suche a great King, excusing himselfe that he was innocent of the facte. And as soone as the execution of burning was done, Cortez commaunded to put away the Irons that Mutezuma ware, offering him libertie, and willing him to goe vnto his owne pallace, who reioyced much to sée himselfe out of the Irons, and gaue Cortes most hartie thankes, and refused to goe home to his owne pallace, surmising that the offer was but wordes, or else fearing least his subiects woulde kyll him, séeing him out of the Spanyardes power, for permitting himselfe to be taken prisoner, and so to be kept. Hée sayd also, that if he went from them, his subiectes woulde rebell, and compell him to kill the Spanyardes.
Truly the poore simple soule was of small hearte and courage, to suffer himselfe to be taken prisoner, and after his imprisonment woulde neuer procure libertie, Cortes offering it vnto him, and many of his noble men desiring him. And remayning in that order, there was none in Mexico durst offende any Spanyard for feare of displeasing him, for Qualpopoca came 70. leagues with only warning him that the great Lorde had sent for him, shewing hym the figure of his seale: yea and al the péeres of his realme that dwelte farthest off, were ready to obey hys commaundementes.
Hovv Cortez sent to seeke for Mines of golde into diuers places
Cortez had a greate desire to know howe farre the Empire of Mutezuma dyd extende, and what friendship was betwixte him and other Kings and Princes Comarcans, and also to gather togither a good summe of gold, to send to Spayne to the Emperoure for his custome or fifte parte, with full relation of the Countrey people, and things happened untill that day. Wherefore he prayed Mutezuma to shew him where the mynes were, from whence he and his subiectes had the golde and plate. Mutezuma graunted to his request, and incontinent appoynted eyght Indians, of the which four were Goldsmythes, who had knowledge and vnderstanding of Mynes, and the other foure were guydes for the iourney. He commaunded them that by two and two they shoulde goe into foure prouinces, that is to say Zucolla, Malinaltepec, Tenich, and Tutepec, with other eyghte Spanyardes whiche Cortez appoynted, to haue knowledge of the riuers and mynes of gold, and to bring a moster of the same. The eyght Spanyardes departed on their iourney, with the other eyghte Indians, with tokens from Mutezuma. Zucolla is 80. leagues from Mexico, and the Lord thereof is subiect to Mutezuma, who shewed vnto the Spanyardes thrée riuers with golde, and gaue of each riuer a moster thereof, although it were but little, for with want of knowledge they knew not wel the māner how to get it out of the riuer. These messengers in their iourney too and fro, passed through thrée prouinces full of people and habitatiō, with good buildings & frutefull ground, and the people of the one of them called Tlamacolapan, are of good reason and iudgemente, and better apparelled than the Mexicans.
Malinaltepec is 70. leagues from Mexico, from whence also they brought mosters of golde, the which is had out of a great riuer, by the naturals of that Countrey.
Tenich standeth vp towarde the head of the same riuer of Malinaltepec, who are people of another language, and would not permitte our men to haue relation of the thing that they sought. The Lorde of that place is called Coatelicamatl, who is not subiecte to Mutezuma, nor yet is his friende, thinking that his men hadde bin espyes: but when he was enformed who they were, he gaue the Spanyardes licence to be resolued of their affayres, but straitly commaunded, that the Indians of Mexico should not presume to come into his dominion. When the Mexicans hearde these newes, they required the Spanyardes not to credite that Cazike, saying, that he was an euill and a cruell man, and would surely kill them. Our men were somewhat amazed, fearing to talke with Coatelicamatl, although they hadde his licence, séeyng the people of the countrey armed with Launces of fiue and twenty foote lōg: but yet at lēgth leauing cowardise aside, they procéeded forwards. Coatelicamatl receyued thē curteously, and shewed them sixe or seauen riuers with golde, out of the which graynes of golde were taken in his presence, who gaue the same moster vnto them, and sente also his Embassadors to Cortez, offering his lande and person vnto him, with certayne mantels, and Iewels of golde.
Cortez more reioyced of the Embassage, than of the gold and presents, knowing thereby that Mutezuma hys enimies desired his friendshippe: but Mutezuma and hys counsell liked not the matter, for although Coatelicamatl is no great Lord, yet his people are good souldyers, and his countrey full of wildernesse, of Rockes and Mountaynes. The other that wente to Tutepec, which standeth néere the sea coast, and twelue leagues frō Malinaltepec, returned likewise with moster of golde of two Riuers, and brought newes that the Countrey was fit to buylde vppon, with hope to reape muche golde, finding once an arte to get it out of the riuer.
Cortez hearing these news, prayed Mutezuma to build a house there in the name of the Emperoure Charles, who incontinente sente thither workemen and labourers, whyche within two monethes hadde built a greate house, and other thrée little houses round aboute it, with a ponde of water full of fishe, and fiue hundred Duckes, and a thousand fiue hundred Turkie cockes and hennes, and muche housholde stuffe, so that the gifte was worth twentie thousand Castlins of golde. He gaue vnto hym also twenty bushels of the grayne called Centli, readye sowen, and two thousand stockes of trées called Cacauatl, whiche bringeth forthe the fruite Cacao, that serueth for money and meate. Cortes began this husbandrye, but yet made not an ende thereof, with the comming of Pamfilo de Naruaiz, and the vprore in Mexico, whiche shortly followed. He also besoughte Mutezuma to certifie him if there were any sure porte or harbor on the Sea coast, where the Spanish nauie mought ride in safetie: he aunswered that he knew of none, but that he woulde sende to make enquirie thereof. And forthwith he commaunded all that coast to be painted in a cloath made of cotten woll, with all the riuers, bayes, créekes and capes that were within his dominion. In all the same portrayture did not appeare anye porte, skale, or sure roade, sauyng a gulfe that falleth out of the Mountaynes, which place is now called the harbor of Saint Martine, and Saint Anthonie in the prouince of Coazacoalco. The Spanyards thought the same to be a straight or passage into the South sea, to passe vnto the Maluccos and spicerie, but they were deceiued although they beléeued the thing that they desired. Cortes for this purpose sent tenne Spanyardes, all good marriners and Pylots, in companye of the Indians that Mutezuma sent on that voyage at his owne cost.
They departed, and came to Chalohicoeca, where firste they came aland, the which place is now called S. Iohn de Vlhua.
They wente 70. leagues along the coast, without finding any Riuer, although they mette with many brookes of shallowe water, not fytte for a roade for Shyppes.
They aported at Coazacoalco, the Lorde whereof was enimie to Mutezuma, hys name was Tuchintlec, who friendly receyued the Spanyardes, for he hadde intelligence of them, at their lying at Potonchan. He gaue vnto them boates, to sounde and séeke the Riuer, where they found sixe fadome in deapth, and wente vppe that Riuer twelue leagues, wher they descryed many great townes, and it séemed a fruitefull soyle. This Cazike Tuchnitlec, sente vnto Cortes with the Spanyards certayne gold, precious stones, and cloth of cotten, with apparrell made of skynnes, and tygers, requesting his friendship, and to admitte him tributarie to the Emperour, paying yéerely a certayne portion of his riches, with suche condition, that the Indians of Culhua should not enter into his iurisdictiō.
Cortes muche reioysed with these messages, and was glad of the finding of the faire riuer, for the Marriners hadde enformed him, that from the riuer of Grijalua vnto Panuco, was no riuer to be found, but I beléeue they were deceyued. Cortes returned backe agayne some of those messengers, with a present of Spanish ware for Tuchnitlec, and to be better enformed of all his meaning, with a special charge to knowe the cōmoditie of that porte and Countrey, who went, and in shorte time returned wel satisfyed of their demaund: wherevpon Cortes sente thyther Iohn Velasques de Leon, for Captayne of a hundred and fifty Spanyardes, with commission to build a fort.