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

The requests of Cortez to Mutezuma

Oh vvise Cortes

After al his talk & answer of his souldiers, he wēt to visite & to comune w^t Mutezuma for to departe on his iourney, w^t somewhat y^e lesser care, & also to proue the minde & wil of Mutezuma, vnto whome he vttered his mind as foloweth. Sir, you know y^e loue y^t I haue, & desire to serue you, & chiefly the trust againe, that you will haue to my cōpanions whē I am gone frō this citie. Therfore I pray you, that it may please you to remaine here in this lodgyng, & to haue regard vnto these strangers, which I leaue with you: also I cōmend vnto you, the gold & iewels whiche is in their custodie, and gyuen vnto vs of your owne liberalitie. For I doe now goe to signifie vnto those which of late are comen in the new fléete, how your highnesse doth commaunde that I departe from this land, and that they doe not agrauate or molest your subiectes, nor yet presume to enter into your countrey, but that they remayne on your coast, vntill we be ready to departe with them, according to your will and pleasure. And if in the meane season, any of your subiects be so vnaduised, as to molest my men, whiche now remayne in your power and Guarde, that then it may please you to be their shielde, succour, and onely defence. Mutezuma promised to fulfill his request, wishing him moreouer, that if any in his iourney shoulde offende him, then immediatly to aduise him, and that he would sende his men of warre to chasten thē, yea and also (if it pleased him,) he woulde giue vnto hym guydes to salfe conduct him through his owne dominion to the Sea coast, who should prouide him of all necessaries by the way. Cortes kissed his handes for his curtesie, with moste hartie thankes for the same, and gaue vnto him certayne Spanishe apparell, and other glasen Iewels, and also other like treasure to his Noble men, which stoode by at all the talke. But in effect he tolde him not what he pretended to doe, nor yet the newes of Pamfilo de Naruaez his procedings was not come to his eare, or else, it may be that Mutezuma dissumuled the matter with inwarde pleasure, that one Christian should kill the other, thinkyng thereby to haue most sure his libertie, and the Goddes pleased.

The imprisonment of Pamfilo de Naruaez

Cortes was so wel beloued among hys companie, that they offered willingly to goe with him, by reason whereof he chose .250. men fitte for his iourney, & lefte other .200. in guarde of Mutezuma and the Citie, with Pedro de Aluarado for their Captayne. He lefte also with them the artillerie and foure Foystes readye made, to haue the lake in subiection, beséeching them onely to haue speciall regard that Mutezuma fled not from them to Naruaez, and not to permitte him to goe out of their fort or strong house.

With those fewe Spanyards Cortes tooke his iourney with no more but eyght or nine Horsemen, and certayne Indians for his seruice, and carriage.

A stoute man

An vncertayne reckoning

Passing through Chololla and Tlaxcallan, he was honorably receyued and lodged, and aboute fiftéene leagues from Zempoallan where Naruaez was abiding, he mette with two Priestes, and his old especial friend Andres de Duero, who had lente him money for the setting forthe of that voyage. These thrée persons came to require him to obey the Generall lately come as Lieutenant to the Gouernour Velasques, and to deliuer vnto him the Countrey, with all the fortes or Castels therein, aduising him, that if he would not accomplish the same, that then he woulde procéede againste him, euen as an enemie and Rebell, to the execution of death. Likewise, if he would fulfill the request made vnto him, that then he shoulde haue libertie, and conueniente shipping to depart, both for him, and as many as would goe with him. Cortes aunswered, that hée would rather suffer deathe, than to leaue the Countrey whiche he had conquered and pacifyed with his handes and industrie, without anye commaundemente from the Emperoure: and (quoth he) if againste all equitie and iustice, he will contend with me in warre, I will defend me as well as I may, and if I haue the victory (as I trust in God and the righte that I haue on my side,) I shall not stand in néede of shipping, and if I be slaine, muche lesse. Therefore I doe require him to shew vnto me his commission and authoritie had from the Emperour, for vntil I doe both sée and reade the same, I will accepte no agréemente: and if (quoth he) that he refuse the same, that then I dare warne, admonish, and require him to returne to Cuba, the place from whence he came, and if he wil not obey my precept, I will then apprehende him, and sende him prisoner in yrons to the Emperoure: and with thys aunswere dispatched the thrée messengers, sending also a notarie of his owne, to commaund him to take his shipping, and to departe without making any altercation in the Countrey, or y^t ensuing of further murders and strife, and if not, that vppon Whitsonday, whiche was within thrée dayes following, he meante to be with him at supper. Pamfilo de Naruaez made a mockery and iest at his commaundemente, and tooke Prisoner the Notarie whiche came from Cortes with that order, holding Cortes for madde, who made so manye bragges with so small a company. And before Iohn Velasques de Leon, and Iohn de Rio, Cortes his friendes, he mustered his men, who were in number fourescore Hargabushers, a hūdred and twētie Crossebowes, sixe hundred men, with other weapon, and fourescore Horsemen, saying, how will Cortes defend himselfe againste vs, nay at length he will know his dutie: he promised money to him that shoulde eyther kyll, or take Cortes prisoner. And the same offer made Cortes against Pamfilo, who made a rounde of his footemen, and skirmished with his Horsemen, shooting off his artillerie, to put in feare the pore Indians.

Naruaez signifyed againe vnto Mutezuma with the messengers who carried all the triumph and muster pointed, all his former dealings, but hearing that Cortes was néere at hande, he sente out hys lyght Horsemen to dyscrie his Campe.

All Naruaez his Horses were readye sadled and brideled, and his men armed. Cortes entred so close and secret, that no man almost hearde him, and the firste worde hée spake, hauyng all hys men within with him, was, shut the gates, and strike, downe with them. There were at that time many shining wormes, whiche with their glistering séemed matches of Hargabushe, so that if one péece at that time had bin discharged, they woulde haue bin in a great feare.

Naruaez béeing about to put on his priuie coate, came one vnto him, saying: Sir, Cortes is néere your lodgyng, let him come in (quoth he) for he commeth to talke with me. Naruaez had his men in foure Towers of his lodging, and he himselfe was in the one, with a hundred Spanyardes, and at his dore thirtéene péeces of Ordinance ready charged. Cortes commanded his chiefe Sheriffe Gōsalo de Sādoual, with fortie or fiftie of his fellowes, to goe vp into Naruaez his Chamber, and he himselfe with other twentie men abode at the dore to defende and kéepe that none might enter thereat, vntil he had finished his businesse. The residue of his men besieged the other Towers, so that they might not succoure one another.

A darke night for Naruaez

Naruaez hearing the noyse, woulde néedes fighte, although he was required to stay his handes, and comming out at his Chamber dore, they strake out one of his eyes with a pike, and then they layde hande vpon hym, dragging and drawyng him downe the stayres by the héeles, and when he sawe hymselfe broughte before Cortes, he sayde, oh Senior Cortes, thanke your great fortune, in hauyng my person prisoner: who aunswered hym againe, oh Naruaez, the hauing of thy body prisoner, is the least thing that I haue done, sithence I came into thys lande. Cortes commaunded forthwith to lay him in yrōs, and to carrie him to the riche towne of Vera Crux, where he abode prisoner certayne yeares.

This combat endured but a while, for within one hour Pamfilo de Naruaez and the chiefest of his company were taken prisoners, and their weapōs & armour taken from all the rest. There were slayne of Naruaez his men sixetéene, and of Cortes his side were killed only two persons with a péece of Ordinance. They had no leysure to giue fire to their Ordinance, with the great diligence and hast of Cortes, sauing vnto one péece that killed the two men. The tutche holes were stopped with waxe, through the great raine that had fallen. By this meane those that were ouercome, did take occasion to ymagine that Cortes had suborned the maister gunner, and others.

Cortes vsed great sobrietie and discretion, for he would not permitte anye of the prisoners to be reuiled or misused with any iniurious wordes, no nor yet Naruaez, who hadde spoken so much euill of him, although many of hys men desired reuengement. Pedro de Maluenda seruaunt to Iames Velasques, who was chiefe Stewarde to Naruaez, fledde to the Shippes with all the stuffe that he coulde gette, without any lette of Cortes. Héere may you sée what difference and aduantage is betwixt man and man, what did eache of these Captiues say, thinke, and doe, seldome time dothe happen that so fewe of one nation dothe ouercome so many of the same nation, especially the greater number béeyng fresh, lustie, and in a strong holde.

The Rebellion of Mexico against Cortes

After that Cortes had obteyned victorye against Naruaez, he knew very well the most part of his company, vnto whome he spake curteously, praying them to forget the things past, and so would hée also. And also likewise, that it mighte please them to goe with him to Mexico, whiche was the richest Citie of all that India. He also restored to euerye man his armour and weapons, whiche were taken from them in their ouerthrowe. Hée also left very few of them prisoners with Naruaez. The Horsemen tooke the fielde with stomacke to fight, but after they had hearde of hys offer, they submitted themselues. In conclusion, all those that were come, hoping of spoyle, were glad to accepte his offer, and to goe with him with faithfull promise truly to serue him.

He renued his power in Vera Crux, and brought thyther the nauie of Naruaez. He also dispatched two hundred Spanyardes to the riuer of Garay, and sent also Iohn Velasques de Leon with other two hundred men. To inhabite of Coazacoalco. He dispatched also a Spanyarde by post to Mexico, with newes of the victory, and hée himselfe followed towarde Mexico, with the great care that he had of those whome he had lefte there in guard of Mutezuma and the Citie.

The Post that wente on this iourney, in steade of thankes, was sore wounded by the Indian Rebelles, but although he was so hurte, yet he returned to Cortes, wyth newes that Mexico was reuolted, and that they had burned the foure Foystes, also assieged the Spanish house, and throwen downe a wall, and myned another, yea and set fire vpon the munition, taken away their vittayles, and had broughte them to suche extremitie, to be eyther slayne, or remayne prisoners, sauing that Mutezuma commaunded to ceasse the combate, yea and for all that they woulde not leaue their armoure, nor departe from the siege, only they somewhat amayned their furie for theyr princes sake.

These newes were sorrowfull to Cortes, for thereby his pleasure was turned into care, the rather to make hast to succoure his friendes and fellowes, for if he hadde delayed hys comming but a small whyle, he had founde them eyther slayne, or else their bodyes ready to sacrifice: but his greatest comforte was, that Mutezuma remayned styll prisoner. He mustered his men in Tlaxcallan, and founde of his Spanishe nation a thousand footemen, and néere a hundred Horsemen. He procéeded forwardes towarde Tezcuco, where he founde none of the Gentlemen of his acquaintance, nor yet he there was receyued, as in time past he had bin, but rather he found a great alteration in the Coūtrey, and also many townes without people, or else rebelled. In Tezcuco met with him a Spanyarde, whome Aluarado had sente to desire him to come vnto them, and to certifie hym of all the premisses, saying moreouer, that with his comming their furye woulde be pacifyed.

With this messenger came another from Mutezuma, who declared vnto Cortes, that hys Lorde was innocent of all that was done, praying hym, that if he had conceiued any euill opinion agaynste hym, to putte away the same agayne, and that it mighte please hym to goe directly to hys own house, where hée abode hys comming, wyth the Spanishe guarde that he hadde lefte with him, who were aliue and in good healthe as he hadde lefte them.

With thys message, Cortes and hys companye reposed all that nyghte, and the nexte daye, béeyng Midsommer daye, he entred into Mexico at dynner tyme, with hys hundred Horsemen, and the thousande footemen, with a greate companye of theyr friendes of Tlaxcallan, Huexocinco, and Chololla, but he saw but few folke in the stréetes, and small entertaynement, with manye bridges broken, and other euill tokens.

He came to hys lodgyng, and all those of his companye whyche coulde not well bée lodged there, hée sente them to the greate Temple. Mutezuma came forth into the yarde to receyue hym, full heauie and sorrowfull, as it séemed, of that offence whiche his subiectes had done, excusing hymselfe: and then euery one entred into hys lodgyng and Chamber: but the ioy and pleasure of Pedro de Aluarado was incomparable, saluting the one the other, with demaundes and questions howe they fared, yea and how much the one company declared of prosperitie and pleasure, the other againe replyed as muche of sorrow and trouble.

The causes of the Rebellion

Cortes procured to knowe the principall cause of the insurrection of the Mexican Indians, and hauing a generall daye of hearyng, the charge béeyng layde against them, some sayd, that it was through the letters and persuasion of Naruaez: Others aunswered, their desire and meaning was, to expell the straungers, according to agréemente made, for in theyr skirmishes they cryed nothing but gette you hence, get you hence: Other sayde, that they pretended the libertie of Mutezuma, for in theyr Combates they woulde saye, lette goe oure God and Kyng, if you list not to bée slayne. Others sayde, that they were Théeues, and hadde robbed theyr golde and plate from them, whyche was in valewe more than seauen hundred thousande duckettes: Others cryed, héere shall you leaue the golde that you haue taken from vs. Others sayde, that they coulde not abyde the syghte of the Tlaxcaltecas, and other theyr mortall enimies. Manye beléeued that the mutinye was for throwyng downe theyr Goddes and Idolles: each of these causes were sufficient to rebell, how muche more altogither.

But the chiefest and most principall cause was, that after the departure of Cortes towarde Naruaez, happened a solemne holiday, whiche the Mexicans were wont to celebrate, and desiring to obserue the same, as they were wont to do, they came and besoughte Captayne Aluarado to graunt them licence, & not to ymagine that they were ioyned togither to kill the Spanyardes. Aluarado gaue them licence, with such conditions, that in their Sacrifice shoulde no mans bloude be spilte, nor yet to weare anye weapon.

At this feast, sixe hundred Gentlemen and principall persons ioyned togither in the greate temple: some doe saye, that they were more than a thousande persons of greate estate, but that nighte they made a maruellous great noyse, with cornets, shels, clouen bones, wherewith they made a straunge musicke: they celebrated the feast, their naked bodyes couered with telc, made and wrought with precious stones, collers, girdels, bracelettes, and many other iewels of golde, siluer, and aliofar, with gallant tuffes of feathers on their heads. They daunced a daunce called Mazeualiztli, which is to say, deserte wyth payne, and so they call Mazauali a husbandman. Thys daunce is like Netoraliztli, which is another daunce. The manner is, that they lay mattes in the Temple yarde, and with the sounde of their Drummes, called Atabals, they daunce a round, hande in hande, some singing, and others answere, which songs were in y^e honor and prayse of the God or Saincte, whose feast it is, hoping for thys seruice to haue rayne, corne, healthe, victory, peace, chyldren, or anye other thing that they maye wishe for, or desire.

A couetous desire and a vile

These Indian Gentlemen being occupied in their daunsing and ceremonies, it fortuned that Pedro de Aluarado went to the Temple of Vitzilopuchtli to beholde theyr doings, and whether his goyng was of his owne accorde, or by the consent of his cōpany I am not certaine, although some saye that he was aduised howe the mutinie was there conspired, as after did follow: others holde opinion, that their onely goyng to the Temple was to beholde the maruaylous and straunge daunce. And then seying them so richely attyred, they coueted their Golde and Iewels whiche they were, and besieged the Temple with tenne Spaniardes at each dore, & the Captayne entred in, with fiftie men, and without any Christian respect slewe and murdered them al, and tooke from them all their treasure. Although this facte séemed odious vnto Cortes, yet he dissimuled the mater, for feare least he shoulde hurte his owne procéedings, as time did then require knowyng not, what néede he might haue of them, but especially to auoyde contention among his company.

The threatenings of the Mexicans agaynst the Spaniardes

The cause of this rebellion, beyng well knowen, Cortes demaunded how theyr enimies fought, mary (quoth they) after they had taken weapon agaynst vs for the space of ten dayes arew, they neuer seased with great fury to assaulte and cōbat our house, and we with feare least Mutezuma shoulde escape and flée vnto Naruaez, durst not goe out of dores to fight in the streate, but onely to defende the house with especiall care of Mutezuma, accordyng to your charge giuen vnto vs. Also we being but few and the Indians many, who still refreshed their men, they did not onely wery vs, but also put vs in great feare and cleane out of courage, yea and if at the greatest brunt, Mutezuma personally had not ascended to the toppe of our wal, commaunding them if euer they meant to sée him aliue, to stay and cease from their enterpryce.

At the sight of Mutezuma they were all amazed, and incontinent ceased the combat and assault. They sayde also that with the newes of the victory had agaynst Pamfilo de Naruaez, Mutezuma requyred his men to leaue off from theyr pretence: notwithstandyng, the Indians calling to remembraunce, that Cortes was cōming with a greater company, at whose returne they should haue the more to doe, began afreshe to assaulte the house, wherevppon some doe thinke, that it was agaynst the will of Mutezuma. But it followed, that one day the Spaniardes standing in greate perill, charged their greatest péece of ordinaunce, and gyuing fire, the péece discharged not: the Indians seyng the same, beganne a freshe with a marueylous terrible noyse, vsing staues, Bowes, lances, & stones that came as thicke as Hayle, saying, nowe will wée redéeme our King, sette our houses at libertie, and reuenge our iniuries. But in the middest of theyr fury the péece wente of, without any more prymyng or touche, with a greate and fearefull thunderyng, the péece beyng great and ful of hayle shotte, with the mayne pellotte, made a straunge spoyle among them, and with feare they retyred. But yet they beganne to say, well, well, shortely shall your fleshe be boyled, although wée meane not to eate it, for truely it is very carrayne and good for nothing. But yet we will bestowe the same vpon the Eagles, Lions, Tigres and Snakes, who shal be the graues for your filthy carcases.

But if forthwith ye let not Mutezuma departe, and restore him to his libertie, yée shall quickly haue your rewarde, for your presumption & pride, who durst be so bold, as to lay hande on Mutezuma being our God and Lorde that giueth vs our dayly foode. And yet yée with your filthy théeues handes presumed to touch him, oh why dothe not the earth open & swallow you which taketh other mēs goodes? But marke the end, for our Gods whose religion you did profane, will rewarde you according to your deserte: & if they do not shortly execute their wrath, then let vs alone, for we will out of hande make an ende of you. And as for those théeues and villaines of Tlaxcallan your slaues, shall not depart praysing their gaynes, who nowe presume to take their maisters wiues, ye and to demaund tribute of them, vnto whome they themselues are tributors. These & such like were the wordes of the Mexicans. But our men, although they were in a maruelous feare, yet they reprehended their folly as touchyng Mutezuma, saying that Mutezuma was no God, but a mortall mā as they were, and no better, and that their Gods were vayne idols, and their religion most false and abhominable, and that only our God was holy, iuste, true, and infinite.