The pleasant historie of the conquest of the VVeast India, now called new Spayne
TekstThe great extremitie and daunger that our men were put in by the Mexicans
In hearyng the former talke in defense of the house, and prouiding of things necessary, the night passed away. And in the mornyng to proue the Mexicans intent, Cortes commaunded the market to be vsed as in time past. Aluarado wished Cortes to shew himself toward him as agrieued & not well pleased, makyng as though he would apprehend & correct him for the things passed, thinking that Mutezuma and his men would haue entreated for him. Cortes passed not for that talke, saying that they were infidels, diuelish and wicked people, with whome suche complementes shoulde not bée vsed.
But he commaunded a certaine principal Gentleman of Mexico, who stoode there presente, that out of hande he should commaunde the market to be furnished as in time past. This Indian vnderstāding that Cortes had spoken euil of them, made as though he went to fulfill his commandment: but he wente to proclayme libertie, publishyng the heynous and iniurious wordes whiche he had harde, so that in shorte space the matter beganne to waxe hoate, for some went and brake downe the bridges, others went to call all the Citizens, who ioyned themselues togither, and besieged the Spaniardes house, with suche straunge noyse that one coulde not heare another: the stones flewe lyke hayle, Dartes and arrowes filled the Spanyardes yarde, which troubled them much. Cortes seing this broyle, he with certaine of his men went out at one dore, and an other Captayne at another, with eache of them twoo hundred men. They fought with the Indians, who slewe foure Spaniardes, and wounded many moe, and of them were slayne very fewe with their succor and defence at hande. If our men fought with them in the streates, then would they stoppe their passage at the bridges: if they assaulted their houses, then they were beaten with stones from the toppe of their houses whiche were flatte ruffed, and at their retire they persecuted them terribly.
They sette fire vpon the Spaniardes house in sundry places, but chiefly in one place they coulde not aplake the fire a great whyle, vntill they threwe downe certayne chambers and walles, whereas they had entered at pleasure, had it not bene for the Artillerie, Crossebowes and handgunnes, which were there in defence of that place. This combat endured all that day vntill night, yea and in the night also they had their handes full: our men had litle leasure to sleepe, but rather spente the night in mendyng the walles and dores, and curing the wounded men who were more than foure score, & likewise to set their men in order & readinesse for the fight of the next day following.
A straunge inuention
It was no sooner day, but the Indians beganne theyr assault a fresh, with more courage and furie than the day before, so that our men were fayne to trust to their artillery, the whiche the Indians feared not a whitte: for if a shotte carried ten, fiftene or twentie Indians at a clappe, they would close againe as though one man had not bene missyng. Cortes came out with other twoo hundreth men, and gate some bridges, burned some houses, and slew many that defended them. But the Indians were so many in number, that no hurte appeared, yea and our men were so fewe in comparison of them, that although they fought al the day, yet had they much a doe to defend themselues, how much more to offende. That day neuer a Spaniarde was slayne outright, but thrée score of them were wounded and hurte, wherby they had inough to do to cure them for that night, and to procure remedy and defence against the hurtes whiche they receyued from the house toppes. They inuented Engines of timber made vpon whéeles, and foure square, couered on the toppe, and with Arte to passe through the streates: there were placed on eache of them twentie men with Pikes, Hargabush, Crossebowes and one double Base. Behinde the Engines wente men with shouels and Mattockes, to throwe downe houses, bulworkes, and to rule and gouerne the Engines.
The death of Mutezuma
All the while that the Engines were a makyng, our men came not out to fight, beyng occupied in the worke, but onely to defende their lodgyng. The enimies thinkyng that they were all sore hurte and wounded, beganne their warres agayne, reuilyng them with many iniurious wordes, threatnyng them, that if they woulde not deliuer Mutezuma, that they woulde giue them the moste cruellest death that euer man suffered, and came with great force to haue entred the house.
Cortes desired Mutezuma to goe vp into the sotie, which is the toppe of the flatte roufe of the house, and to commaunde his subiects to ceasse from their heate and furie. At Cortes his request he wente vp, and leaned ouer the wall to talke with them, who beginnyng to speake vnto them, they threw so many stones out of the streate, houses and windowes, that one happened to hitte Mutezuma on the temples of his head, with whiche blowe he fell downe to the ground: this was his ende, euen at the handes of his owne subiectes and vassalles agaynst theyr willes: for the truth is that a Spaniarde helde a Target ouer his head, wherby they knew him not, nor yet would beléeue that he was there, for all the signes and tokens whiche were made vnto them. Cortes forthwith published the hurte and daunger of life of Mutezuma: some gaue credite to his tale, and othersome woulde not, but rather fought very stoutly. Thrée dayes Mutezuma remayned in extréeme payne, and at the ende departed his life.
And bicause it shoulde appeare that his death was of the stripe that they had giuen, and not by any hurte receyued at their hands, he caused two gentlemē of Mexico, who were prysoners, to carry him out vpon their backes, who certified the Citizens of the certentie of his death, that at that presente time were giuyng battery to the house. But yet for all this they woulde not leaue off the combat, nor yet the warres, as some of our men thought they woulde, but rather procéeded on their purpose, with greater courage and desire of reuenge. And when they retyred, they made a pityfull lamentation, with preparation to bury their king in Chapultepec. On this sorte died Mutezuma, who was holden for a God among the Indians. Some say that hée desired to be Baptised at the Shrouetide before his death, and they prolonged the matter, thinking at Easter followyng to haue christened him with honour and triumph. But as it happened, it had bene better to haue done it at that time according to his request. But with the comming of Pamfilo de Naruaez the thyng was also delayed, and after hée was wounded it was likewyse forgotten, with the troubles that they were in. It was credibly enformed, that Mutezuma was neuer consentyng to the death of any Spaniarde, nor yet in conspiracie agaynst Cortes, but rather loued him entierly: yet some are of an other opinion, and bothe giue good reasons to approue their arguments, but the truth could not wel be knowen, for at that tyme our men vnderstoode not the language, and agayne Mutezuma after his death, lefte none to open that secrete.
The Indians affirme that he was of the greatest bloud of all his linage, and the greatest kyng in estate, that euer was in Mexico. It is also to be noted, that when the kingdomes do most florish, then are they niest to a chāge, or else to change their Lorde, as doth appeare in this history of Mutezuma. Our men lost more by ye death of Mutezuma than the natural Indians, if we cōsider the murder and destruction that incontinent did follow. Mutezuma was a man very moderate in his diet, and not so vicious as other Indiās, although he had many wiues. He was also liberal and frée harted: he was estéemed for a very wise man, in my iudgement he was eyther wise in lettyng things passe after that sorte, or else a very foole, that did not vnderstande their doings: he was as deuoute as warlyke, for he had bene presente in many battayles: it is reported that he wanne and had victory in nine battayles, & also other nine times victorie man for man in the fielde, he reygned seuentene yeares and certaine moneths.
The combat betvveene the Spaniardes and the Indians
After the death of Mutezuma, Cortes sente vnto his Neuewes, and to the other noblemen who mainteyned the warres, desiryng thē to come and speake with him, and they came, vnto whome Cortes spake from the wall where Mutezuma was slayne, saying, that it were méete that they should ceasse from warre, and to chose another king, and also to burie the dead, and that he woulde come to his buriall as his friende: likewise he signified vnto them, that for the loue he bare vnto Mutezuma who had intreated for them, he had stayed from the finall spoyle of the cittie, & correction of them for their rebellion and obstinacie. But now that he had not vnto whome to haue respect, he woulde bothe burne their houses, and chasten them, if that they submitted not themselues to his friendship.
They answered, that they woulde neyther leaue the warres, nor yet estéeme his friēdship, vntill they saw thēselues in their libertie, and their wrongs wholly reuenged, yea and that without his counsell they coulde elect the King vnto whom of right ye kingdome did apertaine. And sithens the Gods hath taken our welbeloued Mutezuma, we will giue his body a Sepulchre, as vnto such a King doth apperteyne: yea and if he would goe and beare his friend Mutezuma company to the Gods, that then he should come forth, and they would quickly dispatch him: and as for the residue, they would haue rather warre thā peace, yea and that they were not menne that did yéelde with wordes. Also séeing their King was dead, for whose respecte they ceassed to burne their houses, rost their bodyes, and eate their fleshe, but nowe (quoth they) if ye depart not, we will not dally long time with you.
A valiant man
Cortez finding them stoute and stubborne, liked not the bargaine. Againe, he knewe well that their meaning was, that if they hadde departed from the Citie, to haue spoyled and murthered them by the way. And séeing that their liues, rule and gouernement consisted in strength of hand and good courage, he came forth in a morning with the thrée engines, foure péeces of Ordinance, and fiue hūdred Spanyards, and thrée thousand Tlaxcaltecas, to fighte with the enimies, and to burne and spoyle their houses. They broughte the engines néere vnto certaine greate houses which stoode néere vnto a bridge, casting theyr scaling ladders on the walles, and so gote vp to the toppe where manye people were, and there combated awhile, but shortly turned to their forte againe, without doing any greate hurte, with one Spanyarde slayne, and manye wounded, and also the engines broken and spoyled, yea the multitude of Indians were so thicke, and flewe vppon the Ordinance in suche sorte, that they had no leysure to discharge them. The stones came also so thicke from the house toppes, that the engines were soone at an ende. And the Citizens hauing housed them againe in the forte and lodging, began to amende the hurt done in their houses, and to recouer the stréetes that were lost: also ye great Temple, in the Tower whereof, fiue hundred principall men hadde fortifyed themselues wyth vittayles, stones, and long Launces, piked with yron and flint stone verye sharp, but truly they did most hurt with stones. This Tower was high and strong, as I haue before declared, and stoode néere vnto the Spanyardes forte, whiche from that tower receiued muche hurt. Although Cortes was somewhat sadde and heauie, yet he ceassed not like a good Captayne to comfort and encourage his menne, and alwayes was the firste man at any brunt or assay, and hys heart coulde not permitte him to remaine penned vp in that fort, wherefore he toke thrée hundred Spanyardes, and went to assiege the high tower. Thrée or foure dayes he ceassed not that enterprise, but coulde not come to the toppe, being so high a thing, and manye persons in defence of the same, well prouided, with fitte munition for the purpose, so that our men came dayly tumbling downe the stayres, flying to their house with broken pates, so that our Spanyardes dysmayed more and more, and many murmured at the matter: you may well iudge howe Cortes his heart was afflighted, for the Indians encreased still in courage, hauing the better hand, and dayly victory from the high Tower. But nowe Cortes determined to leaue his house, and not to returne therevnto agayne, vntill he had wonne the Tower. He bounde his Target to his arme whiche had bin hurt before, and beséeged the Tower againe with many of his men, Tlaxcaltecas and other friends, and many times, although they were beaten downe, arose agayne, succoring one another, tyll at length they gote to the toppe, and there foughte with the Indians, till some of them lept out of the Tower, and stood hanging vpon the listes of the wall, which were thrée in number, the one higher than the other, and a foote broad. Some fell downe to the ground, who besides their falles, were receyued vpon the swordes poynt, and in this sorte they left none aliue. Thrée houres they fought on the top of the Tower, bycause ye multitude of Indians wer great. In conclusion, the whole fiue hundred men there dyed very valiantly, and if their weapon and knowledge had bin equall, the victory had bin doubtfull. Cortes set fire on all the Chappels, and other thrée Chappels, where infinite Idols were, yet those sely Indians lost no poynte of courage with the losse of their Temple and Gods, which touched them at the hearte, but rather began with more furie to assault the Spanish house.
Hovv the Mexicans refused the offer of peace made by Cortez
Cortez considering the great multitude of Indians his enimies, and also the greate courage, with desire of reuengement: and waying also how his men were weake and wéeryed with fight, yet (I may say) with great desire to goe frō thence, if that the Citizens would haue suffered them: he began againe to require them with peace, and to desire them of truce, saying vnto them also, that they should consider, how that many of their side were slayne, and yet they coulde kill none of them. They béeing more hard harted than before, answered that they vtterly refused his offer, saying, that they neuer woulde haue peace with those who had slained their men and burned their Gods: yea (quoth they) and although some of vs are killed, yet wée also do both kill and hurt, for ye are mortall men, and not immortall, as we are: beholde ye also the number of vs, vpon Zoties, in windowes and stréetes: assure youre selues there are thrée tymes as manye within the houses. So wée shall sooner make an ende of you by kyllyng one and one, than you shall doe of vs by killing a thousande by thousande, or ten thousand by ten thousand: for ending all these whome you sée, there wyll come so many more, and after them so manye more: but if ye were once killed, there woulde come no more Spanyardes, yea and when oure weapons can not throughly destroy you, that then we will sterue you to deathe with hunger and famine, yea and though nowe you would depart, it is too late, bycause ye bridges are throwen downe, and the calseys broken, and succoure by water you haue none. In this communications the daye was spente, and night at hand, their heads occupyed, and heartes full heauie, for hunger alone hadde bin ynough to finish theyr dayes, without any further warre. That nighte, the one halfe of the number of Spanyardes armed themselues, and late in the euening came forthe into the Citie. The Indiās now being not accustomed to fight at such houres, the Spanyardes burned aboue thrée hundred houses in one stréete, and in some of them found many Citizens, of whome they left not one aliue. They burned and spoyled thrée Zoties néere vnto their owne lodging, whiche hadde greately annoyed them before. The residue of the Spanyardes whiche abode at home, amended the engins, and repaired their houses. As this iourney hapned well vnto them, earely in the morning they procéeded out againe, and wente to the bridge where their engins hadde bin broken, and although they founde there greate resistance, yet the matter imported their liues. They foughte with noble courage, and gote manye towers, houses and Zoties. They wanne also four of the eyght bridges which were in the Citie, leauing gard in those places whyche were wonne, returning to their Campe with manye woundes, beyng both wéery and full of care and sorrow.
The next daye they came forth againe, and wanne the other foure bridges, and dammed them vp with earth, in such sorte, that the Horsemen that way followed the enimies to the firme lande. Cortez being occupyed in damming vp the ditches, and making plaine way of the bridges, there came certayne messengers vnto him, saying, that néere at hand, abode many noblemen and Captaines to treate of peace, requiring hym to come vnto them, praying him to bring Tlamacazque his prisoner, who was one of the principallest of the Diuels Cleargie there, to heare the treatie of the matter.
Cortes wente, and carried the Priest with him, whome he appoynted to require them to ceasse from contention, and to remoue their siege, but he came not backe wyth aunswere. All thys was a fayned fetche, to sée the state of the Christian Campe, or else to recouer their religious Tlamacazque. Cortes séeyng theyr deceyte, wente hys way to dinner, and was no sooner sette at hys meate, but certayne Tlaxcaltecas came running in with an open crye, saying, that theyr enimies hadde recouered agayne the bridges, and wente armed vp and downe the stréetes, and hadde also slayne the most of the Spanyardes that were lefte in garde of the bridges. Incontinente Cortes wente out with the Horsemenne, who were readyest at that tyme, and made way through the troupe of enimies, following them euen vnto the firme lande, but at theyr returne, the footemen that were hurt and wéeried in kéeping of the stréete, coulde not susteyne the force and furie of the infinite number of Indians, whyche came vpon them, yea with muche adoe they coulde escape home to their forte. The multitude was not so greate of Indians in the stréete, but also by water in Canoas, so that stones flewe on both sydes, and galled oure men cruelly. Cortes was hurte in one of hys knées very sore, wherevppon it was blowen abroade through the Citie, that Cortes was slayne, whiche newes dyd greately discourage our men, and much animate the Indians. But yet Cortes for all hys payne and hurt, ceassed not to embolden & encourage hys Souldyers, who set afreshe vpon the enimies. At the farthest bridge fel two Horses, which troubled muche oure men that followed. Cortes made suche way among the Indians, that the Horsemen hadde reasonable passage, and béeyng ye hindmost man himselfe, he was in great peril of taking. It was a maruell to sée what a spring hee gaue with hys Horse, and thereby escaped, but in conclusion, with stones they were forced to returne to their hold, beyng very late.
As soone as he had ended his supper, he sente some of his men to gard the stréete and bridges, and to defend the same againste the enemie. They were somewhat ioyfull of their procéedings and good successe whiche they hadde the same day.
Hovve Cortez fledde from Mexico
But Cortes waying the substance of the matter, sawe in effecte that his syde wente to wracke, wherefore he requested hys menne to departe from thence, who were not a little ioyfull to heare their Captayne pronounce that saying, for few or none of them escaped vnhurt and wounded. They feared death, but yet wanted not stomacke and hearte to dye. The Indians were so many, that if the Chrystians shoulde but onlye haue cutte their throtes without resistance, yet they had bin too few for that purpose.
They were also in suche necessitie of bread, that pinched them sore. Their pouder and shotte was spente, and almost all other prouision. Their house was welnigh beaten downe about their eares. All these causes were sufficient to leaue Mexico, and to séeke to saue their liues: yet on the other side, they iudged it an euill case, to turne their backes to their enimies, for (quoth they) the very stones riseth vp against hym that flyeth. They feared agayne the passage of the arches where the bridges hadde bin, so that now they were full besette with sorrow, care, and misery: but in fyne, they all agréed to departe that nighte, for many dayes before, one of their companye called Botello, who presumed to haue good skyll in the Arte of Nigromācie, did declare vnto them, that if they would depart from Mexico at a certayne houre appoynted, that then they shuld escape, or else not: but whether they gaue credite to his sayings or no, they fully determined to departe that night, and like vnto politike and good Souldyers, they prepared a bridge of tymber to carrie wyth them, to passe ouer the arches where bridges hadde bin. This is most certayne, they were all priuie and agréede to the departure, and not as some report, that Cortes fledde away, leauing aboue two hundred Spanyardes in the house, who knewe nothyng of hys departure, and were afterwardes all slayne, sacrifised, and eaten in Mexico, for out of the Citie he coulde not haue departed so secretely, but it shoulde haue come to their eares: howe muche more out of one house, where they were all togither.
Revvarde of a couetous mind
Cortes called Iohn de Guzman hys Chamberlayne, commaunding him to open the hall where the treasure was, and called all the officers and others, to sée the distribution of the same. First the kings portion was deducted, and he gaue a Horse of his owne, and men to carrie it: and for the remainder, he willed euery man to take what he listed, for he gaue it frankely vnto them. The souldiers which had come with Naruaez, & now serued Cortes, were somewhat hungry of treasure, so that they tooke as much golde and other riches, as they myghte possible carrie, but it cost them déere, for at their going out of the Citie, with the waight of their heauie burthens, they coulde neyther fighte, nor yet make hast on their way, vppon whiche occasion, the Indians caught many of them, and drewe them by the héeles to the slaughterhouse of Sacrifice, where they were slayne and eaten: yet those that escaped, had eache of them some profyte, for that pray was well worth seauen hundred thousand Ducketes: but beeyng things wrought in greate péeces, they were troublesome to carrie, so that he whiche carried least, escaped best. Yet some doe thinke, that there remayned in that house a great parte of the treasure, but it was not so, for after our men had taken what they would, then came in the Tlaxcaltecas, and made spoyle of all the rest.
Cortes gaue charge to certayne of his menne, to garde with much respecte, a sonne and two daughters of Mutezuma, Cacama, and his brother, and manye other greate Gentlemen his prisoners.
He also appoynted other fortie mē to carrie the bridge of timber, and other Indians to carrie the Ordinance, and a little grayne of Centli that remayned.
The vantgarde he committed to Gonsalo de Sandoual, and Antonio de Quiniones: and the reregarde he committed to Pedro de Aluarado, and he hymselfe remayned with a hundred men, to vse his discretion. In this order, and with good deliberation, at midnight he departed from Mexico in a darke myst, and so quietely, that none of the Indians knewe thereof, commendyng themselues vnto GOD, beséechyng hym in theyr prayers, to delyuer them from that presente daunger, and tooke the way of Tlacopan, béeyng the same way that he came into the Citie.
The firste arche whereof the bridge was throwen downe, they passed with the timber bridge whiche they carried with them at ease.
In this meane time the watche and espies which warded in the hiest temples, had descried their flight, and began to sounde their instruments of warre with a maruelous crie, saying, they flie, they flie: And sodenly with this noyse, they hauing no armour to put on, nor other impedimēt, ioyned an infinite company of them togither, and followed with greate celeritie, yea and with suche a heauy and terrible noyse, that all the lake pronounced the Eccho, saying, let the cursed and wicked be slayne, who hath done vnto vs such great hurte.
But when Cortes came to plante his bridge vpon the second arche of the Cittie, there mette him a greate company of Indians to defende the same, yet with much adoe he planted his bridge and passed thervpon with fiue horsemen and a hundred Spaniardes, and with them procéeded through the Calsey to the mayne lande passing many perilous places, wherein swamme both man and horse, for the bridge of timber was broken: this done, he lefte his foote menne on the firme lande, vnder the gouernement of Iohn Xaramillo, and returned backe with the fiue horsemen for to succour and helpe the residue of his company whiche were behinde. But when he came vnto them, he found some fighting with great courage, but many slaine. He lost also his golde and fardage, his ordinance and prisoners, yea in fine he founde a maruellous change and alteracion of the estate he lefte them in, wherevpon lyke a good Captayne he shewed his wisdome and valour, helpyng and recoueryng as many of his men, as he myght, and brought them into safetie. He lefte also Captayne Aluarado to succour the reste.
But Aluarado with all his power and strength could not resiste the fury of the enimies, wherefore with the Lance in his hande he beganne to flie, seyng the greate slaughter of his company, so that hée was forced to passe ouer the dead carkases, yea and vpon some that were not throughly dead, who made a lamentable, pytifull, and dolefull mone. And commyng to the next arche, whose brydge was broken downe, of necessitie he tooke hys Lance, and therewith leaped such a space, that the Indians were amased to sée, for none of his fellowes could doe the like, although they approued the enterprise, and were drowned for their labour.
When Cortes sawe this sorrowfull sight, he sate hym downe, not to take any rest for his wearinesse, but only to bewayle the dead men, yea and also them that were aliue and in greate daunger, and also to ponder the vnstedfastnesse of cruell fortune in the perdition of so many his friends, such great treasure and lordshippe, so greate a Citie and Kingdome, but also to bewayle the sorrowfull estate that he himself stoode in, seyng the moste of his men wounded & hurte, and knowyng not whyther to goe, for that he was not certayne of the helpe and friendship of Tlaxcaltecas. Yea and what harde hart, woulde not haue relented to behold the dead bodies, who a litle before had entred that same way, with suche magnificall triumphe, pompe and pleasure. But yet hauing care of those whom he had lefte on the firme lande, he made haste to Tlacopan.
This sorowfull night, which was the tenth of July in An .1520. were slaine aboute .450. Spaniardes, 4000. Indian friends, and .46. horse, yea & (as I iudge) all the prisoners which were in his company. If this mishap had fortuned in the day time, possible so many and so great a nūber had not perished. But where it fortuned by night, the noyse of the wounded was sorrowful, & of the victors horrible and feareful. The Indians cried victory, calling vpon their diuelish and filthy Goddes with ioy & pleasure, our men being ouercome, cursed their vnfortunate lot, yea the hower, and he that brought them thither, others cried vnto God for succour, others sayd helpe, help, for I stande in daūger of drowning. I know not certenly whether moe perished in the water or the lande, hopyng to saue themselues by swimming and leapyng ouer the sluces and broken places, for they say, that a Spaniarde was no sooner in the water, but an Indian was vppon his backe. They haue great dexteritie & skill in swimming, so that catching any Spaniarde in the water, they would take him by the one arme, and carrie him whither they pleased, yea & would vnpanch him in the water. If these Indians had not occupied themselues in taking the spoyle of those that were fallen and slaine, certenly one Christian had not escaped that day: but in fine, the greatest number of Spaniardes that were killed, were those that went moste laden with golde plate and other iewels, & those which escaped, were they that carried least burdens, & the first that with noble courage made way to passe through the troupe of Indians.
Nowe wée may safely say, that the couetous desire of gold, wherof they had plenty, was cause of their death, and they may answere that they died riche. After that those, whiche had escaped, were paste the calsey, the Indians stayed and followed them no further, eyther for that they contented themselues with that whiche they had done, or else they durst not fight in open fields: But principally it is thought, that they abode to mourne and lament for the death of Mutezuma his chyldren, not knowing till then their sorrowfull ende. But nowe seyng the thyng present before their eyes, they wrang theyr hands, and made a pitifull dole and crie, and the rather, bycause they themselues had slayne them against their willes.