The pleasant historie of the conquest of the VVeast India, now called new Spayne
TekstThe Spaniardes vvhich vvere sacrificed in Tezcuco
Dayly increased Cortes in strength and reputation, and many townes as wel of the partes of Culhua as others came vnto his friendship and obedience. Within two days that Don Hernando was made king, came certayne gentlemen of Huaxuta and Quahutichan, to certify vnto him, how al the power of the Mexicans was comming towardes them, and to knowe if it were his pleasure, that they should carry their wiues, children, and other goods into the Mountaines, or els to bring them where he was, theyr feare was so great. Cortes made vnto thē this answere, saying: be ye of good courage, and feare ye not. Also I pray you to cōmaunde your wiues & families to make no alteratiō, but rather quietly to abide in your houses. And cōcerning the enimies, I am glad of their comming, for ye shal sée how I will deale with them. But the enimies wente not to Huaxuta, as it was thought: neuerthelesse Cortes hauing intelligence where they were, wente out to encounter them, with two pieces of Ordinaunce, twelue horsemen and two hundred Spaniardes, with many Indians of Tlaxcallā. He fought with the enemie, and slew but few, for they fledde to the water. He burnt certaine townes where the Mexicans were wonte to succour themselues. The next day came the chiefest men of thrée townes to craue pardon, and to beséech him not to destroy thē, promising neuer to harbour nor succour, any of Culhua.
The Mexicans hearing what these townes men pretended, with greate yre made a foule correction among them, as dyd appeare by many of them, which came vnto Cortes with broken heads, desiring reuengement.
The inhabitaunts of Chalco sent also vnto him for succour, declaring that the Mexicans made greate spoyle among them. But Cortes being ready to send for his Vergantines, could not relieue them all, and especially wyth Spaniardes: wherefore he remitted them to the helpe of the Tlaxcaltecas, and vnto thē of Huexocinco, Chololla, Huacacholla and other friends, promising that shortly he would come himselfe. But this answere pleased him not, yet for the present néede they required his letters to be written vnto those townes. And being in this communication, there came messengers from Tlaxcallan, with news, that the Vergantines were ready, and to knowe if he stoode in néede of any succour, for of late, (quoth they) we haue séene many beacons, and fiers, which are greater tokens of warre, than heretofore hath bene séene.
There came at that time, a Spaniard also from Vera Crux, with certaine newes, that there had arriued a ship, whiche had brought thirtie Souldiers besides the mariners of the shippe, with eight horses, great store of pouder, shotte, crossebowes, and Harquebushes. The plesent newes reioyced much our men, wherevpon Cortes sente forthwith to Tlaxcallan for the Vergantines, Gonzalo de Sandoual, with two hundered Spaniards, and fiftéene horsemen, and commaunded that in their way they shold burne and destroy the towne where the fourty fiue Spaniardes, and thrée hundered Tlaxcaltecas were slayn, with fiue horses moe, when Mexico was last besieged: and yt village is in ye iurisdiction of Tezcuco, and bordereth vpon the territorie of Tlaxcallan, yea, and for that purpose hée would gladly haue corrected and punished the dwellers of Tezcuco, but time then permitted not ye same, although they had deserued more punishment than the others. For why? in their town they were sacrifised and eaten, yea & the walles painted with their bloud, shewing moreouer perfit tokens, how it was spaniards bloud. They pluckt off also the horses skinnes & tanned thē in the heare, and afterwards hung them vppe, with the horseshoes in their great temple, & next vnto them, the spaniards garmētes, for a perpetual memory.
Sandoual went vnto that place with determinate entēt to follow his cōmission, & also before he came to ye place, he found writtē in a house wt a cole, these words: here in this house was a prisoner ye vnfortunate Iohn Iust, who was a gentleman, and one of the fiue horsemen that wer taken. But the people of that towne, being many, fledde when they saw the Spaniardes approch neare vnto thē. But Sandoual followed them, and slewe many of them: he toke also prisoners, manye women and children, who yelded themselues vnto his mercie, and their bodies for slaues. He séeing so little resistance, and beholding the pitiful mone of the wiues for their husbandes, and the children for their fathers, had compassiō on them, and wold not destroye their towne, but rather caused the dwellers to come again, and pardoned them, with othe, that hereafter they shoulde serue them truely, and be vnto them loyal friends. In this sorte was the death of the Christians reuenged, yet Sandoual asked them howe they slewe so manye Christians without resistaunce, marye (quoth they) we made an ambush in an euil and narrow way, ascending vp a hill, and there as they went vppe by one and one we spoyled them, for there, neyther horses nor other weapon could defend or help thē, so yt we tooke them prisoners and sente them to Tezcuco, where, as is before declared, they were sacrificed in the reuengement of the imprisonment of Calama.
Hovv the Vergantines vvere brought frō Tlaxcall to Tezcuco
Nowe when the enemies which murdered the Spaniardes, were reduced and chastened, Sandoual procéeded forwarde towarde Tlaxcallan, and at the border of that prouince, he mette with the Vergātines whiche were broughte in pieces, as tables, planches, and nayles, with all other furniture, the whyche eight thousand men caryed vpon their backes.
There came also for their safeconduicte twentie thousande men of warre, and a thousande Tamemez, who were the carriers of victuals, and seruantes. Thē the Spanishe Carpenters sayde vnto Sandoual, that for as muche as they were nowe come into the countrey of enimies, it might please him to haue regarde thervnto, for daungers that myght happen: he allowed wel theyr iudgement.
Nowe Chichimecatetl, being a principal man and a valiant also, was captaine of a thousande men & desired to haue the vantguard with the Tymber, and hauing had the same charge hithervnto, it should be an affrent for him, to be put from it, and gaue manye reasons in hys behalfe. But notwithstanding his request, he was entreated to take the reregarde. And that Tutipil and Teutecatl captaines, very principal gentlemen, should haue the vantgard, with ten thousand men. In the myddest were placed the Tamemez, and those that carryed the foyst, with all the apparell of the Vergantines. Before those two captaynes, went a hundered Spaniardes, and eight horsemen, and behind and last came Sandoual with all the residue, and seuen horsemen. But now although Chichimecatetl was offended, touching his firste charge, now much more bycause the Spaniardes were not in his company, saying (quoth he) ye take me not for valiant, or else not faithful. That matter being pacified, and euery thing in good order, they toke their way towarde Tezcuco, with a marueylous noyse, crying, Christians, Christians, Tlaxcallan, Tlaxcallan, and Spayne.
On the fourth day they entred into Tezcuco, in verye good order, with the sounde of drummes, snayle-shelles, and other like instrumentes of Musicke, and againste their entry into the Citie, they put on al their brauerye of clothes, and bushes of feathers, whiche truely was a gallant sight: they were sixe houres, in entryng into the towne, keping their array.
Cortez came forth to receyue them, and gaue greate thankes vnto the gentlemen, and all the company, and prouided them of good lodgings and entertaynement.
Of the Docke or trench vvhich was made to launch, the Vergantines
Manye prouinces of India, came to submitte and offer their seruice vnto Cortes, some for feare of destruction, and others for the hatred whyche they bare to the Mexicans: so that nowe Cortes was strong both with Spaniardes and Indians. Also the Spanishe Captaine of Segura, sent a letter to Cortez, the which letter he had receyued of another spaniard, the effect therof was as foloweth. Noble gentlemen, diuerse times I haue written vnto you, but as yet I neuer receiued answere, nor yet now doe I. I thynke otherwise, notwithstanding yee shall vnderstande, that the Culhuacans haue done much hurte in thys countrey, but we remayne with victorie. This prouince desireth to see and knowe Captaine Cortez, for to render themselues vnto him, and nowe they stande in neede of our nation, wherfore it may please you to sende vnto vs thirtie Spaniardes.
Cortez aunswered the letter in suche sort, that he then presently coulde not sende the thing desired, for that he was readye to the siege of Mexico: notwythstanding hée gaue them great thankes, with hope shortlye to sée thē. He that writte the former letter, was one of the Spaniardes that Cortez hadde sente to the prouince of Chinanta, a yeare paste, to enquire of the secretes of that place, and to séeke for golde and other commodities. And if it so happened, that the Lorde of that place made that Spaniarde a Captayne, agaynste the Culhuacans theyr enemyes, for Mutezuma made them warre béeyng farre from Mexico, bycause they had entertayned the Spaniardes. But through the industrie of that Christian, the Lorde aboade alwayes with victorye, and hauing vnderstanding that some of hys nation were in Tepeacac, he wrote so often as the letter declareth, but none of them came to their handes, but only this last letter: our men reioyced muche to heare that the Spaniardes were aliue, and also the Lorde of Chinanta to be their friende: likewise they marueyled much howe they had escaped, for at the time that they fledde from Mexico, all other Spaniardes that were abidyng in the Mynes and other Lordshippes, were slaine by the Indians.
Cortes made his preparation for the séege of Mexico with all hast, and furnished hym with scalling ladders, and other necessaryes, fitte for such a purpose. His Vergantines being nayled, and throughly ended, he made a sluise or trench of halfe a league of length, twelue foote broad & more, and two fadome in depth. This worke was fiftie dayes a doyng, although there were foure hundred thousand mē dayly working, truly a famous worke and worthy of memory.
A strange tallovve
The Vergantines were calked with Towe and cotten woll, and for want of tallow and oyle, they were (as some reporte,) driuen to take mans grease, not that they slewe men for that effect, but of those which were slayne in the warres. The Indians who were cruell and bloudy butchers, vsing sacrifice, would in this sort open the dead bodye, and take out the grease. The Vergantines being lanched, Cortes mustered his men, and founde nine hundred Spanyardes, of the which were 86. Horsemen, and a hūdred and eyghtéene with Crossebowes and Hargabushes, and all the residue had sundry weapons, as swords, daggars, Targets, Launces, and Halbertes. Also they had for armour, corselets, coates of mayle, and Iackes. They had moreouer thrée great péeces of cast yron, fiftéene small péeces of brasse, and tenne hundred waighte of powder, with store of shotte. All that ye haue hearde, was the prouision that Cortes had for the séege of Mexico, the strongest and greatest Citie in all India and newe world. In eache Vergantine he placed a péece of brasse. He proclaymed agayne all the institutions and ordinances of the warre, praying and commaunding that they might be well and faithfully obserued, and said, Brethrē and my fellowes, now do you sée our vessels readye, yea and also you do remember howe troublesome a thyng it hathe bin to bring them hither with the coste and sweate of our friendes, and one of the chiefest hopes that I haue shortly to winne Mexico, are these vessels, for with them we will burne all their Canoas, or else we will so locke them vp, that they shall not help them, whereby we wyll annoy our enimie as muche that way, as our army shall do by land. I haue also a hundred thousand men of warre my friends to beséege this Citie, who are (as you know) ye valiantest men in all these parties. You haue also your vittailes prouided abundantly, and that which now importeth, is, that you play the menne, as héeretofore you haue done, and most humbly to pray vnto God for victorie, for that this warre is his.
The order of the host and army of Cortes for to beseege Mexico
The nexte day following, Cortes sente vnto the prouinces of Tlaxcallan, Huexocinco, Chololla, Chal, and other Townes, warning thē within tenne dayes to come vnto Tezcuco, with theyr armoure, weapon, and other necessaries, for the séege of Mexico. He certifyed them also, how the Vergantines were ready with all other furniture accordingly, and the Spanyardes were very desirous to lose no time, wherefore they meante not to delay their pretence, farther than the day appoynted.
The Indians hearing this newes, and bycause they would not come too late to the beginning of the assaulte, came incontinente, and entred into Tezcuco in good order of warre, aboue sixtie thousand men, gallantly trimmed after their vse and custome. Cortes friendly welcommed them, and prouided them lodgings accordingly.
On Whitsonday, all the Spanyardes came into the fielde, whereas Cortes made thrée chiefe Captaynes among whome he deuided his whole army. Vnto Pedro de Aluarado the first Captayne, he appoynted thirtie horsemen, and a hundred and seauentie footemen of the Spanyardes, two péeces of ordinance, and thirtie thousande Indians, commaunding him to campe in Tlacopan. Vnto Cristoual de Olid the seconde Captayne, he gaue thrée and thirtie Horsemen, and a hundred and eyghtéene footemen of the Spanish nation, two péeces of ordinance, and thirtie thousand Indians, and appoynted him to pitch his camp in Culhuacan. To Gonsalo de Sandoual who was the thyrde Captayne, he gaue thrée and twenty Horsemen, and 160. footemen, two péeces of Ordinance, and 40000. Indians, with commission to choose a place to pitch his Campe.
In euery Vergantine he planted a péece of ordināce, sixe hargabushes, or crossebowes, and 23. Spaniards, mē most fittest for that purpose. He appointed also Captaynes for eache, and himselfe for general, whereof some of the chiefest of his companye began to murmure that wente by lande, thinking that they had bin in greater daunger, wherefore they required him to goe with the mayne battell, and not by water. Cortes little estéemed their words, for although it is more daunger in the water than in the land, yet it did more importe to haue greater care in the warres by water, than on the land, bycause his men had bin in the one, and not in the other.
On the tenth of May Aluarado, and Cristoual de Olid departed, and went that night to a Towne called Acolman, where was betwéene them greate discorde touchyng their lodgings, yea and if Cortes had not sente to take vp the matter, much mischiefe had ensued. The nexte daye they lodged in Xolotepec, whych was not inhabited. The thyrde daye they came vnto Tlacopan, whyche was also as all the Townes of the lake, wythout people, there they were lodged in the Lordes house of the Towne.
The Tlaxcaltecas began to viewe Mexico by the calsey, and foughte with their enimies, vntill the nighte made them to ceasse.
On the thirtéenth of May, Cristoual de Olid came to Chapultepec, and brake the conduites of swéete water, wherevpon Mexico was destitute of the same, being the conduit that did prouide all the Citie. Pedro de Aluarado wyth his company procured to amende all the broken places of the calsey, that the horsemen might haue frée passage, and hauing muche to do in these affaires, he spente thrée dayes, and fighting with many enimies, some of his men were hurt, and many Indian friendes slayn. Aluarado abode in Tlacopan with his armye, and Cristoual de Olid retired to Culhuacan with his men, according to the instruction receyued from Cortes, and fortifyed themselues in the Lordes houses of the Towne, and euery daye skyrmished with the enimies, and some went to the Townes néere at hande, and brought Centli, fruite, and other prouision. In this businesse they occupyed théēselues a whole wéeke.
The Battaile and victory of the Vergantines against the Canoas
The newe Kyng Quahutimoc hauing intelligence how Cortes hadde launched hys Vergantines and so mightie a power to beséege Mexico, entred into counsell wyth the chiefest péeres of hys Realme. Some were of opinion, and dyd prouoke hym to the warres, considering theyr greate multitude of people, and fortitude of the Citie.
Others were of opinion, who tendred muche the common weale, that no Spanyarde that shoulde happen to be taken prysoner shoulde be sacrificed, but rather to be preserued for conclusion of peace if néede shoulde so requyre. And finally some sayde, that they should demaunde of their Goddes what was best to doe.
The King that inclined himselfe more to peace than to warre, sayde that he woulde remitte the matter to the iudgement of the idolles, and that he would aduise them what answere should be made vnto him but: in harte he desired to come to some honest order and agréement with Cortes, fearing the thyng that after did ensue. But seyng his Counsell and subiectes so determined to warre, he cōmaunded foure Spaniardes whiche he had prysoners in a cage, to be sacrificed vnto the Goddes of warre, with a greate number more of Indians.
A Diuelish sentence
He spake to the Diuell in the image of Vitzilopuchtli, who answered him that he shoulde not feare the Spaniardes being but fewe, nor yet those whiche were comen to helpe them, for that they shoulde not long abide in the siege, commaunding him to goe forth and to encounter them without feare, for he would helpe them and kill his enimies. With this answere of the diuel, Quahutimoc commaunded forthwith to breake downe the bridges, watche the Cittie, make bulwarkes, and to arme fiue thousande boates, and sayde vnto the Spaniardes, that the Goddes woulde be pleased with the sacrifice of their bodies, the Snakes filled with their bloud, and the Tigres relieued with their flesh, they sayde also to the Indians of Tlaxcallan, ah yée Cuckold knaues, slaues and traytors to your gods and kyng, will you not repent the wickednesse whiche yée haue committed agaynst your maisters, therefore shall you nowe die an euill death, for either you shall die with hunger, or else vpon the knife: and then wil we eate your fleshe, and make thereof solemne a banket as the like hath heretofore neuer bene séene, and in token therof hold take these armes and legges whiche we throwe vnto you of your owne men, which we haue now sacrificed for the obtayning of victory. And after these warres we will goe vnto your countrey and spoyle your Towne, & leaue no memory of your bloud or generation. The Tlaxcaltecas laughed at their madde talke, and sayd, that it should be better for them to yéelde and submitte themselues to Cortes his mercy, and if not, yet it were more honorable to fight than to bragge, willyng them to come out into the field. And bad them assuredly beléeue, that the ende of all their knauery was at hande: it was a world to heare and sée the bragges and crakes on both sides. Cortes hearyng of all these matters, sent Sandoual to take Iztacpalapan, and he enbarked himselfe to méete him at that place.
Sandoual combated the towne on the one side, and the townes menne and people with feare fledde vnto Mexico, on the otherside by water: he burned the towne. Cortes came at yt time to a strōg rocke lyke a tower, situated in the water, where many men of Culhua were, who seyng them approche with their Vergantines, sette theyr beacons on fire, and threwe downe vpon them stones and shotte of theyr arrowes. Cortes wente ashore with a hundreth and fiftie menne, and combatted the forte, till at length he wanne the battlement, whiche was the Indians beste defence, and with muche adoe hée came to the toppe, and there fought vntill he had not lefte one aliue, sauyng women and chyldren. It was a fayre victorie, although fiue and twentie Spanyardes were hurte and wounded, yet the forte was strong, and the ourethrowe a great discouragyng of the enimie.
At this instant were so many beacons and other fires made rounde aboute the lake and vpon the hilles, that all séemed a lighte fire. And also the Mexicans hearyng that the Vergantynes were comyng, they came out in their boates, with fiue hundreth Gentlemen whiche came to sée suche newe kinde of vesselles, and to proue what they were, beyng a thyng of so greate a fame. Cortes embarked himselfe with the spoyle of the forte, and commaunded his men to abide all togither for the better resistance, and bycause the enimies shoulde thynke that they feared, wherevpon they mighte without any good order gyue the onsette vpon the Christians, and so to fall suddenly into the snare. But it followed, that when they came within shotte of the Spaniardes ordinaunce: they stayed abydyng more company, but in shorte space there came so many Canoas, that it séemed a wonder to beholde: They made suche a terrible noyse with theyr voyces, drummes, Snayle shelles, and other like instruments of warre, that they could not heare one an other, with such great crakes and bragges, as they had done in time paste.
And beyng bothe parties in readinesse to fight, there happened suche a poupewinde to the Vergantines which came from the shore, that it séemed meruellous. Cortes thē praysing God, commaunded al his Captaines to giue the onset altogithers, & not to ceasse vntill the enimies should be dryuen to retire into Mexico, for that it was the pleasure of God to sende vnto them that prosperous winde in token of victory. This talke ended, they beganne to sette vpon the enimy, who seyng the Vergantines come with such lucky winde, yea & such a sight as the like vnto them had not bene séene, they began to flie with suche greate haste, that they spoyled, brake, and sunke many of them, and suche as stoode to defende themselues were slayne, so that this battayle was soone ended. They pursued them twoo leagues, vntill they had locked them vp in the water streates of Mexico, and tooke many Lordes and Gentlemen prisoners. And the key of al these warres cōsisted in this victory, for our mē remayned for Lords of the whole lake, and the enimie with great feare and losse: they had not bene so soone spoyled, but that there were so many of them, who disturbed one an other. But when Aluarado, and Cristoual de Olid saw the fortunate successe of Cortes by water, they entered the calsey with their army, and tooke certaine bridges and bulwarkes, and draue the Indians from them, with all their force and strength. But with the helpe of the Vergantines which came vnto them, the Indians were dryuen to runne a whole league vpon the calsey, and where they founde the calsey broken, they procured to leape ouer, and so fel into the middest.
Cortes procéeded forwards, and findyng no Canoas, he landed vpon the calsey that commeth from Iztacpalapan, with thirtie men, and combatted two towers of idolles whiche were walled with wall of lyme and stone: it was the same place where Mutezuma receyued Cortes. He wan those towers in shorte time, although they were defended with all possibilitie: he vnshipped thrée péeces of ordināce to scoure the calsey, which was full of enimies: at first shotte he did greate hurte among thē, and beyng the night at hande, they seased on bothe sides for that day. And although Cortes had determined otherwise with his Captaynes, yet he aboade there that night, and sente to the campe of Gonsalo de Sandoual for pouder and fiftie mē, with halfe the company of Indians of Culhuacan.