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

The taking of Mexico

In the order before declared, wanne Hernando Cortes the famous cittie of Mexico, on tuesday being the .xiij. of August, An. 1521. in remembraunce wherof, and of the great victory, euery yéere on that day they make a sumptuous feast & solemne procession, wherin is carried the standart royall, with the whiche the cittie was won. The siege endured thrée moneths, & had therein .200000. Indians .900. Spaniardes .80. horses .17. péeces of ordinaunce, 13. Vergantines, & 6000. Canoas. In this siege were slayne fiftie Spaniardes & sixe horses, & no great number of the Indians their friends. There was slaine on the cōtrary side a hundred thousand, and some affirme many moe: but I speake not of them that died with hunger and pestilence.

At the defence of the citie were al the nobilitie, by reason wherof many were slayne. The multitude of people was great, who eate litle, dranke salte water, and slepte among the dead bodies, where was a horrible stenche: for these causes the disease of pestilence fell among them, and thereof died an infinite number. Wherevpon is to be considered, their stedfaste determination, for although they were afflicted with such hunger, that they were dryuen to eate boughes, ryndes of trées, and to drinke salte water, yet woulde they not yéelde themselues. But at the laste they would haue submitted them, and then their kyng Quahutimoc woulde not, bycause at the begynnyng they refused his will and counsell, and also with their generall deaths, should appeare no cowardise, for they kept the dead bodies in theyr houses to kéepe that secrete from theyr enimies. Here also is to bée noted, that although the Mexicans eate mans fleshe, yet they eate none of their owne Cittie or friendes, as some doe thynke: for if they had, there woulde not so many haue died with hunger. The Mexican women were highly commended, not onely bycause they aboade with their husbandes and Fathers, but also for the greate paynes they tooke with the sicke and wounded persons, yea and also they laboured in makyng slings, cuttyng stones fitte for the same, and throwyng stones from the soties, for therein they dyd as muche hurte as their men. The Cittie was yéelded to the spoyle, and the Spanyardes tooke the Golde, Plate and Feathers, the Indian friends had all the rest of cloth and other stuffe.

Cortes commaunded greate bonfiers to be made in token of victory, and also to mortifie the horrible stenche of the dead bodies, whome he lykewise commaunded to be buried, and some of the prysoners menne and women he caused to be marked in the face, for the Kings slaues, and pardoned all the residue. He commaunded the Vergantines to bée brought ashore, and appoynted one Villa fuerte, with .80. men to guarde thē, fearyng least the Mexicans shold set fire or otherwise destroy them. In this businesse he occupied himself foure dayes, & then remoued his campe to Culhuacan, where he rendred hartie thanks to all the Gentlemen his friendes, promysing to gratifie their good and faythfull seruice, desiryng them to departe home to theyr houses, cōsidering y^e warre was at an end, wherevpon they departed almost all in generall, both rich and iocond with the spoyle of Mexico, and also to remayne in the fauour and grace of Cortes.

Maruellous signes and tokens of the destruction of Mexico

Not long before Hernando Cortes came vnto the newe Spayne, did many nightes after the midnighte appeare in the aire, and in the same port and place where Cortes entred into that land, great lightning of fire, whiche amounted vpward, and suddaynely vaded away. The Mexicans at that time saw flames of fire toward the orient, where now Vera Crux standeth, with a great and thicke smoke, that séemed to touche the heauen and earthe: thys sight was fearfull vnto them.

They also saw the figures of armed men fighte in the aire one with another, a new and strange sight for them, and a thing that filled their heads with ymaginations: for when there was a prophecie spoken of among them, how that white men with beardes should come and rule their kingdome in the time of Mutezuma. The Lordes of Tezcuco and Tlacopan were much amazed, saying, that the sword whiche Mutezuma hadde, was the armes of those folke, whose figures they had séene in the ayre, with their apparell and attire. Mutezuma had muche adoe to pacifie them, fayning that the weapon and apparell was of hys forefathers, and bycause they should sée the troth thereof, he gaue them the sworde, and willed them to breake it if they coulde, and they prouing to breake the same and could not, they maruelled thereat, and also were resolued of their opinions.

It shoulde séeme, that a little before these things happened, some of Mutezuma his subiectes founde a chest of apparell and a sworde in it on the sea coast, which came floting out of some shippe that had wracked there about, and broughte it to their prince. Others affirme, that the cause of alteration among the noble men, was, when they saw the sword and apparell that Cortes had sent vnto Mutezuma by Teudilli, séeing it a thing so like the attire of the figures whiche they had séene in the ayre, but howsoeuer it was, they beléeued with these new tokens, that their Kingdome shoulde haue an ende, when they saw those straungers come into their Countrey.

The same yeare that Cortes came into Mexico, appeared a vision vnto a certaine Malli, which is to say, a slaue taken in the warres to be sacrificed, who at the time of his deathe and Sacrifice, bewayled his sorrowfull ende; calling vppon the God of Heauen, who at that instante sawe in spirite a vision, and heard a voyce, bidding hym not to feare that death, for the God whome be had called vpon, would haue mercy vpon hym, willing hym also to say vnto the pristes and ministers of the Idols, that their wicked sacrifice and bloudsheding was néere at an ende, and that there was a people at hand, that should take away all that wicked and abhominable religion.

This Malli was sacrificed in the middest of the market place of Tlatelulco, where at this daye is the place of execution.

They remembred, and noted well the wordes of the Malli, and the vision whiche they called a breath from heauen.

The earth also brake open, out of the whiche issued a maruellous greate streame of water, with many greate fishes, which they iudged and held for a strange pronostication.

The Mexicans did reporte, that when on a time Mutezuma came triumphantly with victory of Xochnuxco, said vnto the Lorde of Culhuacan: Now (quoth he) Mexico is strong and inuincible, for I haue in subiection Xochnuxco, and other prouinces, so that now I am without feare of any enemie. The Lord of Culhuacan aunswered, saying, trust not good King too muche, for one force forceth another, with the whiche aunswere, Mutezuma was not a little offended. But when Cortes hadde taken them both prisoners, then he called to remembrance the former talke, and held that saying for a prophesie.

The building vp agayne of Mexico

Cortes pretended to recdifie againe the Citie of Mexico, not onely for the scituation and maiestie, but also for the name & great fame thereof, and also to builde vp that which he hadde beaten downe, by reason whereof he trauelled to make this Citie greater, better, and to be more replenished with people. He named and appoynted Iudges, Aldermen, Attourneys, Towneclearke, Notaries, Skauengers, and Seriants, with all other officers, necessarie for the common weale of a Citie. He deuided the Citie among the Conquerors, hauing first taken out places for Churches, market places, townehouse, and other necessarie plottes to builde houses, profitable for the common weale. He also separated the dwellings of the Spanyards from the Indiās, so that the water passeth and maketh deuision betwixt them. Hée procured many Indians to come to the building of the Citie, for auoiding charges, although therein he had somewhat to do, by reason that many kinsmen of Quahutimoc were not as yet come vnder obedience.

Seauen thousand Ceder beames

He made Lorde of Tezcuco, Don Carolus Iztlixuchitl, by the consent of the Citie, in place of Don Hernando his brother, who was deceassed, and commaunded many of hys vassals to labour in the workes, bycause they were Carpenters, masons, and builders of houses. He promised also to them that were naturals of the Citie of Mexico, plottes to build vpon, inheritance, fréedome, and other liberties, and the like vnto all those that woulde come and inhabite there, whiche was a meane to allure many thither. He sette also at libertie Xihuaco the generall Captayne, and made him chiefe ouer the Indians in the Citie, vnto whome he gaue a whole stréete. He gaue likewyse another stréete to Don Pedro Mutezuma, who was sonne to Mutezuma the King. All this was done, to winne the fauoure of the people. He made other Gentlemen Seniors of little Ilands and stréetes to builde vpon, and to inhabite, and in this order the whole scituation was reparted, and the worke began with great ioy and diligence: but when the fame was blowen abroade, that Mexico should be built againe, it was a wonder to sée the people that resorted thither, hearing of libertie & fréedome, the number was so greate, that in a whole league compasse was nothing but people both men and women. They laboured sore, and eate little, by reason whereof, many sickned, and pestilence followed, whereof dyed an infinite number. Their paines was great, for they bare on theyr backes, and drew after them stones, earth, timber, lyme, bricke, and all other things necessary in this sort, and by little and little, Mexico was built againe with a hundred thousande houses, more stronger and better than the olde building was. The Spanyardes also built their houses after the Spanish fashion. Cortes built his house vpon the plotte where Mutezuma his house stoode, whiche renteth now yéerely foure thousand duckates a yeare. Pamfilo de Naruaez accused him for the same, saying, that he hadde spoyled the woddes and mountaynes, and spente seauen thousand beames of Ceder trées in the worke of his own house. The number séemeth more héere than there, for where all the Mountaynes are replenished with Ceder trées, it is a small matter. There are Gardines in Tezcuco, that haue a thousand Ceder trées for walles and circuite, yea and there are Ceder trées of a hundred & twēty foote long, and twelue foote in compasse from ende to end. They built faire dockes couered ouer with arches for y^e Vergantines, whereas (for a perpetuall memorie) all the thirtéene Vergantines do remayne vntil this day. They dammed vp the stréetes of water, where now faire houses stand, so that Mexico is not as it was wont to be, yea and since the yeare of 1524. the lake decreaseth, and sometime casteth out a vapour of stench, but otherwise it is a wholesome and temperate dwelling, by reason of the Mountaynes that standeth round about it, and well prouided through the fertilitie of the Countrey, and commoditie of the lake, so that now is Mexico one of the greatest Cities in the world, and the most noble in all India, as well in armes as policie. There are at the least two thousande Citizens, that haue each of them his horse in his stable, with riche furniture for them. There is also great contractation, and all sortes of occupations. Also a money house, where money is dayly coyned: a fayre schole, whiche the Vizeroy Don Antonio de Mendosa caused to be made. There is a greate difference betwixte an inhabitant of Mexico, and a Conqueror, for a Conqueror is a name of honor, and hathe landes and rentes, and the inhabitante or onely dweller payeth rente for hys house. When this Citie was a building, & not throughlye furnished, Cortes came from Culhuacan to dwell there. The fame of Cortes, and maiestie of Mexico, was blowen abroade into farre prouinces, by meanes whereof, it is now so replenished, as I haue before declared, yea & hath so many Spanyards, who haue conquered aboue 400. leagues of land, being all gouerned by the princely seate of Mexico.

Hovv the Emperour sent to take accompt of Cortes of his gouernement in the newe Spayne

The revvard of a knaue

In these dayes Cortes was the man of the greatest name of all the Spanish nation, although many had defamed him, and especially Pamfilo de Naruaez, who was in the Court of Spaine accusing him. And where, of long time the Counsell of India had receyued no letters from him, they suspected, yea and beléeued, whatsoeuer euil was spoken of him. Wherevppon they prouided the Admirall Don Diego Colon, for Gouernour of Mexico, who at that time went to lawe wyth the king, pretending the said office and many others, with condition to carrie at his owne coast a thousand men to apprehend Cortes. They prouided also for Gouernour of Panuco, one Nonio de Gusman, and Simon de Alcazaua portingall, for gouernour of Honduras. To kindle more thys mischiefe, and to set this businesse forward, one Iohn de Ribera, the Attourney of Cortes, was a fitte and an earnest instrument againste his maister, and the cause was, for falling out with Martin Cortes, father vnto Hernando Cortes, about foure thousand Duckates which Cortes had sent by him to his father, which money the said Ribera his Attourney kept to his owne vse, and therefore raised many slaunders against his maister, yea and credite was giuen to his tales, but on a night he had a morsell of bacon gyuen him vppon a skaffolde, wherewith he was choked in the chiefe time of his businesse. These newe officers, and their prouisions, were not so secretely obteyned, but the matter was as secretely talked in the Courte, whiche at that time was abiding in the Citie of Toledo, and the procedings séeme not iust vnto the friends of Cortes. The Commendador Pedro de Pina opened the matter to the Licenciat Nouez, and vnto father Melgareio, wherevppon they reclaymed of the Counsels determination, beséeching them to stay for a season, to sée what newes should come from Mexico. Also the Duke of Beiar tendred the cause of Hernando Cortez, for that Cortez by promise of faith and troth, was assured in marriage to his brothers daughter, named the Lady Iane de Zuniga, who aplaked the Emperoure his anger, and the saide Duke became suretie to aunswere in all causes for him.

The matter standing in this estate, there arriued in Spayne Diego de Zoto, with a whole Coluerin made of siluer, and 70000. castlins in golde, the newes whereof was blowen ouer all Spaine. And to say the troth, this presente was y^e cause, that Cortes was not put out of his office, but a Iudge of residence was sent thither to take an accompt of him. Now a wise and a learned man was sought for that purpose, yea suche a one as could rule the matter, for some souldiers are oftentimes vnmanerly: whervpō they thought the Licenciat, Lewes pouce de Leon a fitte mā, who had bin Lieutenante to Don Martin de Cordoua, Earle of Alcaudete, & chiefe gouernour of the citie of Tolledo. This Licenciate with power sufficient, was sent vnto the new Spaine, who carried in his company as assistant, the batcheler Marcus de Aguillar, who hadde ruled in time past, in a worshipfull office of Iustice in the Ilande of Santo Domingo.

With prosperous weather they departed from Spayne, and in shorte tyme arriued at Vera Crux, Cortez hauing newes of their arriuall by foote postes within two dayes. And vppon Midsomer day came letters to Cortes from the Licenciate Ponce, with another letter from the Emperour, wherby he vnderstood y^e cause of their comming. He returned backe incontinēt an aunswere, and desired to know which way he would come to Mexico, eyther by y^e way inhabited, or else the other way which is néerer. The Licenciate replyed, that he woulde for a while abide in Vera Crux, to refresh himselfe, béeyng seasicke, and a man y^t had not heeretofore at any time passed the seas, thinking that Cortes meante to haue done iustice on certain offenders, yea & also to haue takē hym by the way: wherefore he suspected, that Cortes had sent, bycause he woulde knowe whiche way he meant to come, wherevpon he secretely tooke post horse, with certaine Gentlemē, and other religious persons that came in hys company, & passed through the Townes, although it was the farther way, and made suche hast, that in fiue dayes he came to Iztacpallapan, refusing the entertaynement and prouision of meate and lodging that Cortes had prepared by his Gentlemē, that wēt both the wayes to méete him.

In Iztacpallapā they receyued him with great feast and maiestie, but after dinner, the Licenciate fell a vomiting, and the most of hys companye, and after the vomite, they fell into a flixe. They thoughte that certayne hearbes was the cause thereof, whiche were in a dishe of curdes. The Licenciate was somewhat gréedie of the curdes, and tooke the dishe, and offered it to father Thomas Ortiz, no (quoth the Stewarde) hys reuerence shall haue another dishe, no (quoth father Ortiz) I will none of these, nor yet of anye other, of whyche wordes there were afterwardes Verses made, suspecting somethyng of the curdes: but truely there was no hurte, or anye euill thyng putte in them, (as héereafter shalbe declared) for the Comendador, Proano, who was then chiefe Sheriffe, did eate of all those dishes, yea in the same dishe that the Licenciat eate of, who neyther vomited nor yet receyued any hurte or alteration. But I thinke, that they cōmyng hoate, wery and hungry, did eate too muche, and dranke also colde water, whereby their stomackes reuolted, and thereof followed the flixe with vomite. On the behalfe of Cortes there was presented to the Licenciat a riche present, but he refused it.

Cortes with al the flower of Gentlemen in Mexico, came to receyue him, and giuyng him the right hand, they went togyther vntill they came to Sainct Frances abbay, where after their praiers made, Cortes demaūded to sée the kings prouisions, who answered, that the nexte day he woulde shew them vnto him: then they accompanied him to his house, where he was well lodged.

The nexte day followyng, all the magistrates of the Cittie mette the Licentiat in the cathedrall Church, and by acte, before the notary, he presented his auctoritie from the Emperour. He tooke the Vares of Iustice from the Iudges and Sargeants, and incontinent restored them agayne, and saide with gentle speach, this rodde of the Senior gouernour, I will haue for my selfe. Cortes with all the other Magistrates kissed the Emperours letters, and put them vpon the crowne of their heads, in tokē of great obedience, saying, that they woulde obserue and obey all that was therein contayned, as the commaundement of their king and Lorde, requyring the same to be set downe by acte and testimony.

After these things done, they proclaymed the residence and account of iustice, of Hernando Cortes, to the intent that all persons who coulde accuse him of any vnrightful dealing, should come and make their complaint, and to haue remedy for the same. There should you then sée the stirre and talke among them, euery officer fearyng his owne cause, with desire to sée the ende of their businesse.

The death of the Licenciat Luys Ponce

The Licenciat comming one day from Saint Frances abbay from seruice, fell into an extréeme burnyng feuer, and lay him downe in his bedde, where he remayned the space of thrée dayes, as a man out of his wittes, and the feuer stil encreasing, so that on the seuenth day he yéelded vp the ghost. In the time of his sickenesse he receyued the communion, and made his laste will & testament. He left for substitute in his office, the bacheler Marcus de Aguillar. Cortes made as greate sorrow for his death, as if he had bene his owne father, his funeralles were celebrated with great pompe.

A madde daunce

The enimies of Cortes published, that he died of poyson. But the Licenciat Pero Lopez, and Doctor Hoieda, who were his Phisitions, swore that he died of a burnyng feuer, and shewed a further consequence, that the euenyng before he deceased, he desired them to play the measures vpon a lute, and as he lay in his bedde, shewed with stirryng his féete the compasses and pointes of the daunce. It was a thing which diuers persons saw, and forthwith he lost his speach, and that night towarde the dawning of the day he yéelded vp his spirite. I thinke that fewe men do die daūsing, as this Lawier did. The number of a hundred persons came out of Spayne with the Licenciat, whereof the moste parte died by sea and on the lande. It was suspected to be a pestilence, for one of them infected another. There were in his company many Gentlemen & ech of them had an office. There was a Frier who was a very slaunderous fellow, & reported that Cortes had poysoned the Licenciat, and also that the Licenciat had an expresse order from the Emperour to cut of Cortes his head, as sone as he had taken the Vare of Iustice from him. The subtle Frier, had thought to haue gotten money of the one, and thankes of the other, and at the ende had nothyng.