The pleasant historie of the conquest of the VVeast India, now called new Spayne
TekstHovv Cortez came into Spayne
Where one Alonso de Estrada gouerned the state of Mexico, as substitute of Marcus de Aguillar, accordying to the Emperours commaundement, Cortes considered with himselfe that it was not possible for him to haue agayne his office, except he wente personally to the Emperours court, where he had many aduersaries and fewe friendes, so that he was afflicted on euery side: yet he in fine determined to goe into Spayne, as well for businesse of importaunce of his owne, as also matters touchyng the Emperour and his new kingdoms whereof I will reherse particularly some.
As touchyng his owne causes, first he beyng a man of good yéeres, went to marry, hoping to haue children, vnto whom he might leaue the profite of his labour and payne: also to appeare before the King his maister face to face, and to enforme his Maiestie what landes and Kyngdomes hée had wonne and brought vnto his royall crowne: To signifie lykewise vnto hym, of the dissention among the Spanyardes hys subiectes in Mexico, and to answere for himselfe, to any false reportes whiche had bene made agaynst hym: And finally, to receyue a condigne rewarde for hys worthie and faythfull seruice. Cortes beyng in these imaginations, there was brought a letter vnto him, from the reuerend father Garcia de Loaisa ghostly father vnto the Emperour, and afterwarde was ordeyned Cardinall, in the whiche letter he conuited him earnestly to come vnto Spayne, to the entent that the Emperours Maiestie mighte bothe sée and know him, assuring him of his friendshippe. After the receyte of this letter, he made al the hast possible to departe vpon his iourney, ceasing from his voyage whiche he had in hande, for to inhabite the riuer De las Palmas. Before his departure he dispatched twoo hundred Spaniardes, & thrée score and ten horsemen, with many Mexicans for the countrey of Chichimea, to inhabite there, finding the lande riche of siluer mines, as it was reported, giuyng vnto those men expresse order, that if the people of that prouince did not entertayne them with friendship, that then they should accept thē as enimies, and forthwith to make warre, and to take them for slaues, for that they are a barbarous people. He wrote his letter to Vera Crux, to prepare with all spéede twoo good shippes, and for that purpose he sent Pero ruiz de Esquiuel, who was a Gentleman of Siuill: But he wente not on the iourney, for a moneth after, they founde him buried in a little Iland of the lake, with one hande out of the graue, whiche was eaten with dogges and foule: he was buried in his dublet and his hose: he had one onely wounde in his forehead: And a Negro, his slaue, who wente in his company, was neuer hearde of, nor yet the Canao and Indians that wente with him, so that the truth of his death was neuer knowen.
Cortes made an Inuentary of his moueable goodes, whiche was valued at twoo hundred thousande Castlins of golde: he left for gouernour of his owne estate, the Licenciat Altamirano his kinsman, with other two friends: he furnished twoo shippes, and proclaymed frée passage and victuals vnto all those that would goe in his cōpany: he shipped for his owne account a thousand fiue hundred markes of siluer, twentie thousand Castlins in good gold, and ten thousand Castlins of base golde. He tooke in his company Gonsalo de Sandoual, Andres de Tapia, and other of the chiefest of the conquerours. He brought with him a Sonne of Mutezumas, & another Sonne of Maxixca, who was become a Christian, & named Don Lorenso, with many other Indian Gentlemen of Mexico, Tlaxcallan, and other cities: eight players with a cudgell, twelue tenis players, with certaine men & women of that countrey, who were white of colour, and other dwarfes & deformed persons. He brought also wilde beasts, as Tigres, & other strange beastes called Aiotochtli, and one Tlaquaci. Moreouer he brought a great number of mantels made of feathers & Conny heare, Targets, bushes or tuffes of galant feathers, and looking glasses of stone. In fine, he came lyke a great Lorde, & arriued in Spayne, in the ende of the yéere 1528. the Courte being then in Tolledo. The newes of his arriuall was blowen through out all Spayne, and euery one desirous to sée him.
The honour vvhiche the Emperour shewed vnto Hernando Cortes, with rewarde
The Emperour receyued Cortes magnifically, and to giue him the greater honour, he went & visited him at hys owne lodging.
The Emperour beyng in a readinesse to passe into Italy, to be there crowned with the Emperiall crowne, Cortes went in his maiesties company vnto the Citie of Saragoza, whereas his Maiestie calling to remembrance his worthy seruice, & valour of his person, made him Marques del valle de Huaxacac, accordyng to his desire, on the .vi. of July, An. 1528, and Captayne generall of the newe Spayne, with all the prouinces and coast of the south sea, chiefe discouerer and inhabiter of the same coaste and Ilandes, with the twelfth parte of all that after that tyme should be discouered, for a sure inheritaunce to him and his discendentes: he offered vnto him also the habite of the order of Knighthoode of Saint Iames, the whiche offer Cortes refused, bycause there was no rent gyuen with the habite, but he besought his Maiestie to graunt vnto him the gouernmēt of Mexico, the whiche request the Emperour denied, bycause that no Conquerour shoulde thinke that the office of gouernment and iustice is due vnto hym, for the like demaunde was desired of the king Don Fernando, by Cristoual Colon who firste discouered the India, and also the great Captaine Gonsalo Hernandoz de Cordoua, who conquered Naples. Cortes deserued muche, and also the Emperour gaue him much, to honour him as a most bountifull and gratefull King, who neuer taketh away that whiche once he giueth. He likewise gaue vnto Cortez all the kyngdome of Michuacan, but hée had rather haue had diuers other townes whiche he demaunded, many other great fauours and rewardes he receyued at the Emperours handes, but the principall are those before declared.
The Mariage of Cortez
When it was knowen in Spayne, that the lady Catherin Xuares, wife vnto Cortes, was deceassed in India, by intercessours he was assured vnto the Duke of Beiar, his brothers daughter, who was named the Lady Iane of Zuniga: hyr fathers name was Don Carolus de Arrellano, Earle of Aguilar. This Lady was a bewtifull Dame, and hyr brethrene noble personages, who were highly in fauour with the Emperour. And Cortes to matche with so honorable an house and lynage he iudged himselfe fortunate and well maried.
The riche Emeraldes
Among many Iewelles whiche Cortes broughte with him, were fiue moste riche and fine Emeraldes, whiche were valued at a hundreth thousande Duckets: the one was wrought lyke vnto a Rose, an other like a Cornet, an other lyke a fishe with the eyes of golde, whiche was a maruellous péece of worke, beyng wrought among Indians: an other péece was wrought lyke vnto a bell, with a great and a riche pearle for the clapper, garnished with golde, ingrauen about with letters, whiche sayde, Blessed is he that created thée. The fifth was made lyke a cuppe with the foote of gold, and had foure little chaynes of gold, that were ioyned all at the top togither, in a great pearle, and the brimme of this cuppe was of gold, with this verse ingrauen rounde aboute, Inter nates mulierum non furrexit maior. For this onely péece the Merchantes of Geneua did offer fourtie thousand Ducates, for to sel the same again to the great Turke. But at that tyme Cortes woulde not giue it for any money, although afterwarde he lost them all in the warres of Argel, beyng there with the Emperour. It was told Cortes that the Empresse desired to haue those péeces, meaning to demaunde them of him, and that the Emperour shoulde pay for the same, for whiche cause he sent them to the Lady his newe wife, with many other Iewelles before he came at the Courte, and there, when he was enquired for them, he answered, and excused himselfe, for then certaynely he gaue suche Iewels vnto his Espouse, that the lyke neuer Lady had in Spayne. And after he was maried to the Lady Iane of Zuniga, he departed with hyr to the newe Spayne, with title of Marques.
Hovv the Chancery vvas first placed in Mexico, and certayne Diuelishe pretences wrought against Cortes
Before Cortes his cōming into Spayne, Pamfilo de Naruaez his old enimy wēt vp & down in the Court, procuring the conquest of the riuer De Palmas & Florida, where at the laste he died, and alwayes when he saw time conuenient he made cōplaints against Cortes, yea and to the Emperours owne hand he deliuered a scrole of many articles, amōg the which was one, wherein he affirmed that Cortes had as many barres of gold and siluer, as in Biscay were barres of yron, and offered to proue the same: but although it was not true, yet it was suspicious. He also earnestly procured that he shold be punished, saying that he had plucked out one of his eyes, & killed with poyson the Licenciat Luys ponce de Leon, & Francisco Garay. Through his many and importunate petitiōs, it was determined to send to Mexico, Don Pedro de la Cueua, who was bothe fierce and seuere, and Lorde stewarde of the Emperour his house, and afterwarde made general of the ordinance, and chiefe Comendador of the order and knighthood of Alcantara, who findyng the accusation true, should cut off Cortes his head.
But as God would, in the meane season came the testimoniall from the Doctor Hoieda, and the Licenciat Pero Lopez, Phisitions, who had cured the persons that were reported to haue bene poysoned, whervpon that commission ceased. And when Cortes came into Spayne, Don Pedro de la Cueua would many times laugh and iest with him, saying, From farre places long lies.
Before the Iudges came, Cortez vvas gone to Spayne
The Emperour and his councell of India prouided a Courte of Chancery in Mexico, as chiefe place, where as all controuersies and matters of righte throughout the new Spayne mighte there be determined, and also to correct the mutinies, and partes taking among the Spanyardes: likewise to take residence and accompte of Cortes, and to be satisfyed both of his seruice and offences. Moreouer that they should visite the officers, and royall Treasorie there. Munio de Gusman was appoynted president and gouernoure, with other foure Licenciates for Iudges to accompany him. He departed toward Mexico Anno 1529. and at his comming, he began to vnderstande in his regimente and office, with the Licenciate Iohn Ortiz, for the other thrée Iudges died by the way. Cortes béeing nowe absente, and vppon his iourney toward Spayne, this newe Iudge made a terrible residence and condemnation againste him, and commaunded all his goodes to be solde by out-thrappe, for a greate deale lesse then hys goodes were worth, and in his absence they called him by Proclamation: but if he hadde bin there present, his life had bin in daunger, although face to face some respect is had, and it is an ordinarie rule that the Iudge sheweth rigoure against him that is absent. This hatred was not only against Cortes, but also againste his friendes, for hée apprehended Pedro de Aluarado, who was newly come from Spayne, bycause he spake in the fauour of Cortez, laying to his charge the rebellion of Mexico, when Naruaez was there. He also apprehended Alonso de Estrada, & manye others, doing manifest wrongs vnto them.
A good sentence
In shorte space the Emperour had more complayntes against Nunio de Gusman, and the other Iudge, than had bin héeretofore againste any other, wherevpon he was put out of office in the yeare 1530. His wrongful dealing in iustice was not onely proued in Mexico, but also in the Court of Spayne, with many persons that were come from thence, so that the nexte president and Iudges that went thither, did pronounce Nunio de Gusman and his fellowe for partiall Iudges, and enimies vnto Cortes, and condemned him to pay all his goodes whiche were euill solde. But whē Nunio de Gusman vnderstoode that he was put out of office, he then was afraide, and tooke his iourney against the Teuchichimecas, séeking after the Towne of Culhuacan, from whence the Mexicans descended. He caried in his company fiue hundred Spanyardes, whereof the most were horsemen, and many of them went as prisoners, and against their willes.
Abhominable fact
In Mechuacan he tooke prisoner the King Caconcin, who was a great friende vnto Cortes, a seruitor vnto the Spanyards, and vassal to the Emperour, and as the same goeth, he tooke from him tenne thousande markes of plate, and much golde, and afterward burned him, and many other Gentlemen, and principal persons of that kingdome, bycause they shoulde not complayne, saying, that a dead dogge biteth not. He tooke from thence sixe thousand Indians for the seruice of his army, and with them conquered Xalixco, whiche is nowe called the new Gallizia. He abode there, vntill the Vizeroy Don Antonio de Mondoza, and Chancery of Mexico, caused him to be apprehended, who sent him prisoner into Spayne, to giue accompte of his office. If Nunio de Gusman had bin so good a gouernour and Iudge, as he was in bloud a Gentleman, he had then enioyed the best plot of all the West India, but he behaued himselfe euill, both with the Indians and Spanyards.
The same yeare that he came from Mexico, went thyther for president Sebastian Ramirez, who was a Bishop, and had in time past bin presidente in Santo Domingo, and the Licenciates Iohn de Salmeron, Gasco Quiroga, Francisco Ceynos, and Alonso Maldonado, for Iudges to accompany him.
These Iudges gouerned well the land, and caused the Citie of Angels to be inhabited which the Indians called Cuetlaxcoapan, that is to say a Snake in water. The reason was, bycause they haue two fountaynes, the one of euill water, and the other of good. This Citie standeth twentie leagues from Mexico, in the high way to Vera Crux. The Bishop set the Indians at libertie, and therefore many Spanyards departed from thence, who hadde inhabited there before, and wente to séeke their liuing at Xalixco, Hunduras, Quahutemallan, and other places where warre was.
The returne of Cortez to Mexico
At this season arriued Cortes at the riche Towne of Vera Crux, and when his comming was published, how he came wyth title of Marquez, and had broughte hys wife with him, an infinite number of Indians came to visite him, and almost all the Spanyards of Mexico, so that in few dayes there came a thousand persons of his owne nation, who made theyr complaintes vnto him, how they were vndone, and that the Iudges which had bin there, had destroyed both him and them, and asked his iudgement whether that nowe they might kill both them and theirs. Cortes hearing their odious request, reprehended them, and also gaue them hope shortly to reléeue their necessitie with new discoueries, and in this order fearing some mutinie, he held them in pleasure and pastime.
When the president hearde howe Cortes was visited of the Spanyaryds, they commaunded forthwith euery one of them shoulde immediately returne to Mexico, or else, where their dwelling places were vpō paine of death, yea and they were aboute to apprehende Cortes for a stirrer of vprore, and to sende him backe againe prisoner into Spayne. But when he saw howe soone these Iudges were moued, he commaunded to proclayme himselfe openly in Vera Crux Captayne Generall of all the dominions of the new Spayne, and there caused the Emperours letters pattentes to be redde, whiche thing being knowen to the Mexican Iudges, it caused them to wring their noses. After this diligence ended, he departed toward Mexico wyth a great company of Spanyards and Indians, among whom were a good company of horsemen: but when he came to Tezcuco, the President sent to commaund him not to enter into Mexico, vpon payne of losse of his goodes, and hys body to be at the Kings pleasure.
He obeyed the commaundemente with greate wysedome, being a thing conuenient to the seruice of the Emperour, and profite of the land, which he had wonne wyth great toyle and laboure: but yet he abode in Tezcuco with a greater maiestie and court, than the President in Mexico, and wrote vnto him, that he should consider his good will and whole intent, and not to giue occasion to the Indians to rebell, and for the Spanyards he might assure hymselfe.
The Indians vnderstāding ye discord betwixt the President and Cortes, slew as many Spanyards as they coulde get at aduantage, so that in fewe dayes there wanted aboue two hundred of the Spanish nation, being slayne as well in Townes, as in the high wayes, yea and also they had communed among themselues to rebell in déede. But when the Bishop and the Iudges heard this newes, they began to feare the matter, and considering that they had no better remedy, nor other sure defence, but only ye name valor, person, and authoritie of Cortes, they sente to desire him to come vnto Mexico, wherevpon he obserued theyr commaundement and request, & wente toward the Citie, well accompanyed with men of warre, so that he shewed himselfe in estate a generall captaine. All the Citizens came out to receiue him and the lady Marques his wife: his entrie into the cittie was a day of great pleasure among them. Then the president and iudges entred into counsell for to remedie the greate hurt whiche had bene done by the Indians. Cortes toke the matter in hand, and apprehended many Indians, of whom some he burned, others wer torne with dogges, he did such correction, that in shorte time al the countrey was quiet, and the highe ways without daunger, a thing worthy of great thanks.
The letters that the Indians vsed in Mexican
There hath not bin found letters at any time in the Weast India, onely in the newe Spain were vsed certain figures which serued for letters, with the which they kept in memorie, and preserued their antiquities. The figures yt the Mexicans vsed for letters are great, by reason whereof they occupy gret volumes: they ingraue them in stone or timber, and paint them vpon walles, and also vpon a paper made of cotten wool, and leaues of the tree Metl. Their bookes are great and folden vp like vnto our broade clothes, and written vpon both sides. There are some bokes rolled vp like a piece of flannel. They pronoūce not .b.g.e.f. Therfore they vse much .p.e.l.x. This is the Mexical spéech, and Nahual, which is the best, playnest, and moste eloquent, in al newe Spayne. There are some in Mexico that do vnderstand ech other, by whistling, whiche is ordinarily vsed among louers, & théeues, a spéeche truely to wonder at, & none of our men could come to the knowledge therof.
The order hovv to recken
Euery number is simple, vntil you come to sixe, and then they count, six and one, sixe and two, sixe and thrée. Ten is a number by himselfe, then you must counte ten and one, tenne and two, tenne and thrée, tenne and foure, tenne and fiue.
Then you count ten fiue and one, tenne fiue and two, ten fiue and thrée. Twenty goeth by himselfe, and al the greater numbers.
The Mexican yeare
The Mexicans yeare is thrée hundered sixtie dayes, for they haue in their yere eightéene monethes, and euery moneth contayneth twentie dayes. They haue other fiue odde dayes, whiche goeth by themselues, in the which they vsed to celebrate greate feastes of cruell and bloudy sacrifice, with much deuotion. And reconing after this sort, they could not choose but erre, for they could not make equal the punctuall course of the Sunne. Yea the Christian yere is not perfit, although we haue learned Astronomers. But yet these simple Indians wente neare the marke.
The names of the moneths
Tlacaxipeualiztli.
Tozcuztli.
Huei Tozeuztli.
Toxcalt.
Ecalcoaliztli.
Tocuilhuicintli.
Hueitecuilhuitl.
Miccailhuicintli.
Veymiccailhuitl.
Vchpaniztli.
Pachtli.
Huei Pachtli.
Quecholli.
Panquecaliztli.
Hatemuztli.
Tititlh.
Izcalli.
The names of dayes
Althoughe these twentie names serue for the whole yere, and are but the dayes of euery moneth, yet therfore euery moneth beginneth not with Cipactli, which is the first name, but as they followe in order, and the fiue odde dayes is the cause thereof. And also bycause theyr wéeke is of thirtéene dayes, which changeth the names, as by example, Cecipactli can go no further thā vnto Matlactlomeiacatl, which is thirtéene, and then beginneth an other wéeke: and we do not say Matlactlinaui Ocelotl, whiche is the fourtéenth day, but we say Ceocelotl whiche is one, and then recken the other sixe names, vnto twenty. And when al the twentie dayes are ended, begin againe to recken from the first name of the twentie, but not frō one, but from viij. And bicause ye may better vndrestand the matter, here is the example.
Cecipactli.
Omehecatl.
Ei Calli.
Naui Cuezpali.
Macuilcouatl.
Chicoacen Mizquinth.
Chicome Macatl.
Chicuei Tochtli.
Chiconauiatl.
Matlaciz Cuintli.
Mailactlioce Ocumatli.
Matlactliome Malinalli.
Matlactlomei Acatlh.
The next wéeke following doth begin his dayes from one. And that one is the fouretéenth name of the moneth and of the dayes, and saith.
Ceocelotl.
Omecoautli.
Eicozcaquahutli.
Naui Olui.
Macuil Tecpatl.
Chicoacen Quiauitl.
Chicome Xuchitl.
Chicoei Cipactli.
In this second wéeke, Cipactli came to fal on the eighte day, being in the first wéeke the first day.
Cemacatl.
Ometochtli.
Eiatl.
Nauizi cunitli.
Macuil Ocumatli.
And so proceede on to the thirde wéeke, in the which this name Cipactli entreth not, but Macatl, which was the seuenth day in the first wéeke, & had no place in ye second, and is the first in the third. This reconing is no darker, than ours, which we haue in a.b.c.d.e.f.g. For they also change with time, and runne in such sort, that .a. whiche was the firste letter of this moneth, commeth to be the fift daye of the nexte moneth, and the thirde moneth he counteth to be the third day, and so orderly doth the other sixe letters.