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Two poore soules who were vexed wyth hunger, came in the nighte season out of the citie vntoCorteshis Camp, who certifyed, how the Citizens were in greate necessitie, and so manye dead with hunger and sicknesse, that there were heapes of dead bodyes in the houses, only to kéepe close their extreame miserie: and said also, that in the night season manye came out to fishe betwéene the houses with feare of theVergantines, and others came out to séeke for wodde, hearbes, and rootes to eate.
A cruell fact of Cortez.
Corteshearing these newes, determined to knowe the troth thereof, so that the nexte night he commaunded theVergantinesto goe round about the Citie, and he himselfe with fiftéene Horsemen, a hundred footemen, and manyeIndianfriends, placed themselues betwixte certaine houses, with order to his espyes, to aduertise him what they shoulde sée. It was no sooner day, but manye poore folke came out to séeke for foode, and whenCorteshad intelligence thereof, he made a greate slaughter among them, whereas at that time of vnarmed men, women, and chyldren, were slayne to the number of eyght hundred: and theVergantineson their side made another spoyle. The pitiful noise being heard into the Citie, the Citizens were astonyed, and knew not what to doe, fearing the like ambushe that they had séene and fealt the day before, & also wondered, that at such an houre not accustomed, yeSpanyardes were so nigh. The next day following, béeing S. Iames his euen,Cortesentred againe into the Citie, according as he had done before, and wanne the stréete ofTlacopan, where he burned the riche and faire houses of kingQuahutimoc, whiche were motted round aboute: so that nowe of foure partes of the citie, thrée partes were wonne, and the Spaniardes might safely passe fromCorteshis campe, to the campe ofAluarado, by reason that all the houses were burned, and beaten downe playne with the grounde.
A true prophesie.
But yet the pooreMexicanswould say to theIndiansofTlaxcallan, goe to, go to, make hast, burne and destroy these houses, for time will come that yée shall buylde them againe at your owne coste. For if we haue victory then shall ye buylde them for vs, and if we be ouercome then shall yée buylde them for these straungers.
Within foure dayes after,Cortesentred the citie againe, and alsoAluaradoon his side, who to shewe hys haultie stomacke, laboured all that was possible to gette two towers of the temple ofTlatelulco, the whiche at the length he wan, although he loste thrée horses in the cōbat.
An extreme penurie.
The next day followyng, the horsemen walked vp and downe in the greate market place at pleasure, the pooreMexicansbeholding that sorrowful sight frō their houses. And as the Spaniardes wente walking in the cittie, they founde heapes of dead bodies in the houses, streates, and in the water: they found also the barke of trées and rootes gnawen by the hungry creatures, and the men so leane and yellow, that it was a pitifull sighte to beholde.Cortesyet agayne required them to yéelde, and they although they were so leane of body were strong in harte, and answered that he should not speake of any friendshippe, nor yet hope of their spoyle, for when no fortune would fauour them, then they woulde eyther burne their treasure, or throwe it into the lake, where they should neuer profite therby, and that they would fight while one alone shoulde remayne aliue. AtCorteshis nexte entry into the citie, he founde the streates full of women, children, olde folke, and many miserable sicke persons whiche were perishyng for want of foode.
Cortescommaunded that none of his army should doe any hurte vnto such miserable creatures. The principall folke who were whole and sounde, they stoode in their zoties or house toppes, without weapon, and clothed in mātels. It was thought that they kepte a certaine holy day, peace was againe offered, but they answered with dissimulation. The next day followyngCortesrequiredAluaradoon his side to combat a streat of .1000. houses that was not yet won, and that he would doe the like on the otherside: for a little space the Citizens defended thēselues, but their defence endured not, but were driuen to flie, being not able to resiste the force of theyr contraries. So that the Spanishe army wan also that streate, and slewe 12000. Cittizens, the murder was so great bicause theIndianfriends would shewe no mercie or compassion vpon them, although they were required to the cōtrary. So that now theMexicanshauing lost this streate also, the houses that were not beatē downe could scarcely hold the people ytwere aliue, the streates also being so full of dead carcasses and sicke bodies, that our men coulde not passe but must néedes treade vpon them.Cortesdesirous to sée what remayned of the cittie to win, went vp into a high tower, and hauyng well vewed the Cittie, he iudged that of eight parts one remained yet to win. And yenext day following he assaulted the same, with speciall cōmaundement giuen to his army, not to kil any but only such as should resist.
A sorovvfull tale.
The sorrowful Citizens bewayling their vnfortunate fate & destinie, besought the Spaniards to make an ende, and to kill them all out of hande. Then certayne of the horsemen calledCortesin great hast, who went vnto them incontinent, hopyng of some agrement of peace: and standing at the brymme of the water neare vnto a drawe bridge, theMexicanssayde, oh captayneCortes, consideryng that thou art the childe of the Sunne, why doest thou not entreate the Sunne thy father, to make an ende of vs: oh thou Sunne that canst goe rounde about the worlde in a day and a night, we pray thée make an end of vs, and take vs out of this miserable lyfe, for we desire death to go and rest with our GodQuetcauatlhwho tarieth for vs. After these speaches they made a lamentable crie, callyng vpon their Goddes with loude voyces.Cortesanswered what he thought good, but yet could not perswade them to yéelde, truely it was a pitefull sight to beholde.
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An euill revvarde.
Cortesseing the great extremitie that these poore wretched people were in, thinkyng nowe that they woulde yéelde vnto him, therevppon hée spake to an vncle ofDon Hernando de Tezcuco, who was taken prisoner thrée dayes before, whom he desired to go to the king & treate of peace: this Gentleman refused the message, knowyng the determinate will ofQuahutimoc, but through muche entreatie he graunted to his request. So the next day followyngCortesentred into the Cittie, & sent that Gentleman & certaine Spaniardes before him. TheIndianguarde of that streate receyued him with the honour which vnto such a noble man did appertayne. He procéeded forward toward the king, & being come where he was, he declared vnto him his embassage. WhenQuahutimochad hearde his tale, he was so moued with yre & choller, that forthwith he commaūded him to be sacrificed, and gaue the Spaniardes for theyr answere blowes with stones, staues and arrowes, saying also that they desired death and no peace, and fought so stoutly that day, that they slewe many of our menne, and one horse. Lykewise on their side many were slayne.
The nexte dayCortesentred the cittie agayne, but he fought not, hoping then that they woulde submitte themselues, but yet the Citizens had no such thought. He came néere vnto a certayne bulwarke on horsebacke, and spake vnto certaine Gentlemen with whome he was acquaynted, saying that now within a shorte space he could make an ende of their finall destruction, but yet of meare compassion he wished it not, for the loue whiche he bare vnto them, so that they would in time rēder themselues: wherfore (quoth he) entreate yée the king to doe the same, and in so doyng ye shalbe well vsed, and haue victuals sufficient. The Gētlemen hearing these wordes, fell on weping, and answered, that now they knew well their errour, and felte their losse and destruction, notwithstāding they were bounde to obey their king and Goddes. But yet (quoth they) abide a while, and we will certifieQuahutimocwhat you haue sayde, and in shorte space they went and returned againe, saying that the next day without fayle their Lord woulde come and talke with him in the markette place. With this answereCortesreturned to his campe, and thought at their méeting to conclude an honorable peace. So against the next day he caused a Canapie and chayre of estate to be sette in the markette place, accordyng to theMexicanvse, and also a dinner to be prepared. The day followyng cameCortesat the houre appoynted, with many of his men armed, but the king came not: neuerthelesse he sente fiue noble men to treate of the matter, excusing the kyng, saying he was not well at ease.Corteswelcomed those Gentlemen, and was gladde of their cōming, hoping thereby to conclude and make some good ende. And when they had dined and well refresshed their hungry bodies,Cortesgaue them victuals, and desired them to returne agayne to the King, and to declare vnto him that without his presence the conclusion coulde not be certayne. They wente and returned againe within twoo houres, and brought vntoCortescertaine mantels made of cotton woll, very good & well wrought, with answere that the king would not come in any wise, both for shame and feare. And the next day these messengers came agayn, saying that the king would come to the place appointed. But yet he came not, althoughCortesattended his commyng more than foure houres: who seing the mockerie, he forthwith senteSandoualwith his Vergantines one way, and he himself went an other, combatting the houses & fortes that yet remayned, where he founde small resistaunce, so that he might doe what he pleased. There was that day slayne and taken prysoners aboue .40000. persons, & then he retired to his campe. The lamentable crie and mourning of the women and children woulde haue made a stony hart relent, the stench also of the dead bodies was wōderfull noysome. That nightCortespurposed to make an end the next day of the warres, andQuahutimocpretended to flie, and for that purpose had enbarked hymselfe in aCanoaof twētie ores. When the day appearedCortes, with his men, and foure péeces of ordinance, came to the corner where those that yet remayned were shut vp, as cattell in a pounde. He gaue order toSandoualandAluaradowhat they shold do, which was, to be ready with their Vergātines, and to watche the comyng out of theCanoaswhiche were hidden betwixte certayne houses, and especially to haue regard vnto the kings person, and not to hurte him, but to take him aliue. He commaunded the residue of hys men to force theMexicanboates to goe out, and he himselfe wente vp into a tower, inquiryng for the King, and there foundeXihuacoa, gouernour and Captayne generall of the Cittie, who woulde in no wise yéelde himselfe. Then came out of the Cittie a greate multitude of olde folkes, men, women and childrē to take boate. The throng was so great with hast to enter theCanoas, that many by that means were drowned in the lake.Cortesrequired his mē not to kil those miserable creatures: But yet he could not stay theIndianshis friends, who slewe and sacrificed aboue fiftene thousand. After this, there was a great rumour among the cōmon people, that the king would flie, making a piteous mone and saying that they sorowfull creatures knew not whither to goe: But yet procuryng to goe into theConoas, whiche were so full that there was no roume for thē, by reason thereof many were drowned.
The men of warre stoode in the house toppes and zoties beholding their perdition. All the nobilitie ofMexicowere enbarked with the kyng. ThenCortesgaue signe with the shotte of a handgunne, that his captaines should be in a readinesse, so that in shorte space they wanne fully and wholy the great Cittie ofMexico. The Vergantines likewise brake in among the fléete of boates, without any resistaunce, and euery one sought where he might beste succour himselfe, the Royall Standarte was beaten downe.Garcia Holguin, who was captayne of a Vergantine, had espied a greatCanoaof .xx. ores déepe laden with men. And one of his prysoners sayde vnto him, that the king wente in that greateCanoa.Holguinbeyng gladde of the newes, gaue chase to thatCanoaand ouertooke him. In his foreship he had thrée crossebowe men. And whenQuahutimocwho stoode on the puppe of theCanoaready to fighte, sawe those bowes ready bente, and many drawen swordes, he yéelded himselfe, declaryng that he was the king.Garcia Holguinbeing a gladde man of his prysoner, tooke and carried him vntoCorteswho receiued him reuerently. WhenQuahutimoccame neare vnto him, he layde his hande vponCorteshis dagger, saying, I haue done all my possibility to defende me and mine, accordyng to my duetie, hoping not to haue come to this estate and place where now I stande: And considering that you may doe with me what you please, I beséeche you to kill me, and that is my only request.Cortescomforted him with faire words, giuyng him hope of life and seniory, and tooke him vp into a zotie, requiring him to commaund his subiectes to yéelde and render themselues: he obeyed his request. At that time there was about thrée score and tenne thousande persons, who in seing their Prince, threwe downe their weapons and submitted themselues.
TOC
In the order before declared, wanneHernando Cortesthe famous cittie ofMexico, 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 theIndianstheir 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 kyngQuahutimocwoulde 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 theMexicanseate 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. TheMexicanwomen 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, theIndianfriends had all the rest of cloth and other stuffe.
Cortescommaunded 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 oneVilla fuerte, with .80. men to guarde thē, fearyng least theMexicansshold set fire or otherwise destroy them. In this businesse he occupied himself foure dayes, & then remoued his campe toCulhuacan, 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 yewarre was at an end, wherevpon they departed almost all in generall, both rich and iocond with the spoyle ofMexico, and also to remayne in the fauour and grace ofCortes.
TOC
Not long beforeHernando Cortescame vnto the neweSpayne, did many nightes after the midnighte appeare in the aire, and in the same port and place whereCortesentred into that land, great lightning of fire, whiche amounted vpward, and suddaynely vaded away. TheMexicansat that time saw flames of fire toward the orient, where nowVera Cruxstandeth, 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 ofMutezuma. The Lordes ofTezcucoandTlacopanwere much amazed, saying, that the sword whicheMutezumahadde, was the armes of those folke, whose figures they had séene in the ayre, with their apparell and attire.Mutezumahad 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 ofMutezumahis 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 thatCorteshad sent vntoMutezumabyTeudilli, 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 thatCortescame intoMexico, appeared a vision vnto a certaineMalli, 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.
ThisMalliwas sacrificed in the middest of the market place ofTlatelulco, where at this daye is the place of execution.
They remembred, and noted well the wordes of theMalli, 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.
TheMexicansdid reporte, that when on a timeMutezumacame triumphantly with victory ofXochnuxco, said vnto the Lorde ofCulhuacan: Now (quoth he)Mexicois strong and inuincible, for I haue in subiectionXochnuxco, and other prouinces, so that now I am without feare of any enemie. The Lord ofCulhuacanaunswered, saying, trust not good King too muche, for one force forceth another, with the whiche aunswere,Mutezumawas not a little offended. But whenCorteshadde taken them both prisoners, then he called to remembrance the former talke, and held that saying for a prophesie.
TOC
Cortespretended to recdifie againe the Citie ofMexico, 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 theSpanyardsfrom theIndiās, so that the water passeth and maketh deuision betwixt them. Hée procured manyIndiansto come to the building of the Citie, for auoiding charges, although therein he had somewhat to do, by reason that many kinsmen ofQuahutimocwere not as yet come vnder obedience.
Seauen thousand Ceder beames.
He made Lorde ofTezcuco,Don Carolus Iztlixuchitl, by the consent of the Citie, in place ofDon Hernandohis 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 ofMexico, 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 libertieXihuacothe generall Captayne, and made him chiefe ouer theIndiansin the Citie, vnto whome he gaue a whole stréete. He gaue likewyse another stréete toDon Pedro Mutezuma, who was sonne toMutezumathe 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, thatMexicoshould 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,Mexicowas 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.Cortesbuilt his house vpon the plotte whereMutezumahis house stoode, whiche renteth now yéerely foure thousand duckates a yeare.Pamfilo deNaruaezaccused 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 inTezcuco, 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 yeVergantines, 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 thatMexicois 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 isMexicoone of the greatest Cities in the world, and the most noble in allIndia, 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 VizeroyDon Antonio de Mendosacaused to be made. There is a greate difference betwixte an inhabitant ofMexico, 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,Cortescame fromCulhuacanto dwell there. The fame ofCortes, and maiestie ofMexico, was blowen abroade into farre prouinces, by meanes whereof, it is now so replenished, as I haue before declared, yea & hath so manySpanyards, who haue conquered aboue 400. leagues of land, being all gouerned by the princely seate ofMexico.
TOC
The revvard of a knaue.
In these dayesCorteswas the man of the greatest name of all the Spanish nation, although many had defamed him, and especiallyPamfilo de Naruaez, who was in the Court of Spaine accusing him. And where, of long time the Counsell ofIndiahad receyued no letters from him, they suspected, yea and beléeued, whatsoeuer euil was spoken of him. Wherevppon they prouided the AdmirallDon Diego Colon, for Gouernour ofMexico, 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 apprehendCortes. They prouided also for Gouernour ofPanuco, oneNonio de Gusman, andSimon de Alcazauaportingall, for gouernour ofHonduras. To kindle more thys mischiefe, and to set this businesse forward, oneIohn de Ribera, the Attourney ofCortes, was a fitte and an earnest instrument againste his maister, and the cause was, for falling out withMartin Cortes, father vntoHernando Cortes, about foure thousand Duckates whichCorteshad sent by him to his father, which money the saidRiberahis 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 ofToledo, and the procedings séeme not iust vnto the friends ofCortes. The CommendadorPedro de Pinaopened the matter to the LicenciatNouez, and vnto fatherMelgareio, wherevppon they reclaymed of the Counsels determination, beséeching them to stay for a season, to sée what newes should come fromMexico. Also the Duke ofBeiartendred the cause ofHernando Cortez, for thatCortezby promise of faith and troth, was assured in marriage to his brothers daughter, named the LadyIane 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 inSpayne Diego de Zoto, with a whole Coluerin made of siluer, and 70000. castlins in golde, the newes whereof was blowen ouer allSpaine. And to say the troth, this presente was yecause, thatCorteswas 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 Leona fitte mā, who had bin Lieutenante toDon Martin de Cordoua, Earle ofAlcaudete, & chiefe gouernour of the citie ofTolledo. This Licenciate with power sufficient, was sent vnto the newSpaine, who carried in his company as assistant, the batchelerMarcus de Aguillar, who hadde ruled in time past, in a worshipfull office of Iustice in the Ilande ofSanto Domingo.
With prosperous weather they departed from Spayne, and in shorte tyme arriued atVera Crux,Cortezhauing newes of their arriuall by foote postes within two dayes. And vppon Midsomer day came letters toCortesfrom the LicenciatePonce, with another letter from the Emperour, wherby he vnderstood yecause of their comming. He returned backe incontinēt an aunswere, and desired to know which way he would come toMexico, eyther by yeway inhabited, or else the other way which is néerer. The Licenciate replyed, that he woulde for a while abide inVera Crux, to refresh himselfe, béeyng seasicke, and a man ythad not heeretofore at any time passed the seas, thinking thatCortesmeante to haue done iustice on certain offenders, yea & also to haue takē hym by the way: wherefore he suspected, thatCorteshad 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 toIztacpallapan, refusing the entertaynement and prouision of meate and lodging thatCorteshad prepared by his Gentlemē, that wēt both the wayes to méete him.
InIztacpallapāthey 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 fatherThomas Ortiz, no (quoth the Stewarde) hys reuerence shall haue another dishe, no (quoth fatherOrtiz) 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 theComendador,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 ofCortesthere was presented to the Licenciat a riche present, but he refused it.
Corteswith al the flower of Gentlemen inMexico, came to receyue him, and giuyng him the right hand, they went togyther vntill they came toSainct Francesabbay, where after their praiers made,Cortesdemaūded 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.Corteswith 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, ofHernando 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.
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The Licenciat comming one day fromSaint Francesabbay 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 bachelerMarcus de Aguillar.Cortesmade 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 ofCortespublished, that he died of poyson. But the LicenciatPero Lopez, and DoctorHoieda, 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 thatCorteshad poysoned the Licenciat, and also that the Licenciat had an expresse order from the Emperour to cut ofCorteshis 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.
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Where oneAlonso de Estradagouerned the state ofMexico, as substitute ofMarcus de Aguillar, accordying to the Emperours commaundement,Cortesconsidered 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 inMexico, 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.Cortesbeyng in these imaginations, there was brought a letter vnto him, from the reuerend fatherGarcia de Loaisaghostly 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 riuerDe las Palmas. Before his departure he dispatched twoo hundred Spaniardes, & thrée score and ten horsemen, with manyMexicansfor the countrey ofChichimea, 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 toVera Crux, to prepare with all spéede twoo good shippes, and for that purpose he sentPero 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 aNegro, his slaue, who wente in his company, was neuer hearde of, nor yet theCanaoandIndiansthat wente with him, so that the truth of his death was neuer knowen.
Cortesmade 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 LicenciatAltamiranohis 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 companyGonsalo de Sandoual,Andres de Tapia, and other of the chiefest of the conquerours. He brought with him a Sonne ofMutezumas, & another Sonne ofMaxixca, who was become a Christian, & namedDon Lorenso, with many otherIndianGentlemen ofMexico,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 calledAiotochtli, and oneTlaquaci. 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 inTolledo. The newes of his arriuall was blowen through out all Spayne, and euery one desirous to sée him.
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The Emperour receyuedCortesmagnifically, 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,Corteswent in his maiesties company vnto the Citie ofSaragoza, whereas his Maiestie calling to remembrance his worthy seruice, & valour of his person, made himMarques 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 offerCortesrefused, bycause there was no rent gyuen with the habite, but he besought his Maiestie to graunt vnto him the gouernmēt ofMexico, 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 kingDon Fernando, byCristoual Colonwho firste discouered theIndia, and also the great CaptaineGonsalo Hernandoz de Cordoua, who conqueredNaples.Cortesdeserued 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 vntoCortezall the kyngdome ofMichuacan, 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.