Part 1

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE. See the TRANSCRIBER'S ENDNOTE for details of this transcription.

THE

Pleasant Historie of the Conquest of the VVeast India, _now called new Spayne_,

Atchieued by the vvorthy Prince _Hernando Cortes_ Marques of the valley of _Huaxacac_, most delectable to Reade:

Translated out of the Spanishe _tongue, by T. N._

Anno. 1578.

¶ Imprinted at London by _Henry Bynneman_.

1578.

¶ TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE, Sir Francis VValsingham _Knight, principall Secretary to the_ _Queenes most excellent Maiestie,_ _and one of hir highnesse most_ _Honorable priuie Counsell_.

Whilest I abode (right Honorable) in the Isle of Palma, in affaires of merchandize for the vvorshipfull _Thomas Locke_ deceased, and his company, time then permitted me, to haue cöference vvith auncient gentlemen vvhiche had serued in the Conquest of the vveft India, novve called nevve Spaine, vnder the princely Captaine _Hernando Cortez_. By vvhom as present vvitnesses at many of the actes herein contayned, I vvas credibly informed, that this delectable and vvorthy Historie is a most true and iust reporte of matter paste in effect: vvherefore I did the more vvillingly turne ouer and peruse the same, vvhiche is a Mirrour and an excellent president, for all such as shall take in hande to gouerne nevve Discoueries: for here they shall behold, hovv Glorie, Renovvne, and perfite Felicitie, is not gotten but vvith greate paines, trauaile, perill and daunger of life: here shall they see the vvisedome, curtesie, valour and pollicie of vvorthy Captaynes, yea and the faithfull hartes vvhiche they ought to beare vnto their Princes seruice: here also is described, hovv to vse and correct the stubbern & mutinous persons, & in vvhat order to exalt the good, stoute and vertuous Souldiers, and chiefly, hovv to preserue and keepe that bevvtifull Dame _Lady Victorie_ vvhë she is obtayned. And vvhere it vvas supposed, that the golden mettall had his beginning and place in the East and VVeast _India_, neare vnto the hote Zoane, (as moste learned vvriters helde opinion) it is novve approued by the venterous trauellour and vvorthy captaine _Martin Frobisher_ Esquire, yea and also through the greate paynes, procurement, and firste inuention of the vvorshipfull _Mychaell Locke_ Merchaunt, that the same golden mettall dothe also lie incorporate in the bovvelles of the Norvveast parties, enuironned vvith admirable Tovvers, Pillers and Pynacles, of Rockes, Stone, and Ise, possessed of a people bothe straunge, & rare in shape, attire and lyuing, yea suche a Countrey and people, as all _Europe_ had forsaken and made no account of, excepte our moste gratious Queene and her subiectes, vvhome vndoubtedly God hath appoynted, not onely to be supreme Princesse ouer them, but also to be a meane that the name of Christ maybe knovven vnto this Heathenish and Sauage generation.

Not long since (right Honorable) I happened to trauayle from the famous Cittie of _Tolledo_ in _Spayne_, tovvarde highe _Castile_, and by fortune ouertooke an auncient Gentlemen, vvorshipfully accompanied, vnto vvhö I vvas so bold as to approch, beseching his vvorship to aduertise me of his iourney: vvho (after he had beheld my white head & beard) ansvvered ful gentlely, that his intët vvas to trauayle vnto the king of Spaynes Court, and vvelcomed me vnto his company. In shorte space that vve had iourneyed togither, and communed of each other his Countrey, it pleased him to say as follovveth: My good friende, if you knevv my sute vnto the Kings maiestie, you vvould iudge that I vvere a mad man, and therefore to shorten oure vvay, I vvill declare my attempted sute vnto you. You shall vnderstande, that I am a Gentleman of lxx. yeares of age, and sometimes I serued in the ciuill vvarres of _Pirru_, vvhere I vvas vvounded in diuers parts of my body, and am novv thereby lame in one of my legges and shoulder. I haue neyther VVife nor childe, and at this presente (God be praised) I haue in the Contractation house in the Citie of _Siuill_, in golde and plate, the summe of thirtie thousande Duckates: and I haue also in _Pirru_ in good lands and possessions, the yearely rente of tvvelue thousande Duckates, vvhiche rentes and readye money is sufficiente to mainteyne a poore Gentleman. But al this notvvithstanding, I do novv sue vnto the Kings Maiestie, to haue licence and authoritie to discouer and conquere a certayne parte of _India_, vvhyche adioyneth vvith _Brazile_, and is part of the Empire of _Pirru_, I pray you novve declare what you thinke of my sute. By my troth sir (quoth I) I trust your vvorship vvill pardon a rash and suddaine iudgemët, which you now demand at my häd: yea truly (quoth he) say vvhat you list. Then (quoth I) my opiniö is, that you are not wel in your wit, for vvhat vvould you haue? vvil not reason suffice you? or else would you now in your old days be an Emperour, considering that your Sepulchre attendeth for you. Novve truly I thanke you (quoth he) for of youre iudgement are most men: but I say vnto you, considering that all flesh must finish, I seeke for no quiet rest in this transitorie life: yea the vvise and Christian Doctors do teach and admonish, that euery true Christian is borne, not for his ovvne priuate vvealth and pleasure, but rather to help and succoure others his poore breethren. Likevvise doe I consider the greate number of Gentlemen, yonger brethren, and other valiät persons, vvho through vvant of liuing, do fall into many disorders. VVherefore to accomplish my dutie tovvard God and my Prince, and to releeue such poore Gentlemen, do I novv attempte this iourney, vvith the aduenture of my bodye and goodes, and for that purpose I haue in readinesse foure tall Shippes, vvell furnished in the porte of _Saint Lucar de Barrameda_, hoping assuredlye, that before the life depart from my body, to heare these valiante yong Gentlemen (vvhome novv I meane to haue in my company) say, oh happie day, vvhen olde _Zarate_ (for so is my name) broughte vs from penurie, yea and from a number of perils that vve vvere like to fall into. I hope also, that the royall estate of my Prince shall be by my paynes and poore seruice enlarged: beleeue you me, this is the onely sumptuous Tumbe that I pretende to builde for my poore carkas. But yet I knovv there are some, vnto vvhome I may compare the Bore that lyeth vvallovvyng in his Stye, vvho vvill not lette to saye, vvhat neede vve any other vvorld, honor, or Kingdomes? let vs be contented vvith that vve haue: vvho may easily be aunsvvered, Sir glutton, your paunch is full, and little care you for the glory of God, honor of youre Prince, neyther the neede and necessitie of youre poore neyboures. VVith this conclusion the Gentleman ended his tale, the iudgement vvhereof I leaue to noble Gentlemen his peeres to be determined.

And vvhere oure Captayne _Hernando Cortez_, of vvhose valiant actes this historie treateth, hathe deserued immortal fame, euë so doubtlesse I hope, that vvithin this happie Realme is novv liuing a Gentleman, vvose zeale of trauayle and valiant beginnings dothe prognosticate greate, maruellous, and happie successe: for perfection of honor and profite is not gotten in one daye, nor in one or tvvo voyages, as the true histories of the East and VVest Conquests by Spanyardes and Portingalles do testifye. And calling to remembrance the greate zeale and good vvill vvhich your honor hath alvvayes extended to good and profitable attemptes, and especially in the proceedings of the nevv discouery, youre honor hath not only vsed liberalitie in your aduëtures, but also taken greate paynes in Courte, to aduance and further the voyage, a number I saye of Gentlemen, Marriners, and other artificers, shal haue great cause to pray for your honor. And vvhere I for my parte haue tasted of your honors goodnesse sundrye vvayes, I am novve most humbly to beseech youre honor to accept this poore gifte, the vvhiche I haue translated out of the Spanish tong, not decked vvith gallant couloures, nor yet fyled vvith pleasant phrase of Rhetorike, for these things are not for poore Marchant trauellers, but are reserued to learned VVriters: yet I trust the Author vvill pardon mee, bycause I haue gone as neere the sense of this Historie, as my cunning vvoulde reach vnto. I also craue, that it may please youre honor, vvhen your greate and vvaightie businesse vvill permitte, to beholde this vvorke, and that shall be for me an encouragemente to take in hande the translation of the East _India_, vvhiche is novve enioyed by the King of Portingall. Thus I ende, beseeching the Almighty to preserue your honorable estate.

(?)

_Your honors most ready at commaundement Thomas Nicholas._

The Conquest of the _Weast India_.

The Byrth and lynage of _Hernando Cortez_.

In the yeare of our Sauiour, 1485. being kings of _Castill_ and _Aragon_, the Catholike princes _Fernando_ and _Isabell_ his wyfe, was borne _Hernando Cortez_ in a towne called _Medellin_, situated in the prouince of _Andulozia_: his Father was named _Martyn Cortez de Monroy_, & his mother was called Lady _Katherin Pisarro Altamirano_, they were bothe of good byrth, and procéeded from foure principall houses, that is to say, the house of _Cortez_, the house of _Monroy_, the house of _Pisarro_, and the house of _Altamirano_, which foure houses are auncient, noble and honorable: yet these parents but poore in goods, but riche in vertue & good life, for whiche cause they were muche estéemed and beloued among theyr neighbours. His mother was of inclination deuoute, but somewhat harde: his father was charitable and mercyfull, who in his youth applied himselfe to the warres, and was Liuetenant to a company of horsemen. _Hernando Cortez_ in his childehood was very sickely, so that many tymes he was at the poynt of death: And when he came to .xiiii. yéeres of age, his parents sent him to the Vniuersitie of _Salamanca_, where he remayned twoo yeares, learnyng Grammar, and then returned to _Medellin_ werie of his studie, yea possible for want of money: yet his parëts were much offended with him for leauing his studie, for theyr onely desire was to haue had him a student at lawe, whiche is a facultie both riche and worshipfull, consideryng their sonne to be of a good witte and abilitie: Yet he caused muche strife in his Fathers house, for he was a very vnhappy ladde, high minded, and a louer of chiualrie, for which cause he determined with himselfe to wander abroad to séeke aduentures. And at that instant happened two iorneys fit for his purpose & inclination. The one of them was to _Naples_ wyth _Gonsalo Hernandez_ of the Citie of _Cordoua_, who was a worthy man, & named the great captaine. And the other iourney was to the Weast India, with the Lorde _Nicholas de Ouando_, a knight of the order of _Larez_, who was then appointed for gouernour of those parties. And musing with himselfe which waye to take, determined to passe into _India_, chiefly bycause the gouernour was of his acquaintance, and such a one as would haue care of him. And likewise the great desire of gold made him to couet that voyage more than the Iorney vnto _Naples_. Now in the meane while that y^e fleet was preparing for _India_, it chaunced, _Hernando Cartez_ pretended to go vnto a certaine house in the night season to talke with a woman, and clyming ouer a Wall whyche was of weake foundation, both he and the Wal fell togither: So that with the noyse of hys fall, and ratling of his armoure which he ware, came out a man newly married, and findyng him fallen at hys dore would haue slayne hym, suspecting somewhat of his newe married wife, but that a certaine olde woman (being his mother in lawe) wyth great perswasions stayed him from that fact. Yet with the fall he fell into a grieuous Ague, and continued sicke for a long season, so that he could not procéede vppon his voyage with the gouernour _Ouando_. And when he had obtained and fullye recouered his health, he mynded to passe into _Italy_, And so toke hys way towarde _Valentia_, wandering here and there almoste a whole yeare wyth much necessitye and penurie, and then returned home againe to _Medellyn_, with determination to procéed vppon his pretended voyage of _India_: Wherevppon hys father and mother waying their sonnes estate, desired God to blesse hym, and gaue him money in his purse for his iorney.

The age of Cortez vvhen he passed _into India_.

_Hernando Cortez_ was of the age of nintéene yeares, in the yeare of Christ 1504. and then he went toward _India_, and agréed for his passage and victual with _Alonso Quintezo_ who went in companie of other four shippes laden with merchandise, whiche nauie departed from saint _Lucas de Barramedo_, with prosperous nauigation, vntyll they arriued at the Iland of _Gomera_ one of the _Canarie_ Ilands, where they did prouide themselues of all things necessarie for so long a voyage as they then had in hand.

[Sidenote: Comfort of God.]

_Alounso Quintezo_, being greedie of his voyage, and desirous to come to the Ilande of _Sainto Domingo_ before his fellowes, hoping to sel his commoditie the better, departed from _Gomera_ in the night season without knowledge giuing vnto his company. But incontinent after he had hoysed vp his sayles, arose vp so great a winde and tempest, that his maine mast brake, whereby hee was forced to retourne backe againe to the Ilande of _Gomera_. And he made earnest requeste to them of the other shyppes to staye for him, vntyl hee hadde mended his Mast, who friendlye and neyghbourlye graunted hys desire, and departed altogither, sayling in sight the one of the other certayne dayes: yet the sayde _Quintero_, seyng the weather stedfast, and harpyng vpon gaynes, flewe from his fellowes agayne. And where as _Frances Ninio de Guelua_ his pilote was not experte in that Nauigation, they knew not where they were at length: the Mariners did giue sundry Iudgements: the Pilote was in great perplexitie and sadnesse, their passengers lamented, and bewayled their unfortunate successe: the Master of the shippe layde the faulte to the Pilote, and the Pilote likewise charged the Master, for it did appeare that they were fallen out before. In this meane time their victuall waxed skant, and their freshe water wanted, so that they prepared themselues to die. Some cursed theyr fortune, others asked mercie at Gods hande, lookyng for death and to be eaten of the _Cariues_. And in this tyme of tribulation came a Doue flying to the shippe, beyng on good Friday at Sunne sette, and satte him on the shippe toppe: whereat they were all comforted, and tooke it for a myracle and good token and some wept with ioy, some sayd y^t God had sente the Doue to comforte them, others sayde that lande was neare, and all gaue hartie thankes vnto God, directing their course that way that the Doue flew: and when the Doue was out of sighte, they sorrowed againe, but yet remayned with hope to sée shortlye lande and on Easterday they discouered the Ilande of _Santo Domingo_, whiche was firste discried by _Christopher Zorso_, who cryed, lande, lande, a chéerefull voyce to the saylers. The Pilote looked out, and knewe that it was the poynt, or cape of _Semana_, and within foure dayes after they arriued in the porte of _Santo Domingo_, whiche was long wished for, and there they founde the other shippes of their company arriued many dayes before.

The time that Cortez abode _in Santo Domingo_.

Soone after that the Gouernoure _Ouando_ was in his regimente and office, _Cortez_ arriued at _Santo Domingo_, and the Gouernoures Secretarie, called _Medina_, receyued and lodged him, and also enformed him of the estate of the Iland, and aduised hym what was néedefull to doe, wishing that hée would be a dweller there, and that he should haue a plot to build vpon, with certaine ground for husbandry. But _Cortez_ his thought was cleane contrary, for hée iudged, that as soone as he came thither, he should lade with gold, whereby hée did little estéeme his friend _Medina_ his coüsell, saying, that he had rather goe to gather gold, than to trauell in husbandrie. _Medina_ yet perswaded him, that he shoulde take better aduisement, for to finde golde, was doubtfull, and very troubesome. This talke ended, _Cortez_ went to kisse the Gouernours handes, and to declare the cause of his comming, with other newes from _Estremadure_ the Gouernours Coütrey. The Gouernour friendly welcommed him, and also perswaded him to abide there, the which councell he accepted, and shortlye after wente to the warres, whereof was Captayne _Iaymes Velasques_, in the prouince of _Anigua Iaqua_, and _Guaca Iarima_, and other Lordships whiche were not as yet pacifyed wyth the late rebellion of _Anacoana_ widdowe, who was a gentlewoman of great liuing. _Ouando_ gaue vnto _Cortez_ certayne Indyans in the Countrey of _Daiguao_, and also the office of publike notarie in _Azua_, a towne whyche the Gouernour had builded, and there dwelt _Cortez_ fyue or syxe yeares, and began to play the good husband. Now in this meane season he woulde haue gone to _Veragua_, which was reported to bee maruellous riche, with the Captayn _Iaymes de Nicuesa_: but bycause of an empostume that he had vnder his righte knée, he went not, and as it happened, he was therein fortunate, for that thereby hée escaped great perils and troubles, whiche happened to them that went on that voyage and iourney.

Things that happened to Cortez in _the Ilande of Cuba_.

[Sidenote: Cortez escapeth.]

[Sidenote: The Gouernoure vvas sore afrayde.]