Part 2

The Lorde _Iames Colori_ being Admirall and chiefe Gouernour of the new _India_, sent one _Iaymes Velasques_ to conquer the Ilande of _Cuba_, in the yeare .1511. And gaue vnto him men, Armour, and other thinges necessarie. And then _Hernando Cortez_ wente to that conquest as a Clearke to the Treasorer called _Michaell de Passamontes_, for to kéepe the accompts of the Kings fiftes and reuenewes, being so intreated and required by the same _Iaymes Velasques_, bycause he was holden for a man both able and diligente. And it followed, that in the repartition of the lands conquered, _Iaymes Velasques_ gaue vnto _Cortez_ the Indians of _Manicorao_, in coniunct company with his brother in lawe called _Iuan Xuarez_, wherevpon _Cortez_ did inhabite in _Saint Iames de Barucoa_, whiche was the first place of habitation in that Ilande, whereas he bredde and broughte vp Kine, Shéepe, and Mares, and was the first that hadde there any heard or flocke, and with his _Indians_ he gathered great quantitie of golde, so that in short time he waxed riche, and ioyned in company with one _Andres de Duero_ a Merchaunt, and put in two thousande Castlins for his stocke. He was also highly estéemed with _Iaymes Velasques_, and put in authoritie to dispatch businesse, and to giue order for edifices. In his tyme he caused a money house to be built, & also an Hospital. At that time one _Iuan Xuarez_ naturall of the Citie of _Granada_, carried to the Ile of _Cuba_ his mother and thrée sisters, whiche came to the Iland of _Santo Domingo_, with that vicequéene the Lady _Mary_ of _Toledo_, in Anno .1509. hoping to marrie them there with rich men, for they were very poore. And the one of them named _Cathelina_ was wont to say, That she shoulde be a greate Gentlewoman: it was eyther hyr dreames and fantasies, or else some Astronomer hadde made hir beléeue so, but hir mother was reported to bée very cunning. The maydens were beautifull, for which cause, and also being there but fewe Spanishe women, they were muche made of, and often feasted. But _Cortez_ was woer to the saide _Cathelina_, and at the ende married with hir: Although at the first there was some strife about the matter, and _Cortez_ put in prison, bycause he refused hir for his wife, but she demaunded him as hir husband by faith and troth of hand: wherein _Iaymes Velasques_ did stande hir friende, by reason of an other sister of hyrs which he had, but of an euil name. It so fell out that one _Baltazar Bermudez_, _Iuan Xuares_, and the two _Anthony Velasques_, with one _Villegas_ accused _Cortez_, that he ought to marrie with _Cathelina_, yet those witnesses spake of euill will many things, as touching y^e affaires cömitted to his charge, alleadging y^t he vsed secret dealing with certaine persons. The which causes although they were not true, yet they carried great colour thereof. For why? many wët secretly to _Cortez_ his house, complayning of _Iaymes Velasques_. Some bycause they had not iust repertitiö of the cöquered Indiäs, and other some not according to deserte. Contrariwyse _Iames Velasques_ gaue credit to his talebearers, bicause _Cortez_ refused to marrie w^t _Cathelina Xuarez_, & vsed vncourteous words vnto him in y^e presëce of many that stoode by, and also commaunded him to warde. And when _Cortez_ sawe himselfe in the stockes, he feared some proces of false witnesse, as many times dothe happen in those parties. At time conueniente he brake the locke off the stockes, and layde hand vpon the Sword and Target of the kéeper, and brake vp a windowe, escaping thereby into the stréete, and tooke the Church for Sanctuary. But when _Iaymes Velasques_ had notice thereof, he was greatlye offended with _Christopher Lagos_ the Iayler, saying, that for money he had losed him: wherefore he procured by al meanes to plucke him out of the Sanctuary. But _Cortez_ hauing intelligence of his dealing, did resiste and withstand his force. Yet notwithstanding one daye _Cortez_ walking before the Churche dore, and being carelesse of his businesse, was caught by the backe with a Serieant called _Iohn Esquier_ and others, and then was put aboorde a Shyppe vnder hatches. _Cortez_ was welbeloued among his neighboures, who did well consider the euill will that the Gouernour bare vnto him. But nowe _Cortez_ séeing himselfe vnder hatches, despaired of his libertie, and did verily thinke, that he shoulde be sent prisoner to the Chancerie of _Santo Domingo_, or else to _Spayne_, who being in this extremitie, soughte all meanes to get hys foote out of the chayne, and at length he gote it out, and the same nighte he changed his apparell with a ladde that serued him, and by the Pump of the Shippe he gote out, not heard of any his kéepers, climbing softly along the Shippe syde, he entred the Skiffe and went hys way therewith, and bycause they shoulde not pursue after him, he losed the Boate of another Shippe that roade by them. The Currant of _Macaguanigua_ a riuer of _Barucoa_, was so fierce, that he could not gette in with his Skiffe, bicause he had no help to row, & was also very werie, fearing to be drowned if he should put himselfe to the land, wherefore he stripped himselfe naked, and tyed a nyghtkerchiefe aboute hys head, with certayne wrytings apperteyning to his office of Notarie and Clearkshippe to the Treasourer, and other things that were agaynst the Gouernoure _Iames Velasques_, and in this sorte swamme to lande, and wente home to hys owne house, and spake with _Iohn Xuarez_ hys brother in law, and tooke Sanctuarie agayne with Armour. Then the Gouernoure _Iames Velasques_ sente hym worde, that all matters shoulde bée forgotten, and that they shoulde remayne friendes, as in tyme past they hadde bin, and to goe with hym to the Warres agaynste certayne Indians that hadde rebelled. _Cortez_ made hym no aunswere, but incontinent married with mistresse _Catalina Xuarez_ according to his promise, and to lyue in peace. _Iames Velasques_ procéeded on hys iourney wyth a greate companye agaynste the Rebelles. Then sayde _Cortez_ to hys brother in lawe _Iohn Xuares_, bryng me (quoth he) my Launce and my Crosbowe to the Townes ende. And so in that euening hée wente out of Sanctuarie, and taking hys Crossebowe in hande, hée wente with his brother in lawe to a certayne Farme, where _Iames Velasques_ was alone, with his householde seruauntes, for hys armye was lodged in a Village thereby, and came thither somewhat late, and at suche tyme as the Gouernoure was perusing hys Booke of charges, and knocked at his dore which stoode open, saying: Héere is _Cortez_ that woulde speake with the Gouernoure, and so wente in. When _Iames Velasques_ sawe hym armed, and at such an houre, he was maruellously afrayde, desiring hym to rest hymselfe, and also to accepte hys Supper: No Sir (quoth he) my onely comming is, but to knowe the complayntes you haue of me, and to satisfye you therein, and also to bée youre friende and seruitor. They then embraced eache other in token of friendship. And after long talke, they lay both in one bedde, where _Iames de Orrelano_ founde them, who went to carrie newes to the Gouernoure, how _Cortez_ had fledde. After this sort came _Cortez_ agayne to his former friendshyppe with _Iames Velasques_, and procéeded with him to the Warres, but afterwarde at his returne, he was lyke to haue bin drowned in the sea: For as he came from the Caues of _Bani_ to visite certayne of hys Shepheardes and _Indians_ that wrought in the Pines of _Barrucoa_ where his dwelling was, his _Canoa_ or little boate ouerthrew, being night, and halfe a league from land, with tempeste, wherby he was put to his shiftes, and forced to swimme, and happened to espye lyght that certayne Shepheardes had which were at supper néere the Sea side. By suche like perils and daungers, runne the excellente menne their race, vntill that they arriue at the Hauen where their good lotte is preserued.

The discouerie of nevv Spayne.

[Sidenote: Men tangled in foolish loue.]

_Fraunces Hernandes de Cordoua_ did first discouer _Xucatan_, going with thrée Shyps for _Indians_, or else to barter. These Shippes were sette forthe by _Christopher Morante_, and _Lope Ochoa de Saizedo_, in Anno .1517. And although he broughte home nothing at that time but stripes, yet he broughte perfect relation, how the Countrey was rich of gold and siluer, and the people of the countrey clothed. Then _Iames Velasques_ Gouernoure of the Iland of _Cuba_, sent the next yeare following his kinsman, called _Iohn de Grijalua_, with two hundred _Spanyardes_ in foure Shippes, thinking to obtayne much gold and siluer for his Merchandise at those places, which _Fraunces Hernandez_ had enformed him: So that _Iohn de Grijalua_ wente to _Xucatan_, and there foughte with the _Indians_ of _Champoton_, and was hurt. From thëce he entred the riuer of _Tauasco_, which _Grijalua_ hadde so named, in the whiche place he bartered for things of small value. He had in exchaunge golde, cloth of cotten wooll, and other curious things wrought of feathers. He was also at Saint _Iohn de Vlhua_, and tooke possession for the King, in the name of _Iames Velasques_, and there also exchanged his Haberdashe wares, for Golde, and Couerlets of cotten, and feathers: and if he hadde considered his good fortune, he would haue planted habitation in so rich a land, as his company did earnestly request him, and if he had so done, then had he bin as _Cortez_ was. But suche wealth was not for him which knew it not, although he excused himselfe, saying, he went not to inhabite, but to barter onely in traffike of his Marchandise, and to discouer whether that land of _Xucatan_ were an Ilande, or no. And finding it a mayne land, and populous, he left off for very feare. Likewise, some of his company were desirous to returne to _Cuba_, among whome, was one _Pedro de Aluado_, who was farre in loue with a woman of that countrey. So they determined to returne, with relation to the Gouernoure of suche things as hadde happened till that day, and sayled homewardes along the coast to _Panuco_, and so came to _Cuba_, to the greate griefe of many of hys company. Yea some of them wept, with sorrowe that hée would not abide in that rich countrey. He was fiue monethes vpon his voyage homewarde from land to lande, and eyght monethes till his returne to the Citie. But when he came home, the Gouernoure hauing hearde of his procéedings, would not looke vppon him, whiche was hys iust reward.

The Inuentorie of the treasure that _Grijalua brought for his wares_.

_Iohn de Grijalua_ bought of the Indians of _Potonchan_, _Saint Iohn de Vlhua_, and other places of that coast, suche thynges as made his fellowes farre in loue with the Countrey, and loth to depart from thëce. The workmäship of many of the things that they bought, was more worth than the thing it selfe, as this Inuentory perticularly doth shew.

The Inuentory.

A little Idoll of golde hollowe.

A greater of golde, with hornes and heare, with a string of beadestones aboute his necke, and a Flyeflappe in his hand, and a little stone for his nauell.

A péece of golde, like the patent of a Challice, garnished with stones.

A Skull of golde, with two hornes, and blacke heare.

Two and twenty earerings of golde.

Two and twenty péeces of an other fashion.

Foure bracelettes of golde very broade.

A payre of beades of golde, the stones hollowe, wyth a Frogge of golde hanging at the same.

Another paire, with a Lyon of golde.

A great paire of earerings of golde.

Two little Eagles of golde hollowe.

A little Saltseller of golde.

Two earerings of golde with Turkie stones.

A coller to hang aboute a womans necke, of twelue péeces, with four and twenty stones hanging thereat.

A great coller of golde.

Sixe little collers of golde thinne.

Seauen other collers of gold with stones.

Foure earerings of golden leafe.

Twentie fishinghookes of golde.

Twelue graines of gold, waying fiftie Duckets.

A headlace of gold.

Certaine thinne planches of gold.

A Potedge pot of gold.

An Idoll of golde hollowe.

Certaine thinne brouches of gold.

Nine beade stones of gold.

Two payre of gilt beades.

One payre of wodden beades guilt.

A little cuppe of golde, with eighte purple stones, and twentie thrée stones of an other collour.

Foure belles of gold.

A little sauser of gold.

A little boxe of gold.

Certaine smal collers of gold of smal value.

A hollow apple of gold.

Fourtie hatchets of gold mixed with copper, valued in two thousand fiue hundred Duckets.

A whole harneis or furniture for an armed man of gold thinne beaten.

An other whole armour of wood with leaues of golde, garnished with little blacke stones.

A certaine piece made like vnto a feather, of an hyde and gold ioyntly wrought.

Foure pieces of armour of wood made for the knées, and couered with golden leafe.

Two targets couered with feathers of many and fyne colours.

Diuerse other targets of gold and feathers.

A tuffe of feathers of sundry colours, with a little byrd in the middest, very liuely.

A wing of gold and feathers.

Two flyflappes of feathers.

Two little chamberpottes of Allabaster, beset with many trimme stones, and some fyne, & among them there was one esteemed at two thousand Duckets.

Certaine beades of tinne.

Fiue paire of woodden beades rounde and couered wyth a leafe of gold very thinne.

A hundred and thirty hollow bead stones of gold.

Many beades of woodde gilt.

A paire of Sissers of wood gilt.

Two gilt vissors.

A vissor of strange gesture of gold.

Foure vissors of wood guilt.

Foure dishes of wood couered with golden leafe.

A dogges head of gold beset with stones.

An other beastes head garnished with gold.

Fiue paire of rush shooes.

Thrée red hides.

Seuen rasors of flint stone, for to cut vp men that were sacrifised.

Two painted dishes of wood with an Ewer.

A garmët with halfe sléeues of feathers of excéeding fine colours.

A couerlet of feathers.

Many couerlets of cotten very fine.

Many other couerlets of cotten course.

Two kerchiefs of good cotten.

Many perfumes of sweete odor, much of that countrey fruite.

They also brought a gentlewoman that was giuen thë, and other prisoner _Indians_. And for one of them was offered hys weight in golde, but _Grijalua_ woulde not take it.

They also brought newes that there were _Amazons_ women of warre, in certaine Ilandes, and manye gaue credit, being amazed at the things that they had brought bartered for things of a vile price: as here-vnder appeareth the Merchandise that they gaue for al the aforesaid Iewels.

The Inuentorie of the Spanish Merchandise.

Sixe course shirts.

Thrée paire of Maryners breeches of lynnen.

Fiue paire of womens shoes.

Fiue broad leatherne girdels wrought with coloured thréed, with their purses.

Manye purses of shéepes skinne.

Sixe glasses a little gilt.

Foure brouches of glasse.

Two thousand beadstones of glasse greene.

A hundred paire of beades of diuerse colours.

Twenty wooddencombes.

Sixe paire of Sissers.

Fiftéene kniues great and small.

A thousand taylers nedels.

Two thousand pinnes of sorts.

Eight paire of corded shoes.

A paire of pinsers and a hammer.

Seauen red night cappes.

Thrée coates of colours.

A freese coate with a cap of the same.

An old gréene veluet coate.

An olde veluet cappe.

The determination of Cortez to prepare a _Nauie for discouerie_.

Bycause _Iohn de Grijalua_ was absent a löger season than was _Francisco Hernandez de Cordoua_, before his returne, or giuing aduise of his procéedings, the gouernoure _Valasques_ prepared a Caruel, and therein sent one _Christofer de Olid_, for to séeke _Grijalua_ with succor if néed wer, and gaue _Olid_ great charge, that he should returne with newes from _Grijalua_ with all spéede. But this messenger taried but a small while vpon his voyage, and saw but little of _Yucatan_, and not fynding _Grijalua_, he returned backe againe to _Cuba_, which returne happed not wel for the gouernour nor yet for _Grijalua_. For if he had procéeded forthe on his way to Saint _Iohn de Vlhua_, hee had then mette with whom he sought for, and likewise caused him to haue inhabited there. But he excused him self, alleaging that he had lost his ankers, and was therfore forced of necessitie to returne.

And as soone as _Olid_ was departed on that voyage, _Pedro de Aluarado_ returned to _Cuba_, wyth full relation of the discouerie, & brought many things w^t hym, wrought in gold, with strange coloured feathers, and cotton wool. The gouernour _Iames Valasques_ reioyced much to behold those principles: And all the Spaniardes of _Cuba_ wondered therat, and likewise to heare the whole relatiö of the iourney. Yet the gouernour feared the returne of his kinsman, bycause some of his companye that came sicke and diseased from those parties, saide that _Grijalua_ meaned not to inhabite there, and that the people and land was great, and also how the same people were warlike: likewise the gouernour feared the wisedome and courage of his kinsman. Wherevppon he determined to send thyther certaine shippes, with souldiers and armor and other trifling things, thinking chiefly to enrich himself by barter, and also to inhabite by force. He requested one _Baltazer Vermudez_ to take that voyage in hand, who accepted the offer, but he demaunded thrée thousand duckets for his furniture and prouision. Their gouernour hearing this demaund, answered, that in such sorte the charges would be more than the profite: And so for that tyme lefte off the matter, bycause he was couetous, and loth to spend, thinking to prouide an army at other mës cost, as he had done before, when _Grijalua_ went firste on that voyage, for at that time one _Francisco de Montezo_ did furnish one shippe. And also certaine gentlemen called _Alaunso Fernädez_, _Porto Carero_, _Alaunso de Auila_ & _Iames de Ordas_ with manye others, wente with _Grijalua_ at theyr proper costes and charges. It followed that the gouernour brake the matter to _Cortez_, & required that the voyage shoulde be set forth betwixte them, knowing that _Cortez_ had two thousand Castlyns of gold in the power of one _Andres de Duero_, a merchaunt, and also that _Cortez_ was a man diligent, wise, and of stoute courage. _Cortez_ being of haughtye stomacke, accepted both the voyage and the charges, thinking the cost would not be much .&c. So that the voyage and agréemente was concluded, whervpon they sent one _Iohn de Sanzedo_ to the kings coüsel and chauncery, resident in the Iland of _Santo Domingo_, who were then religyous persons to haue and obtain of them licence, fréelye to goe and traffike into those parties of newe discouerie, and also to séeke for _Iohn de Grijalua_, for they imagyned that wythout hym small trafficke woulde bee hadde, whyche was, to exchaunge trifles of Haberdashe for golde and syluer. The chiefe rulers of gouernemente at that tyme in y^e kings counsell there, were these following, _Segniour Aloüso de Säto Domingo_, _Segniour Luys de Figueroa_, & _Segniour Barnardo de Munsanedo_, who graunted the licence, and appointed _Hernando Cortez_ for captaine Generall of the voyage, and setter forth in company of _Iames Velasques_. They also appointed a Treasurer, and Surueyour to procure for the kings portion or parte, whych was according to custome one fifte parte. In thys meane season _Cortez_ prepared hymselfe for the Iourney, and communed wyth hys especiall friendes to sée who woulde beare hym companye: And hee founde thrée hundred men that agréed to his request. He then bought a Caruell and Vergantine, and another Caruell that _Pedro de Aluarado_ brought home. An other Vergantine he had of _Iames Valesques_: he prouided for them armour, artillery, and other Munition: hee brought also wyne Oyle, Beanes, Pease, and other victuals necessarye: he toke vp also vppon hys credite, of one _Iames Sauzedo_ muche Haberdashe, to the value of seauen hundred Castlyns in golde. The gouernour _Velasques_ deliuered vnto hym a thousande Castlyns whyche he possessed of the goods of one _Pamfilo de Naruaiz_ in hys absence, alleaging that he had no other money of hys owne proper. And beeyng in thys manner agréed, the Articles and Couenauntes were drawen and set downe in wryting, before a Notary, called _Alounso de Escalantes_, the thrée and twenty day of October _Anno_ .1518.

[Sidenote: The cöming home of _Grijalua_.]

[Sidenote: The gouernour an old enemy.]

[Sidenote: Courage of _Cortez_.]