Part 20

_Iames Velasques_ béeyng sore agréeued, with desire of reuenge against _Cortes_, not only for his expences at the time of preparation of _Cortes_ his fléete, whiche was but small, but of méere hatred of the present honor & prosperitie of _Cortes_. Wherevpon he inuented greate causes and quarrels againste him, saying and alleaging, that _Cortez_ hadde not giuen accompt of his procéedings vnto him, béeyng Gouernoure of _Cuba_, and _Cortez_ his Deputie, but rather without his consent and knowledge, had sente to _Spayne_ to the King, aduise of his discouery, as who would say, that was treason, or an euill facte: but chiefly his fury was, knowing how _Cortes_ had sent an honorable present, with the Kings parte or portion of treasure vnto _Spayne_, yea and whole relation of the discouery, with _Francisco de Monteio_, and _Alounso Fernandez Portocarrero_, the whiche procéedings _Iames Velasques_ meant to disturbe, for that he hadde layde in ambushe a coupell of caruels, to haue taken _Cortes_ hys presente, and messengers, the whiche his pretence and purpose tooke no place, so that with the prosperous newes of _Cortes_, his furie and madnesse the more encreased, ymagining still his destruction.

[Sidenote: A noble Iudge.]

And being occupyed in these fonde ymaginations, it happened that his Chaplin, one _Benito Martine_, broughte letters from the Emperoure vnto him, with title and letters pattentes, of Generall and chiefe Gouernour of all that then was discouered, inhabited, and conquered in the land and coast of _Yucatan_. With this newes, _Velasques_ began to triumph, not only so much for the honor, as also to driue _Cortez_ from _Mexico_. Wherevpon, he incontinent prepared this Fléete or Nauie of eleuen Shyppes, and seauen Vergantines, with nine hundred men, and fourescore Horses, and appoynted one _Pamfilo de Naruaez_ for Captayne Generall, and his Deputie in the regiment of the Countrey: and for his more quicker dispatch, he himselfe wente with him throughout that Ilande, till they came to _Guaniguanico_, whiche is the Westermost harbor of the Ilande, and being there _Naruaez_ ready to departe for _Mexico_, and _Velasques_ to returne to _Cuba_, came the lisenciat _Lucas Vasques de Aillon_, a chiefe Iudge of _Santo Domingo_, in name of the whole Chancery, to require _Velasques_ vpon great penalties, that he should not permitte or suffer _Pamfilo de Naruaez_ to procéede on that voyage agaynst _Cortes_, whiche woulde bée cause of Murther, ciuil warres, and other mischiefes among the Spanyards, yea and that _Mexico_ should be in daunger of losing, wyth all the rest that was conquered, and in quiet to the Kings vse, saying vnto him moreouer, that if there were anye discorde betwéene them for goodes, or poyntes of honor, that then it did apperteyne to the Emperoure to iudge, and determine the cause, and not that he himselfe should be iudge in his owne cause, vsing force against the other partie, praying them for the seruice of God and the King, that if they would goe to conquere, that then they shoulde séeke other Countreys, hauing so good an armye and fléete, and Countreys ynough to séeke. This diligëce, request and authoritie of the Licentiate _Aillon_, to _Velasques_ and _Naruaez_ preuayled not: he séeyng their obstinacie and little regarde to him being a chiefe Iudge, determined to goe with _Naruaez_ in his Shippe, to lette and disturbe the greate hurte that might follow, thinking there in the newe _Spayne_ to perswade _Naruaez_, better than in the presence of _Velasques_, yea and also if néede should bée, to be a meane of quietnesse betwixt them.

_Pamfilo de Naruaez_ tooke shipping in _Guaniguanico_, and sailed till he came néere vnto _Vera Crux_ with al his fléete, and hauing intelligence that there were a hundred and fiftie Spanyards of _Cortes_ his band, he sente vnto them a Priest, with one _Iohn Ruiz de Gueuara_, and _Alonso de Vergara_, to require them to receyue him for their Captayne and gouernoure. But the newe Citizens would giue no eare to their talke, but rather apprehended them, & sente them prisoners to _Mexico_ to _Cortez_, to aduertise hym of their embassage, wherevpö _Naruaez_ vnshipped his men, horses, armor, & artillery, & wët w^t thë directly to _Zëpoallä_. The _Indian Comarcans_ being as well friends to _Cortez_, as vassals to _Mutezuma_, gaue vnto him golde, mantels, and vittayles, thinking that they had bin _Cortez_ his men.

The substance of a letter that Cortez _wrote vnto Naruaez_.

Before _Cortes_ knew the effect of the cöming of this new fléete, his head was sore troubled, for, on the one side he was glad of the comming of his owne nation, on the other side he liked not so great an armye. Likewise he ymagined, that if they came to succour him, he helde the Countrey for conquered: also if that they were come againste him, he iudged the Countrey to bée lost. He iudged also, that if they were come from _Spayne_, that then they hadde brought to him the thing loked for, but if they were come from _Cuba_, be feared ciuil warres. He also thought, that from _Spayne_ could not come so many folke in so shorte space. Finally, he déemed, that his olde enemie _Iames Velasques_ was come personally, but when he knew the whole truth, then was he muche more pensiue, thinking that the thread of his prosperitie was cut asunder, yea and that they would be meane to stoppe the gappes of the whole discouery, both of the secretes of the land, mines and treasure, as also, in the knowledge of the friends or enimies of _Mutezuma_. It shoulde be also a let to inhabite the places which he had begunne, yea and also to Christen the _Indians_, whiche was the principall thing that he pretended, yea & a let or stop of many other things begun in y^e seruice of God & the prince, fearing also by flying from one inconuenience, to fall into many, and also if he should permit _Pamphilo de Naruaez_ to come vnto _Mexico_, it shoulde be a meane of hys perdition: if likewise he should encounter him, he feared some rebellion in the Citie, and the setting at libertie of _Mutezuma_, putting in perill his owne honour, life, and trauayle: and to auoyde all these daungers and inconueniences, he determined remedy. First, he dispatched twoo men, the one vnto _Iohn Velasques de Leon_, who was gone to inhabite at _Coazacoalco_, willyng him at the sight of his letter to repaire vnto _Mexico_, giuing him aduise of the comming of _Naruaez_ and of the great néede that he stoode in, of him & his company. The other messenger he sent to _Vera Crux_, to bryng full relation of the arriuall of _Naruaez_, and what was his pretence.

The letter sent to _Iohn Velasques_, came no sooner to his hande, but forthwith he obeyed and fulfilled the same, contrary to the expectation of _Naruaez_, for he was his brother in law, and kinsman vnto _Iames Velasques_. _Cortes_ seing his constancie, had him euer after that tyme in great estimation.

From the _Vera Crux_ came twentie of the townes men with certificat what _Naruaez_ had published, and brought with them a priest, with _Alonso Gueuara_ and _Iohn ruiz de Vergara_, who had comen to _Vera Crux_ to amotiue the towne, vnder colour that they had brought the commissiö from the king. _Cortes_ on the otherside, sent vnto _Naruaez_ seignior _Bartholome de Olmedo_, with other two Spaniards, to offer vnto him his friendship, & otherwise to require & commaunde him on the behalfe of the kyng & of his owne, as chiefe iustice of the land, and in the name of the rulers and Aldermen of the towne of _Vera Crux_, who were then in _Mexico_, that he shoulde enter peaceably, without making any alteration vntill his auctoritie and commission were séene and allowed, and to make no slaunder or vprore to the hinderäce of the king his maisters procedings.

But al this diligence and letters of _Cortes_ and the other rulers preuailed not, he seing this, set at libertie the priest that was brought prisoner, and sente him vnto _Naruaez_, with certaine riche collers of gold, and other iewels with a letter, wherein he wrote, that he was more gladder of his comming in that fléete than any other, for the friendship and olde acquaintaunce that had bene betwixt them, desiring him that they mought talke and cöferre togither, alone, for to take order to prohibite wars, sedition, bloudshedde and disquietnesse among them, beyng of one natiö and brethren, requestyng him to shew his cömission from the king vnto him, or vnto the counsell of _Vera Crux_, and he would willingly obey it as reason did require: and if he had not brought any such commission, yet he would make some honest agrement with him. _Pamfilo de Naruaez_ seing himselfe strong and mightie, did little regarde _Cortes_ his letters, offers, nor requestes, and chiefly bycause _Iames Velasques_ was sore displeased with _Cortes_.

The talke of Naruaez to the Indians, _and his answere to Cortes_.

[Sidenote: A foule bragge.]

_Pamphilo de Naruaez_ declared to the _Indiäs_ that they were deceyued with their opiniö in _Cortes_, for that he alone was Captayne generall and chiefe Lorde, and that _Cortes_ was but a naughty man, and so were all they of his company which are now in _Mexico_, who were all but his boyes, and that his present commyng was to cut of _Cortes_ his head, and to chasten the others, likewyse he meant to dryue them all out of the countrey, & then to departe himselfe, and to leaue them in full libertie.

[Sidenote: A cruell proclamation.]

[Sidenote: A madde reckenyng.]

The _Indians_ gaue credite to his talke seyng so many bearded men and horses, and therevpon began to attende and serue him, leauyng their olde friendes in _Vera Crux_. Also _Naruaez_ began to flatter _Mutezuma_, and sente him worde that _Cortes_ aboade in that countrey against the will of his Prince, & that he was a couetous rebell, who robbed his countrey, and that he pretended to kill _Mutezuma_, and to make himself king. Also that his comming was to set him at libertie, and to restore vnto him all that those wicked fellowes had taken from him. And bicause that others should take example of their factes, he would commaunde them all to be slaine, willing him to take no care, for in short space they would sée ech other. And that when he had set him at libertie with restitution of his goodes, he would incontinent departe his countrey. These treaties were so foule & abhominable, with the iniurious wordes which _Pamfilo de Naruaez_ spake openly against _Cortes_ and his men, yea they séemed odious vnto all his owne hoste & army, and some of his own më checked him for the same, especially _Barnardino de Santa Clara_, who seyng the countrey so peaceable and so well pleased with _Cortes_, he could not let but reprehende _Naruaez_ in his wordes. Also the licenciat _Aillon_ required him diuers times to cease frö his slanderous talke, vpon paine of death & losse of his goodes, & also not to procéede towarde _Mexico_, for the great hurte that might ensue, with slander among the _Indians_, disquietnesse among the Spaniardes, and offence to the Emperour his Maiestie. _Pamfilo de Naruaez_ being moued with his talke layde hand vpon _Aillon_, being a chiefe iudge for the King, and apprehended also his Secretary & an other officer, and forthwith shipped them, and sente thë to _Iames Velasques_ gouernour of _Cuba_. But when _Aillon_ saw himselfe at sea, and frée from _Naruaez_, he began to threaten y^e Mariners, cömanding thë not to presume to carrie him to _Cuba_ to _Velasquez_ his power, but onely to _Santo Domingo_, where he was one of y^e kings coüsell in chancery: the Mariners fearing the Kings iustice, obeyed his cömandemët and when he was aported at _Santo Domingo_, he wholly enformed the Counsell there, of _Naruaez_ and his wicked dealyng, whose testimonie and information did much blemishe the credite of _Velasques_, & exalt the trauels of _Cortes_. After that _Naruaez_ had shipped away _Aillon_, he proclaymed warre with fire and sworde agaynst _Cortes_, and promised certayne markes of Golde to him that shoulde apprehende or kill him, or _Pedro de Aluarado_, and _Gonsalo de Sandoual_, with other principall persons of his company. Also he made diuision of his goodes among his më before they came to possesse it. Surely these thrée poyntes were of a man without wisedome or discretion.

Many of _Naruaez_ his company did amotiue themselues, through the commaundement of the Licenciat _Aillon_, and through the fame and liberalitie of _Cortes_. Wherevpon incontinent one _Pedro de Villalobos_ a Portingal, and sixe or seuen more fledde vnto _Cortes_, yea and others wrote vnto him, offeryng themselues to his seruice, if by chauce they should encounter.

[Sidenote: A good captayne and a vvise.]

_Cortes_ receyued the letters, but kept in silence from his company the firmes of those whiche had written to hym. Some doe thinke that _Cortes_ had suborned them with letters, fayre promises, yea and a horse loade of chaynes and planches of golde, which he sente secretely to _Naruaez_ his campe with a seruaunt of his, publishing likewise, that he had an army of twoo hundreth Spaniardes in _Zempoallan_, where he had none at all: these policies mought well be, for he was prudent, carefull and quicke in his businesse, and _Pamfilo de Naruaez_ was slouthfull and carelesse.

_Naruaez_ made answere to _Cortes_ his letter by seignior _Bartholome de Olmedo_, the substaunce of his message was, that forthwith he shoulde repayre to the place where he was abiding, and there he should sée the Emperours commission & order, wherein was auctoritie giuen to hym to take and kéepe that countrey for _Iames Velasques_, yea and that already he had made a towne of men onely, with all officers therevnto appertayning.

After this letter and message sent, he dispatched likewise one _Barnaldino de Quesada_, and _Alonso de Mata_, to requyre _Cortes_ to depart and leaue the countrey vpon paine of death, and to notifie vnto him these actes by order of law. _Cortes_ layde hande vpon _Alonso de Mata_, bicause he named himselfe the kings Notary, and shewed no title or authoritie for the same.

The talke that Cortes had vvith _his owne Souldiers_.

_Cortes_ perceyuing the small fruyte that his letters (presentes) and messengers, obtayned at the handes of _Naruaez_, and that in no case, he woulde shewe his commission whiche came from the kyng, he determined to goe vnto him, and according to the olde Prouerbe, Face to face doth get respect, and likewise if it were possible, to agrée vpon some good order and quietnesse: wherevpon he sent _Rodrigo Aluarez_ his surueyor, with _Iohn Velasques_, and _Iohn del Rio_, to treate with _Naruaez_ of many matters, whereof thrée things were the principalest. The first was, that they two might méete alone, or else so many, for so many, and that _Naruaez_ should permit _Cortes_ to abyde in _Mexico_, and he withall his company shoulde cöquere _Panuco_ or other kingdomes, also that _Cortes_ would pay the charges, and haue consideration to gratifie his souldiers, or else that _Naruaez_ should abide in _Mexico_, and deliuer vnto _Cortes_ .400. of his men, to the intent that with them, and his owne men he myght procéede to séeke other countreys to conquere. Laste of all, he required to sée the kings commission, for that he would obey the same. _Naruaez_ liked none of these offers, only he accepted that they should méete togither with ech of them ten Gentlemë for securtie, bound with solemne othe, and firmed this agréement with their names. But it tooke no effect, for _Rodrigo Aluarez_ aduised _Cortes_ that _Naruaez_ had made a snare to apprehend him, or to kill him at their méeting. _Cortes_ vnderstoode the matter, or else he had some other intelligence by some that loued him wel. And this former agrement taking no place, _Cortes_ determined to goe vnto him.

But before his departing, he declared vnto his cöpany, saying, I trust ye haue in remembräce what & how much I haue done for you, since y^e beginning of this enterprise, yea & also how louingly & friendly yée haue dealt for me: Yée shall now vnderstand that _Iames Velasques_, in stéede of thankes giuing vs, hath sent to murder vs, _Pamfilo de Naruaez_, who is a stubborne & an vnreasonable man, one readie to execute our good desertes done in the seruice of God & our Prince, with an euill reward. And the cause is only, for doyng our duetie in the sending of the Kings parte & portiö to his Roiall person & not vnto him. Also this _Naruaez_ hath already confiscated our goodes, and giuen them to other men, and our bodies condemned to the Gallows, yea and our fame and honour plaide at tables, with great iniurious & slanderous wordes proclaymed agaynst vs, which things truly are not of a Christian, no nor yet we with Gods helpe will let the matter so to slippe: yea and though we ought to leaue the reuengment vnto God, yet we will not suffer them to enioy our trauayles & paynes, who are now comen white fingered to spoile the bloud of their neighbours, yea & like madde men to striue against their owne nation, sowing slander among those _Indians_ which serued vs as our friëds, yea & procuring more cruel warres, than the ciuill warre betwene _Mario_ & _Sila_, or of _Cesar_ & _Pompeio_, who turned vpsidowne the Romaine Empire. Wherfore I do determine to méete him by y^e way, & not to suffer him to come vnto _Mexico_, for it is better to say, God saue you, than they to come & say who is there? yea & though they are many, a good hart doth breake euil fortune, as it hath appered by vs, who haue passed thorow the pikes since our cöming hither: moreouer, I doubte not but that many of _Naruaez_ his cöpany will come vnto vs. Therfore my déere friends doe I giue you aduise of my pretence, to the entent y^t those which wil go with me, may them prepare thëselues, & those that will not, let them remaine to kéepe _Mexico_ & _Mutezuma_, whiche is as much in effect. At the end of this talke he promised great rewards if y^t with victory he returned. His më answered al w^t one voyce, y^t they were al at his cömandemët, & ready to fulfil his wil, yet some feared the pride & blindnesse of _Pamfilo de Naruaez_: on the other side the _Indians_ began to be lusty, to sée dissention among the Spanyardes, & that the _Indians_ of the coast were ioyned in league with the new come më.

The requests of Cortez to Mutezuma.

[Sidenote: Oh vvise Cortes.]

After al his talk & answer of his souldiers, he wët to visite & to comune w^t _Mutezuma_ for to departe on his iourney, w^t somewhat y^e lesser care, & also to proue the minde & wil of _Mutezuma_, vnto whome he vttered his mind as foloweth. Sir, you know y^e loue y^t I haue, & desire to serue you, & chiefly the trust againe, that you will haue to my cöpanions whë I am gone frö this citie. Therfore I pray you, that it may please you to remaine here in this lodgyng, & to haue regard vnto these strangers, which I leaue with you: also I cömend vnto you, the gold & iewels whiche is in their custodie, and gyuen vnto vs of your owne liberalitie. For I doe now goe to signifie vnto those which of late are comen in the new fléete, how your highnesse doth commaunde that I departe from this land, and that they doe not agrauate or molest your subiectes, nor yet presume to enter into your countrey, but that they remayne on your coast, vntill we be ready to departe with them, according to your will and pleasure. And if in the meane season, any of your subiects be so vnaduised, as to molest my men, whiche now remayne in your power and Guarde, that then it may please you to be their shielde, succour, and onely defence. _Mutezuma_ promised to fulfill his request, wishing him moreouer, that if any in his iourney shoulde offende him, then immediatly to aduise him, and that he would sende his men of warre to chasten thë, yea and also (if it pleased him,) he woulde giue vnto hym guydes to salfe conduct him through his owne dominion to the Sea coast, who should prouide him of all necessaries by the way. _Cortes_ kissed his handes for his curtesie, with moste hartie thankes for the same, and gaue vnto him certayne Spanishe apparell, and other glasen Iewels, and also other like treasure to his Noble men, which stoode by at all the talke. But in effect he tolde him not what he pretended to doe, nor yet the newes of _Pamfilo de Naruaez_ his procedings was not come to his eare, or else, it may be that _Mutezuma_ dissumuled the matter with inwarde pleasure, that one Christian should kill the other, thinkyng thereby to haue most sure his libertie, and the Goddes pleased.

The imprisonment of Pamfilo _de Naruaez_.

_Cortes_ was so wel beloued among hys companie, that they offered willingly to goe with him, by reason whereof he chose .250. men fitte for his iourney, & lefte other .200. in guarde of _Mutezuma_ and the Citie, with _Pedro de Aluarado_ for their Captayne. He lefte also with them the artillerie and foure Foystes readye made, to haue the lake in subiection, beséeching them onely to haue speciall regard that _Mutezuma_ fled not from them to _Naruaez_, and not to permitte him to goe out of their fort or strong house.

With those fewe Spanyards _Cortes_ tooke his iourney with no more but eyght or nine Horsemen, and certayne _Indians_ for his seruice, and carriage.

[Sidenote: A stoute man.]

[Sidenote: An vncertayne reckoning.]