Part 21
Passing through _Chololla_ and _Tlaxcallan_, he was honorably receyued and lodged, and aboute fiftéene leagues from _Zempoallan_ where _Naruaez_ was abiding, he mette with two Priestes, and his old especial friend _Andres de Duero_, who had lente him money for the setting forthe of that voyage. These thrée persons came to require him to obey the Generall lately come as Lieutenant to the Gouernour _Velasques_, and to deliuer vnto him the Countrey, with all the fortes or Castels therein, aduising him, that if he would not accomplish the same, that then he woulde procéede againste him, euen as an enemie and Rebell, to the execution of death. Likewise, if he would fulfill the request made vnto him, that then he shoulde haue libertie, and conueniente shipping to depart, both for him, and as many as would goe with him. _Cortes_ aunswered, that hée would rather suffer deathe, than to leaue the Countrey whiche he had conquered and pacifyed with his handes and industrie, without anye commaundemente from the Emperoure: and (quoth he) if againste all equitie and iustice, he will contend with me in warre, I will defend me as well as I may, and if I haue the victory (as I trust in God and the righte that I haue on my side,) I shall not stand in néede of shipping, and if I be slaine, muche lesse. Therefore I doe require him to shew vnto me his commission and authoritie had from the Emperour, for vntil I doe both sée and reade the same, I will accepte no agréemente: and if (quoth he) that he refuse the same, that then I dare warne, admonish, and require him to returne to _Cuba_, the place from whence he came, and if he wil not obey my precept, I will then apprehende him, and sende him prisoner in yrons to the Emperoure: and with thys aunswere dispatched the thrée messengers, sending also a notarie of his owne, to commaund him to take his shipping, and to departe without making any altercation in the Countrey, or y^t ensuing of further murders and strife, and if not, that vppon Whitsonday, whiche was within thrée dayes following, he meante to be with him at supper. _Pamfilo de Naruaez_ made a mockery and iest at his commaundemente, and tooke Prisoner the Notarie whiche came from _Cortes_ with that order, holding _Cortes_ for madde, who made so manye bragges with so small a company. And before _Iohn Velasques de Leon_, and _Iohn de Rio_, _Cortes_ his friendes, he mustered his men, who were in number fourescore Hargabushers, a hüdred and twëtie Crossebowes, sixe hundred men, with other weapon, and fourescore Horsemen, saying, how will _Cortes_ defend himselfe againste vs, nay at length he will know his dutie: he promised money to him that shoulde eyther kyll, or take _Cortes_ prisoner. And the same offer made _Cortes_ against _Pamfilo_, who made a rounde of his footemen, and skirmished with his Horsemen, shooting off his artillerie, to put in feare the pore _Indians_.
_Naruaez_ signifyed againe vnto _Mutezuma_ with the messengers who carried all the triumph and muster pointed, all his former dealings, but hearing that _Cortes_ was néere at hande, he sente out hys lyght Horsemen to dyscrie his Campe.
All _Naruaez_ his Horses were readye sadled and brideled, and his men armed. _Cortes_ entred so close and secret, that no man almost hearde him, and the firste worde hée spake, hauyng all hys men within with him, was, shut the gates, and strike, downe with them. There were at that time many shining wormes, whiche with their glistering séemed matches of Hargabushe, so that if one péece at that time had bin discharged, they woulde haue bin in a great feare.
_Naruaez_ béeing about to put on his priuie coate, came one vnto him, saying: Sir, _Cortes_ is néere your lodgyng, let him come in (quoth he) for he commeth to talke with me. _Naruaez_ had his men in foure Towers of his lodging, and he himselfe was in the one, with a hundred Spanyardes, and at his dore thirtéene péeces of Ordinance ready charged. _Cortes_ commanded his chiefe Sheriffe _Gösalo de Sädoual_, with fortie or fiftie of his fellowes, to goe vp into _Naruaez_ his Chamber, and he himselfe with other twentie men abode at the dore to defende and kéepe that none might enter thereat, vntil he had finished his businesse. The residue of his men besieged the other Towers, so that they might not succoure one another.
[Sidenote: A darke night for Naruaez.]
_Naruaez_ hearing the noyse, woulde néedes fighte, although he was required to stay his handes, and comming out at his Chamber dore, they strake out one of his eyes with a pike, and then they layde hande vpon hym, dragging and drawyng him downe the stayres by the héeles, and when he sawe hymselfe broughte before _Cortes_, he sayde, oh _Senior Cortes_, thanke your great fortune, in hauyng my person prisoner: who aunswered hym againe, oh _Naruaez_, the hauing of thy body prisoner, is the least thing that I haue done, sithence I came into thys lande. _Cortes_ commaunded forthwith to lay him in yrös, and to carrie him to the riche towne of _Vera Crux_, where he abode prisoner certayne yeares.
This combat endured but a while, for within one hour _Pamfilo de Naruaez_ and the chiefest of his company were taken prisoners, and their weapös & armour taken from all the rest. There were slayne of _Naruaez_ his men sixetéene, and of _Cortes_ his side were killed only two persons with a péece of Ordinance. They had no leysure to giue fire to their Ordinance, with the great diligence and hast of _Cortes_, sauing vnto one péece that killed the two men. The tutche holes were stopped with waxe, through the great raine that had fallen. By this meane those that were ouercome, did take occasion to ymagine that _Cortes_ had suborned the maister gunner, and others.
_Cortes_ vsed great sobrietie and discretion, for he would not permitte anye of the prisoners to be reuiled or misused with any iniurious wordes, no nor yet _Naruaez_, who hadde spoken so much euill of him, although many of hys men desired reuengement. _Pedro de Maluenda_ seruaunt to _Iames Velasques_, who was chiefe Stewarde to _Naruaez_, fledde to the Shippes with all the stuffe that he coulde gette, without any lette of _Cortes_. Héere may you sée what difference and aduantage is betwixt man and man, what did eache of these Captiues say, thinke, and doe, seldome time dothe happen that so fewe of one nation dothe ouercome so many of the same nation, especially the greater number béeyng fresh, lustie, and in a strong holde.
The Rebellion of Mexico against _Cortes_.
After that _Cortes_ had obteyned victorye against _Naruaez_, he knew very well the most part of his company, vnto whome he spake curteously, praying them to forget the things past, and so would hée also. And also likewise, that it mighte please them to goe with him to _Mexico_, whiche was the richest Citie of all that _India_. He also restored to euerye man his armour and weapons, whiche were taken from them in their ouerthrowe. Hée also left very few of them prisoners with _Naruaez_. The Horsemen tooke the fielde with stomacke to fight, but after they had hearde of hys offer, they submitted themselues. In conclusion, all those that were come, hoping of spoyle, were glad to accepte his offer, and to goe with him with faithfull promise truly to serue him.
He renued his power in _Vera Crux_, and brought thyther the nauie of _Naruaez_. He also dispatched two hundred Spanyardes to the riuer of _Garay_, and sent also _Iohn Velasques de Leon_ with other two hundred men. To inhabite of _Coazacoalco_. He dispatched also a Spanyarde by post to _Mexico_, with newes of the victory, and hée himselfe followed towarde _Mexico_, with the great care that he had of those whome he had lefte there in guard of _Mutezuma_ and the Citie.
The Post that wente on this iourney, in steade of thankes, was sore wounded by the _Indian_ Rebelles, but although he was so hurte, yet he returned to _Cortes_, wyth newes that _Mexico_ was reuolted, and that they had burned the foure Foystes, also assieged the Spanish house, and throwen downe a wall, and myned another, yea and set fire vpon the munition, taken away their vittayles, and had broughte them to suche extremitie, to be eyther slayne, or remayne prisoners, sauing that _Mutezuma_ commaunded to ceasse the combate, yea and for all that they woulde not leaue their armoure, nor departe from the siege, only they somewhat amayned their furie for theyr princes sake.
These newes were sorrowfull to _Cortes_, for thereby his pleasure was turned into care, the rather to make hast to succoure his friendes and fellowes, for if he hadde delayed hys comming but a small whyle, he had founde them eyther slayne, or else their bodyes ready to sacrifice: but his greatest comforte was, that _Mutezuma_ remayned styll prisoner. He mustered his men in _Tlaxcallan_, and founde of his Spanishe nation a thousand footemen, and néere a hundred Horsemen. He procéeded forwardes towarde _Tezcuco_, where he founde none of the Gentlemen of his acquaintance, nor yet he there was receyued, as in time past he had bin, but rather he found a great alteration in the Coütrey, and also many townes without people, or else rebelled. In _Tezcuco_ met with him a _Spanyarde_, whome _Aluarado_ had sente to desire him to come vnto them, and to certifie hym of all the premisses, saying moreouer, that with his comming their furye woulde be pacifyed.
With this messenger came another from _Mutezuma_, who declared vnto _Cortes_, that hys Lorde was innocent of all that was done, praying hym, that if he had conceiued any euill opinion agaynste hym, to putte away the same agayne, and that it mighte please hym to goe directly to hys own house, where hée abode hys comming, wyth the Spanishe guarde that he hadde lefte with him, who were aliue and in good healthe as he hadde lefte them.
With thys message, _Cortes_ and hys companye reposed all that nyghte, and the nexte daye, béeyng Midsommer daye, he entred into _Mexico_ at dynner tyme, with hys hundred Horsemen, and the thousande footemen, with a greate companye of theyr friendes of _Tlaxcallan_, _Huexocinco_, and _Chololla_, but he saw but few folke in the stréetes, and small entertaynement, with manye bridges broken, and other euill tokens.
He came to hys lodgyng, and all those of his companye whyche coulde not well bée lodged there, hée sente them to the greate Temple. _Mutezuma_ came forth into the yarde to receyue hym, full heauie and sorrowfull, as it séemed, of that offence whiche his subiectes had done, excusing hymselfe: and then euery one entred into hys lodgyng and Chamber: but the ioy and pleasure of _Pedro de Aluarado_ was incomparable, saluting the one the other, with demaundes and questions howe they fared, yea and how much the one company declared of prosperitie and pleasure, the other againe replyed as muche of sorrow and trouble.
The causes of the Rebellion.
_Cortes_ procured to knowe the principall cause of the insurrection of the _Mexican Indians_, and hauing a generall daye of hearyng, the charge béeyng layde against them, some sayd, that it was through the letters and persuasion of _Naruaez_: Others aunswered, their desire and meaning was, to expell the straungers, according to agréemente made, for in theyr skirmishes they cryed nothing but gette you hence, get you hence: Other sayde, that they pretended the libertie of _Mutezuma_, for in theyr Combates they woulde saye, lette goe oure God and Kyng, if you list not to bée slayne. Others sayde, that they were Théeues, and hadde robbed theyr golde and plate from them, whyche was in valewe more than seauen hundred thousande duckettes: Others cryed, héere shall you leaue the golde that you haue taken from vs. Others sayde, that they coulde not abyde the syghte of the _Tlaxcaltecas_, and other theyr mortall enimies. Manye beléeued that the mutinye was for throwyng downe theyr Goddes and Idolles: each of these causes were sufficient to rebell, how muche more altogither.
But the chiefest and most principall cause was, that after the departure of _Cortes_ towarde _Naruaez_, happened a solemne holiday, whiche the _Mexicans_ were wont to celebrate, and desiring to obserue the same, as they were wont to do, they came and besoughte Captayne _Aluarado_ to graunt them licence, & not to ymagine that they were ioyned togither to kill the Spanyardes. _Aluarado_ gaue them licence, with such conditions, that in their Sacrifice shoulde no mans bloude be spilte, nor yet to weare anye weapon.
At this feast, sixe hundred Gentlemen and principall persons ioyned togither in the greate temple: some doe saye, that they were more than a thousande persons of greate estate, but that nighte they made a maruellous great noyse, with cornets, shels, clouen bones, wherewith they made a straunge musicke: they celebrated the feast, their naked bodyes couered with telc, made and wrought with precious stones, collers, girdels, bracelettes, and many other iewels of golde, siluer, and aliofar, with gallant tuffes of feathers on their heads. They daunced a daunce called _Mazeualiztli_, which is to say, deserte wyth payne, and so they call _Mazauali_ a husbandman. Thys daunce is like _Netoraliztli_, which is another daunce. The manner is, that they lay mattes in the Temple yarde, and with the sounde of their Drummes, called _Atabals_, they daunce a round, hande in hande, some singing, and others answere, which songs were in y^e honor and prayse of the God or Saincte, whose feast it is, hoping for thys seruice to haue rayne, corne, healthe, victory, peace, chyldren, or anye other thing that they maye wishe for, or desire.
[Sidenote: A couetous desire and a vile.]
These _Indian_ Gentlemen being occupied in their daunsing and ceremonies, it fortuned that _Pedro de Aluarado_ went to the Temple of _Vitzilopuchtli_ to beholde theyr doings, and whether his goyng was of his owne accorde, or by the consent of his cöpany I am not certaine, although some saye that he was aduised howe the mutinie was there conspired, as after did follow: others holde opinion, that their onely goyng to the Temple was to beholde the maruaylous and straunge daunce. And then seying them so richely attyred, they coueted their Golde and Iewels whiche they were, and besieged the Temple with tenne Spaniardes at each dore, & the Captayne entred in, with fiftie men, and without any Christian respect slewe and murdered them al, and tooke from them all their treasure. Although this facte séemed odious vnto _Cortes_, yet he dissimuled the mater, for feare least he shoulde hurte his owne procéedings, as time did then require knowyng not, what néede he might haue of them, but especially to auoyde contention among his company.
The threatenings of the Mexicans _agaynst the Spaniardes_.
The cause of this rebellion, beyng well knowen, _Cortes_ demaunded how theyr enimies fought, mary (quoth they) after they had taken weapon agaynst vs for the space of ten dayes arew, they neuer seased with great fury to assaulte and cöbat our house, and we with feare least _Mutezuma_ shoulde escape and flée vnto _Naruaez_, durst not goe out of dores to fight in the streate, but onely to defende the house with especiall care of _Mutezuma_, accordyng to your charge giuen vnto vs. Also we being but few and the _Indians_ many, who still refreshed their men, they did not onely wery vs, but also put vs in great feare and cleane out of courage, yea and if at the greatest brunt, _Mutezuma_ personally had not ascended to the toppe of our wal, commaunding them if euer they meant to sée him aliue, to stay and cease from their enterpryce.
At the sight of _Mutezuma_ they were all amazed, and incontinent ceased the combat and assault. They sayde also that with the newes of the victory had agaynst _Pamfilo de Naruaez_, _Mutezuma_ requyred his men to leaue off from theyr pretence: notwithstandyng, the _Indians_ calling to remembraunce, that _Cortes_ was cöming with a greater company, at whose returne they should haue the more to doe, began afreshe to assaulte the house, wherevppon some doe thinke, that it was agaynst the will of _Mutezuma_. But it followed, that one day the Spaniardes standing in greate perill, charged their greatest péece of ordinaunce, and gyuing fire, the péece discharged not: the _Indians_ seyng the same, beganne a freshe with a marueylous terrible noyse, vsing staues, Bowes, lances, & stones that came as thicke as Hayle, saying, nowe will wée redéeme our King, sette our houses at libertie, and reuenge our iniuries. But in the middest of theyr fury the péece wente of, without any more prymyng or touche, with a greate and fearefull thunderyng, the péece beyng great and ful of hayle shotte, with the mayne pellotte, made a straunge spoyle among them, and with feare they retyred. But yet they beganne to say, well, well, shortely shall your fleshe be boyled, although wée meane not to eate it, for truely it is very carrayne and good for nothing. But yet we will bestowe the same vpon the Eagles, Lions, Tigres and Snakes, who shal be the graues for your filthy carcases.
But if forthwith ye let not _Mutezuma_ departe, and restore him to his libertie, yée shall quickly haue your rewarde, for your presumption & pride, who durst be so bold, as to lay hande on _Mutezuma_ being our God and Lorde that giueth vs our dayly foode. And yet yée with your filthy théeues handes presumed to touch him, oh why dothe not the earth open & swallow you which taketh other mës goodes? But marke the end, for our Gods whose religion you did profane, will rewarde you according to your deserte: & if they do not shortly execute their wrath, then let vs alone, for we will out of hande make an ende of you. And as for those théeues and villaines of _Tlaxcallan_ your slaues, shall not depart praysing their gaynes, who nowe presume to take their maisters wiues, ye and to demaund tribute of them, vnto whome they themselues are tributors. These & such like were the wordes of the _Mexicans_. But our men, although they were in a maruelous feare, yet they reprehended their folly as touchyng _Mutezuma_, saying that _Mutezuma_ was no God, but a mortall mä as they were, and no better, and that their Gods were vayne idols, and their religion most false and abhominable, and that only our God was holy, iuste, true, and infinite.
The great extremitie and daunger that _our men were put in by the Mexicans_.
In hearyng the former talke in defense of the house, and prouiding of things necessary, the night passed away. And in the mornyng to proue the _Mexicans_ intent, _Cortes_ commaunded the market to be vsed as in time past. _Aluarado_ wished _Cortes_ to shew himself toward him as agrieued & not well pleased, makyng as though he would apprehend & correct him for the things passed, thinking that _Mutezuma_ and his men would haue entreated for him. _Cortes_ passed not for that talke, saying that they were infidels, diuelish and wicked people, with whome suche complementes shoulde not bée vsed.
But he commaunded a certaine principal Gentleman of _Mexico_, who stoode there presente, that out of hande he should commaunde the market to be furnished as in time past. This _Indian_ vnderstäding that _Cortes_ had spoken euil of them, made as though he went to fulfill his commandment: but he wente to proclayme libertie, publishyng the heynous and iniurious wordes whiche he had harde, so that in shorte space the matter beganne to waxe hoate, for some went and brake downe the bridges, others went to call all the Citizens, who ioyned themselues togither, and besieged the Spaniardes house, with suche straunge noyse that one coulde not heare another: the stones flewe lyke hayle, Dartes and arrowes filled the Spanyardes yarde, which troubled them much. _Cortes_ seing this broyle, he with certaine of his men went out at one dore, and an other Captayne at another, with eache of them twoo hundred men. They fought with the _Indians_, who slewe foure Spaniardes, and wounded many moe, and of them were slayne very fewe with their succor and defence at hande. If our men fought with them in the streates, then would they stoppe their passage at the bridges: if they assaulted their houses, then they were beaten with stones from the toppe of their houses whiche were flatte ruffed, and at their retire they persecuted them terribly.
They sette fire vpon the Spaniardes house in sundry places, but chiefly in one place they coulde not aplake the fire a great whyle, vntill they threwe downe certayne chambers and walles, whereas they had entered at pleasure, had it not bene for the Artillerie, Crossebowes and handgunnes, which were there in defence of that place. This combat endured all that day vntill night, yea and in the night also they had their handes full: our men had litle leasure to sleepe, but rather spente the night in mendyng the walles and dores, and curing the wounded men who were more than foure score, & likewise to set their men in order & readinesse for the fight of the next day following.
[Sidenote: A straunge inuention.]
It was no sooner day, but the _Indians_ beganne theyr assault a fresh, with more courage and furie than the day before, so that our men were fayne to trust to their artillery, the whiche the _Indians_ feared not a whitte: for if a shotte carried ten, fiftene or twentie _Indians_ at a clappe, they would close againe as though one man had not bene missyng. _Cortes_ came out with other twoo hundreth men, and gate some bridges, burned some houses, and slew many that defended them. But the _Indians_ were so many in number, that no hurte appeared, yea and our men were so fewe in comparison of them, that although they fought al the day, yet had they much a doe to defend themselues, how much more to offende. That day neuer a Spaniarde was slayne outright, but thrée score of them were wounded and hurte, wherby they had inough to do to cure them for that night, and to procure remedy and defence against the hurtes whiche they receyued from the house toppes. They inuented Engines of timber made vpon whéeles, and foure square, couered on the toppe, and with Arte to passe through the streates: there were placed on eache of them twentie men with Pikes, Hargabush, Crossebowes and one double Base. Behinde the Engines wente men with shouels and Mattockes, to throwe downe houses, bulworkes, and to rule and gouerne the Engines.
The death of Mutezuma.
All the while that the Engines were a makyng, our men came not out to fight, beyng occupied in the worke, but onely to defende their lodgyng. The enimies thinkyng that they were all sore hurte and wounded, beganne their warres agayne, reuilyng them with many iniurious wordes, threatnyng them, that if they woulde not deliuer _Mutezuma_, that they woulde giue them the moste cruellest death that euer man suffered, and came with great force to haue entred the house.
_Cortes_ desired _Mutezuma_ to goe vp into the sotie, which is the toppe of the flatte roufe of the house, and to commaunde his subiects to ceasse from their heate and furie. At _Cortes_ his request he wente vp, and leaned ouer the wall to talke with them, who beginnyng to speake vnto them, they threw so many stones out of the streate, houses and windowes, that one happened to hitte _Mutezuma_ on the temples of his head, with whiche blowe he fell downe to the ground: this was his ende, euen at the handes of his owne subiectes and vassalles agaynst theyr willes: for the truth is that a Spaniarde helde a Target ouer his head, wherby they knew him not, nor yet would beléeue that he was there, for all the signes and tokens whiche were made vnto them. _Cortes_ forthwith published the hurte and daunger of life of _Mutezuma_: some gaue credite to his tale, and othersome woulde not, but rather fought very stoutly. Thrée dayes _Mutezuma_ remayned in extréeme payne, and at the ende departed his life.