Part 29
In _Iztacpallapä_ they 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 father _Thomas Ortiz_, no (quoth the Stewarde) hys reuerence shall haue another dishe, no (quoth father _Ortiz_) 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 the _Comendador_, _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 cömyng 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 of _Cortes_ there was presented to the Licenciat a riche present, but he refused it.
_Cortes_ with al the flower of Gentlemen in _Mexico_, came to receyue him, and giuyng him the right hand, they went togyther vntill they came to _Sainct Frances_ abbay, where after their praiers made, _Cortes_ demaüded 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. _Cortes_ with all the other Magistrates kissed the Emperours letters, and put them vpon the crowne of their heads, in tokë 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, of _Hernando 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.
The death of the Licenciat _Luys Ponce_.
The Licenciat comming one day from _Saint Frances_ abbay 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 bacheler _Marcus de Aguillar_. _Cortes_ made as greate sorrow for his death, as if he had bene his owne father, his funeralles were celebrated with great pompe.
[Sidenote: A madde daunce.]
The enimies of _Cortes_ published, that he died of poyson. But the Licenciat _Pero Lopez_, and Doctor _Hoieda_, 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 daüsing, 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 that _Cortes_ had poysoned the Licenciat, and also that the Licenciat had an expresse order from the Emperour to cut of _Cortes_ his 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.
Hovv Cortez came into _Spayne_.
VVhere one _Alonso de Estrada_ gouerned the state of _Mexico_, as substitute of _Marcus de Aguillar_, accordying to the Emperours commaundement, _Cortes_ considered 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 in _Mexico_, 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. _Cortes_ beyng in these imaginations, there was brought a letter vnto him, from the reuerend father _Garcia de Loaisa_ ghostly 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 riuer _De las Palmas_. Before his departure he dispatched twoo hundred Spaniardes, & thrée score and ten horsemen, with many _Mexicans_ for the countrey of _Chichimea_, 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 thë as enimies, and forthwith to make warre, and to take them for slaues, for that they are a barbarous people. He wrote his letter to _Vera Crux_, to prepare with all spéede twoo good shippes, and for that purpose he sent _Pero 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 a _Negro_, his slaue, who wente in his company, was neuer hearde of, nor yet the _Canao_ and _Indians_ that wente with him, so that the truth of his death was neuer knowen.
_Cortes_ made 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 Licenciat _Altamirano_ his kinsman, with other two friends: he furnished twoo shippes, and proclaymed frée passage and victuals vnto all those that would goe in his cöpany: 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 company _Gonsalo de Sandoual_, _Andres de Tapia_, and other of the chiefest of the conquerours. He brought with him a Sonne of _Mutezumas_, & another Sonne of _Maxixca_, who was become a Christian, & named _Don Lorenso_, with many other _Indian_ Gentlemen of _Mexico_, _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 called _Aiotochtli_, and one _Tlaquaci_. 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 in _Tolledo_. The newes of his arriuall was blowen through out all Spayne, and euery one desirous to sée him.
The honour vvhiche the Emperour _shewed vnto Hernando Cortes, with rewarde_.
The Emperour receyued _Cortes_ magnifically, 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, _Cortes_ went in his maiesties company vnto the Citie of _Saragoza_, whereas his Maiestie calling to remembrance his worthy seruice, & valour of his person, made him _Marques 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 offer _Cortes_ refused, bycause there was no rent gyuen with the habite, but he besought his Maiestie to graunt vnto him the gouernmët of _Mexico_, 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 king _Don Fernando_, by _Cristoual Colon_ who firste discouered the _India_, and also the great Captaine _Gonsalo Hernandoz de Cordoua_, who conquered _Naples_. _Cortes_ deserued 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 vnto _Cortez_ all the kyngdome of _Michuacan_, 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.
The Mariage of Cortez.
VVhen it was knowen in Spayne, that the lady _Catherin Xuares_, wife vnto _Cortes_, was deceassed in _India_, by intercessours he was assured vnto the Duke of _Beiar_, his brothers daughter, who was named the Lady _Iane_ of _Zuniga_: hyr fathers name was _Don Carolus de Arrellano_, Earle of _Aguilar_. This Lady was a bewtifull Dame, and hyr brethrene noble personages, who were highly in fauour with the Emperour. And _Cortes_ to matche with so honorable an house and lynage he iudged himselfe fortunate and well maried.
[Sidenote: The riche Emeraldes.]
Among many Iewelles whiche _Cortes_ broughte with him, were fiue moste riche and fine Emeraldes, whiche were valued at a hundreth thousande Duckets: the one was wrought lyke vnto a Rose, an other like a Cornet, an other lyke a fishe with the eyes of golde, whiche was a maruellous péece of worke, beyng wrought among _Indians_: an other péece was wrought lyke vnto a bell, with a great and a riche pearle for the clapper, garnished with golde, ingrauen about with letters, whiche sayde, Blessed is he that created thée. The fifth was made lyke a cuppe with the foote of gold, and had foure little chaynes of gold, that were ioyned all at the top togither, in a great pearle, and the brimme of this cuppe was of gold, with this verse ingrauen rounde aboute, _Inter nates mulierum non furrexit maior_. For this onely péece the Merchantes of _Geneua_ did offer fourtie thousand Ducates, for to sel the same again to the great Turke. But at that tyme _Cortes_ woulde not giue it for any money, although afterwarde he lost them all in the warres of _Argel_, beyng there with the Emperour. It was told _Cortes_ that the Empresse desired to haue those péeces, meaning to demaunde them of him, and that the Emperour shoulde pay for the same, for whiche cause he sent them to the Lady his newe wife, with many other Iewelles before he came at the Courte, and there, when he was enquired for them, he answered, and excused himselfe, for then certaynely he gaue suche Iewels vnto his Espouse, that the lyke neuer Lady had in Spayne. And after he was maried to the Lady _Iane_ of _Zuniga_, he departed with hyr to the newe Spayne, with title of _Marques_.
Hovv the Chancery vvas first placed _in Mexico, and certayne Diuelishe pretences wrought against Cortes_.
Before _Cortes_ his cöming into Spayne, _Pamfilo de Naruaez_ his old enimy wët vp & down in the Court, procuring the conquest of the riuer _De Palmas_ & _Florida_, where at the laste he died, and alwayes when he saw time conuenient he made cöplaints against _Cortes_, yea and to the Emperours owne hand he deliuered a scrole of many articles, amög the which was one, wherein he affirmed that _Cortes_ had as many barres of gold and siluer, as in _Biscay_ were barres of yron, and offered to proue the same: but although it was not true, yet it was suspicious. He also earnestly procured that he shold be punished, saying that he had plucked out one of his eyes, & killed with poyson the Licenciat _Luys ponce de Leon_, & _Francisco Garay_. Through his many and importunate petitiös, it was determined to send to _Mexico_, _Don Pedro de la Cueua_, who was bothe fierce and seuere, and Lorde stewarde of the Emperour his house, and afterwarde made general of the ordinance, and chiefe Comendador of the order and knighthood of _Alcantara_, who findyng the accusation true, should cut off _Cortes_ his head.
But as God would, in the meane season came the testimoniall from the Doctor _Hoieda_, and the Licenciat _Pero Lopez_, Phisitions, who had cured the persons that were reported to haue bene poysoned, whervpon that commission ceased. And when _Cortes_ came into Spayne, _Don Pedro de la Cueua_ would many times laugh and iest with him, saying, From farre places long lies.
[Sidenote: Before the Iudges came, Cortez vvas gone to Spayne.]
The Emperour and his councell of _India_ prouided a Courte of Chancery in _Mexico_, as chiefe place, where as all controuersies and matters of righte throughout the new _Spayne_ mighte there be determined, and also to correct the mutinies, and partes taking among the Spanyardes: likewise to take residence and accompte of _Cortes_, and to be satisfyed both of his seruice and offences. Moreouer that they should visite the officers, and royall Treasorie there. _Munio de Gusman_ was appoynted president and gouernoure, with other foure Licenciates for Iudges to accompany him. He departed toward _Mexico_ Anno 1529. and at his comming, he began to vnderstande in his regimente and office, with the Licenciate _Iohn Ortiz_, for the other thrée Iudges died by the way. _Cortes_ béeing nowe absente, and vppon his iourney toward _Spayne_, this newe Iudge made a terrible residence and condemnation againste him, and commaunded all his goodes to be solde by out-thrappe, for a greate deale lesse then hys goodes were worth, and in his absence they called him by Proclamation: but if he hadde bin there present, his life had bin in daunger, although face to face some respect is had, and it is an ordinarie rule that the Iudge sheweth rigoure against him that is absent. This hatred was not only against _Cortes_, but also againste his friendes, for hée apprehended _Pedro de Aluarado_, who was newly come from _Spayne_, bycause he spake in the fauour of _Cortez_, laying to his charge the rebellion of _Mexico_, when _Naruaez_ was there. He also apprehended _Alonso de Estrada_, & manye others, doing manifest wrongs vnto them.
[Sidenote: A good sentence.]
In shorte space the Emperour had more complayntes against _Nunio de Gusman_, and the other Iudge, than had bin héeretofore againste any other, wherevpon he was put out of office in the yeare 1530. His wrongful dealing in iustice was not onely proued in _Mexico_, but also in the Court of _Spayne_, with many persons that were come from thence, so that the nexte president and Iudges that went thither, did pronounce _Nunio de Gusman_ and his fellowe for partiall Iudges, and enimies vnto _Cortes_, and condemned him to pay all his goodes whiche were euill solde. But whë _Nunio de Gusman_ vnderstoode that he was put out of office, he then was afraide, and tooke his iourney against the _Teuchichimecas_, séeking after the Towne of _Culhuacan_, from whence the _Mexicans_ descended. He caried in his company fiue hundred Spanyardes, whereof the most were horsemen, and many of them went as prisoners, and against their willes.
[Sidenote: Abhominable fact.]
In _Mechuacan_ he tooke prisoner the King _Caconcin_, who was a great friende vnto _Cortes_, a seruitor vnto the Spanyards, and vassal to the Emperour, and as the same goeth, he tooke from him tenne thousande markes of plate, and much golde, and afterward burned him, and many other Gentlemen, and principal persons of that kingdome, bycause they shoulde not complayne, saying, that a dead dogge biteth not. He tooke from thence sixe thousand _Indians_ for the seruice of his army, and with them conquered _Xalixco_, whiche is nowe called the new _Gallizia_. He abode there, vntill the Vizeroy _Don Antonio de Mondoza_, and Chancery of _Mexico_, caused him to be apprehended, who sent him prisoner into Spayne, to giue accompte of his office. If _Nunio de Gusman_ had bin so good a gouernour and Iudge, as he was in bloud a Gentleman, he had then enioyed the best plot of all the West _India_, but he behaued himselfe euill, both with the _Indians_ and _Spanyards_.
The same yeare that he came from _Mexico_, went thyther for president _Sebastian Ramirez_, who was a Bishop, and had in time past bin presidente in _Santo Domingo_, and the Licenciates _Iohn de Salmeron_, _Gasco Quiroga_, _Francisco Ceynos_, and _Alonso Maldonado_, for Iudges to accompany him.
These Iudges gouerned well the land, and caused the Citie of _Angels_ to be inhabited which the _Indians_ called _Cuetlaxcoapan_, that is to say a Snake in water. The reason was, bycause they haue two fountaynes, the one of euill water, and the other of good. This Citie standeth twentie leagues from _Mexico_, in the high way to _Vera Crux_. The Bishop set the _Indians_ at libertie, and therefore many Spanyards departed from thence, who hadde inhabited there before, and wente to séeke their liuing at _Xalixco_, _Hunduras_, _Quahutemallan_, and other places where warre was.
The returne of Cortez to Mexico.
At this season arriued _Cortes_ at the riche Towne of _Vera Crux_, and when his comming was published, how he came wyth title of Marquez, and had broughte hys wife with him, an infinite number of _Indians_ came to visite him, and almost all the Spanyards of _Mexico_, so that in few dayes there came a thousand persons of his owne nation, who made theyr complaintes vnto him, how they were vndone, and that the Iudges which had bin there, had destroyed both him and them, and asked his iudgement whether that nowe they might kill both them and theirs. _Cortes_ hearing their odious request, reprehended them, and also gaue them hope shortly to reléeue their necessitie with new discoueries, and in this order fearing some mutinie, he held them in pleasure and pastime.
When the president hearde howe _Cortes_ was visited of the Spanyaryds, they commaunded forthwith euery one of them shoulde immediately returne to _Mexico_, or else, where their dwelling places were vpö paine of death, yea and they were aboute to apprehende _Cortes_ for a stirrer of vprore, and to sende him backe againe prisoner into _Spayne_. But when he saw howe soone these Iudges were moued, he commaunded to proclayme himselfe openly in _Vera Crux_ Captayne Generall of all the dominions of the new _Spayne_, and there caused the Emperours letters pattentes to be redde, whiche thing being knowen to the _Mexican_ Iudges, it caused them to wring their noses. After this diligence ended, he departed toward _Mexico_ wyth a great company of _Spanyards_ and _Indians_, among whom were a good company of horsemen: but when he came to _Tezcuco_, the President sent to commaund him not to enter into _Mexico_, vpon payne of losse of his goodes, and hys body to be at the Kings pleasure.
He obeyed the commaundemente with greate wysedome, being a thing conuenient to the seruice of the Emperour, and profite of the land, which he had wonne wyth great toyle and laboure: but yet he abode in _Tezcuco_ with a greater maiestie and court, than the President in _Mexico_, and wrote vnto him, that he should consider his good will and whole intent, and not to giue occasion to the _Indians_ to rebell, and for the _Spanyards_ he might assure hymselfe.
The _Indians_ vnderstäding y^e discord betwixt the President and _Cortes_, slew as many Spanyards as they coulde get at aduantage, so that in fewe dayes there wanted aboue two hundred of the Spanish nation, being slayne as well in Townes, as in the high wayes, yea and also they had communed among themselues to rebell in déede. But when the Bishop and the Iudges heard this newes, they began to feare the matter, and considering that they had no better remedy, nor other sure defence, but only y^e name valor, person, and authoritie of _Cortes_, they sente to desire him to come vnto _Mexico_, wherevpon he obserued theyr commaundement and request, & wente toward the Citie, well accompanyed with men of warre, so that he shewed himselfe in estate a generall captaine. All the Citizens came out to receiue him and the lady Marques his wife: his entrie into the cittie was a day of great pleasure among them. Then the president and iudges entred into counsell for to remedie the greate hurt whiche had bene done by the _Indians_. _Cortes_ toke the matter in hand, and apprehended many _Indians_, of whom some he burned, others wer torne with dogges, he did such correction, that in shorte time al the countrey was quiet, and the highe ways without daunger, a thing worthy of great thanks.
The letters that the Indians vsed in _Mexican_.
There hath not bin found letters at any time in the Weast _India_, onely in the newe Spain were vsed certain figures which serued for letters, with the which they kept in memorie, and preserued their antiquities. The figures y^t the _Mexicans_ vsed for letters are great, by reason whereof they occupy gret volumes: they ingraue them in stone or timber, and paint them vpon walles, and also vpon a paper made of cotten wool, and leaues of the tree _Metl_. Their bookes are great and folden vp like vnto our broade clothes, and written vpon both sides. There are some bokes rolled vp like a piece of flannel. They pronoüce not .b.g.e.f. Therfore they vse much .p.e.l.x. This is the Mexical spéech, and _Nahual_, which is the best, playnest, and moste eloquent, in al newe Spayne. There are some in _Mexico_ that do vnderstand ech other, by whistling, whiche is ordinarily vsed among louers, & théeues, a spéeche truely to wonder at, & none of our men could come to the knowledge therof.
The order hovv to recken.