Part 5
Al y^t nighte _Cortez_ slept not, but rather occupyed himselfe in carrying the wounded men, & other stuffe aboord y^e Shyps, & also to disenbarke thirtéene Horses, & the residue of his më y^t he had left aboord, y^t which he brought to passe before the sunne rising, although the _Tauascans_ had notice thereof. Whë the sunne was risen, he had with his company made vnto God their prayers, and mustered his men, where were at that time in Campe néere fiue hundred Spanyardes, thirtéene Horses, and sixe péeces of ordinance: These Horses were the fyrste that euer came into that Countrey, whych now is called new _Spayne_. He planted his men and munition in good order, and thus marched forwardes toward _Cintla_. The _Indians_ séeyng this preparation, began also to make readie, and to place in good order fortie thousand men in fyue cöpanies: their méeting was in ploughed lande among manye déepe lakes and pondes, very daungerous to passe, so that our men by reason thereof were brought out of order. And _Hernando Cortez_ with his horsemen wente to séeke a better passage, and to enclose himselfe among certayne trées on their left hand, for to set vpon the enimies when time should serue. The footemen procéeded on, and passed many marishe groundes, vntill they came to the tilled land. The _Indians_ were expert in those places wher they beganne the battayle, shooting with their bowes and slings, and throwing of dartes. And although our më did some hurt among them with their Crossebowes, hädgunnes, and Ordinance, whë they were in place to shoote, yet the _Indians_ pursued our men so thicke, that they could not put them off, for by pollicie, the _Indians_ of _Potonchan_ hadde soughte out that place: and it is to bée thoughte that they were not barbarous, nor of small vnderstanding in warres, yet notwithstanding wyth muche payne, oure men gate out of that place, and obtayned another somewhat better, and more playner grounde, whereas they myghte vse their Ordinance, and fyghte with their weapons bodye to body. But the _Indians_ béeyng so greate a number, draue our men to so narrowe a place, that they were fayne to ioyne backe to backe for theyr owne defence, yea & for all that were in maruellous greate daunger, for they hadde no roome to vse their Ordinance, nor yet Horsemen to make them waye. They béeyng in thys perplexitie, and readie to flye, suddaynely appeared a Horseman with a speckled Horse, whome they iudged to be Captayne _Morla_, whych Horsemanne sette vppon the _Indians_, and made them retyre: and hauyng more space than before, they sette afreshe vppon the enimies, and slewe some of them. In thys meane tyme the Horsemanne vaded away, and was not séene, and wyth hys absence the _Indians_ beganne afreshe, and enclosed the Chrystians in the same daunger that they were in before: then the Horsemanne appeared agayne néere oure menne, and made maruellous way among the enimies, wherevpon our menne séeyng this succoure, gaue the onset agayne with great courage, and slewe and hurt many _Indians_, but at the best season, the Horseman vanished away cleane out of sighte, and when the _Indians_ sawe not the Horseman, with feare of whome they fledde, thinkyng that he hadde bin a _Centaure_, and that the Horse and man was all one incorporate, they returned agayne with liueley courage, and vsed our Christians worse than they hadde done before. Then the Horseman returned the third time, and putte the _Indians_ to flight with great hurte, whom our footemë pursued with great slaughter.
Now at this instant came _Cortez_ with al his company of horsemen, being wearied with the trauaile in passing such strange lakes and wildernesse, wherof the countrey is replenished. Our men being ioyful of his comming, they began to enforme him what wonders they had sene a horseman do, which came to succour them, demanding of him which of their company it was. _Cortez_ answered and faithfully assured them, that it was none of their cöpany, bicause it was not possible for any of them to come any sooner: Then they al gaue God praise, belieuing that it was a helpe sent from heauen. _Cortez_ said (my deare fellows) forwards, for god is with vs. Then the horsemë set vpon the _Indians_, and with force of lance droue them out of the marish ground, and brake their mayne battel. The _Indians_ incontinent left the fielde, and fled into the thicke wooddes, the footemen followed them, and slue aboue thrée hundred _Indians_, besides many other that were hurt. There wer aboue seauenty Spaniardes wounded with arrowes and stones.
[Sidenote: A sodaine disease.]
And whether it were with labour of the battel, or with excessiue heate, or with drinking the water of that place, there fel such a stitch in their loynes, that about a hüdred of them fel flat vpon the groüd, not able to go nor stand, their fellowes being forced to carry thë on their backes. But it pleased god that the same night the payne wente frö them, being in the morning wel againe. Who séeyng themselues deliuered from so manye perils, gaue moste humble thankes to the almightye god that had miraculously deliuered them. They all agréed that thrée times they had séene the straunge horseman, with the speckled horse, fight in their fauour, as is aforesaid, beléeuing generally it was a miracle, as certainely it did appeare, for the Christians did not alone sée this thing, but also the _Indians_ dyd muche note it, for the maruelous fiercenesse wherwith he came vppon them, with such great murder, that they were amased, and almoste blynde with hys bryghtnesse, being so trodden vnder hys féete. The captiue _Indians_ after the battayle declared the circumstance therof.
The Lord Tauasco submitteth _himselfe to the Christians_.
[Sidenote: The Cazike enbassadours.]
_Cortez_ released some of hys prisoners and sent them to their Lorde, saying that it grieued him the hurt done on both parties, but the fault was theirs. And that god was witnesse of hys innocencie and also of hys curtesie offered vnto thë. But notwithstanding all that was paste, he pardoned their errour with suche condition, That if in continent or within two dayes, theyr Lorde woulde come vnto him, to yéelde satisfaction of their malice and stubbornesse, and to treate of peace and friendship, warning and aduising them, that if they came not wythin the time appointed, hee woulde enter into his countrey, burning and spoyling with slaughter both great & smal, armed and vnarmed: with which message the messengers departed, and _Cortez_ returned to the towne to cure his wounded men. The next day came fiftie auncient Indians to craue pardon for their offence, and also licence to bury the dead, with likewise safeconduct that their rulers and principal persons myght safely come vnto the towne. _Cortez_ graunted their request, warning them to make any lyes or yet to conspire againe: and also if their lords came not personally, he would not heare any more embassadors: with this rigorous cömaüdemët & protestation they departed. These _Indians_ féeling their strength woulde not preuaile, thinking the christians to be inuincible, their Lords and chiefest persons did determine to goe and visite the christians and their captaine. And according to the time appointed, the Lorde of that town and other foure Lords his neyghbours came vnto _Cortez_ with a good trayne of their vessals and seruitours, and presented vnto him, bread, turkie hennes, & fruites, with other like prouision for his host, with four hundred pieces of gold of y^e value of 400. double duckets, w^t other small iewels, and certaine turkie stones of small value. And twentie women slaues, to serue to make breade and dresse meate for y^e whole army. He craued and beseeched _Cortez_ to pardon his former offence. And to accept and receiue them into hys friendshippe. And in token of his obedience, hee and his fellowes dyd willinglye deliuer their bodies, landes and goods into his handes and power. _Cortez_ did louingly receiue them, and gaue vnto them certaine trifles of his wares, whiche they estéemed much. And those _Indians_ hearing the horses and mares ney, they maruelled at their neying, thinking that the horses could speake, & demaunded of the Christians what they sayd, (mary quoth they) these horses are sore offended with you bycause ye fought with them, & wold haue you corrected and chastened for your so doing. The simple _Indiäs_ hearing this, presented roses and Gynea Hens vnto the horses, desiring them to eate and to pardon thë.
Certaine questions that Cortez demaunded _of the Cacike Tauasco_.
Many things passed betweene our men & the _Indians_: for where the _Indians_ vnderstood thë not, their behauiour was much to laugh at. And vsing conuersation with our men, & seeing they receiued no hurte of them, they brought to the towne their wiues and children, which were no smal number. And among many matters that _Cortez_ communed with _Tauasco_ by the mouth of _Ieronimo de Aguila_ his enterpreter:
The first question was: Whether there wer mynes of gold or siluer in that countrey, and from whëce they had that small quantitye that they hadde broughte vnto them?
The secöd question was: Why they denyed him their friendshippe, more than the other captaine that had bin there the yeare before?
The third was: Why they being so many in nüber, fled from them being so fewe?
The fourth was: To giue thë to vnderstäd the mightie power of the king of Castill. And last of all to giue them knowledge of the faith of Iesu Christ.
[Sidenote: The ansvvere of the Cacike.]
As touching Sir (quoth he) the Mynes of gold and siluer in our country, we séeke for none, for we séeke not after treasure and riches, but we procure and desire a quiet life. And that golde which we haue, was founde by chaunce: for we know not what Mynes do mean. Yet notwithstanding further within the lande, whereas the sunne doth hide himselfe, ther the people do finde muche gold and are giuen to séeke the same.
And as touching the captaine that was here of late, we seeing the men and shippes to be such as we had neuer before seene, spake vnto them and demaunded what they would haue, they sayde that their comming was, to chaunge their merchandice for gold and nothyng else, wherefore we graunted to their request. But now séeing greater vessels and moe in number, wee feared least ye came to take our substance. And I knowing my selfe nothing inferiour to any of my neyghbours, would not permit any iniurie to be offered me, and that he and his subiectes did estéeme themselues the most valiant of men of warre in all these parties, and that none durste take away their goods, women, and children, to be sacrificed by force, wherevpon he thought to withstande those fewe Christians, but (quoth he) I founde my selfe deceiued, seeyng we could not kill any of your companye. And likewise the brightnesse of youre weapons dyd blynde vs, and the woundes you made were incurable.
But the noyse and lightning of your ordinance dyd more amase vs, than either thunder-clappes or tempest: and also the great spoyle that you made among vs therwith: likewise your straunge horses made vs greatly to wonder, to behold their open mouthes, wee feared to be swallowed. And then to consider their swiftnesse in running, we knew no creature could escape them. But y^e first horse that fought with vs, put vs in marueylous feare, being but one, but when we espyed many, then all oure helpe was past, for we belieued that the horse and man was al one incorporate.
Hovv the Indians of Potonchan brake _downe their Idols, and worshipped Christ crucified_.
VVith the relation of _Tauasco_, _Cortez_ sawe that the countrey was not for Spaniardes, nor yet he toke it a thing conueniente to settle themselues where no golde nor siluer was, or other riches. And so pretended to passe forwardes to discouer westward the lande endewed with golde. But before his departure, he declared to those new conquered _Indians_, that the Lord in whose name he and hys company had taken that iourney was king of Spayne and Emperour of Christians, and the greatest Prince in the worlde, vnto whom many kings and Princes dyd homage and obey. And that hys rule and gouernemente in iustice proceeded from God, beeing iust, holy, peaceable, and sweete, and also the _Monarchie_ of the vniuersall did appertaine vnto him. And for these causes he required them to yelde themselues as his subiectes. And if they would doe so, there shoulde ensue vnto them great profite, lawes and pollicie. And as touching their religion, he declared their blindnesse & greate abuses which they vsed in worshipping many Gods, and in making sacrifice vnto them with mans bloud, yea & thinking that those images and Idols, did or coulde doe good or euill vnto them, being dübe, without life or soule, yea and y^e worke of their owne hands. He certifyed them of one god maker of heauen and earth, and all creatures whom the Christians did worshippe and serue, and that all creatures ought to doe the same. In conclusion with thys doctryne they brake downe their Idols, and receyued the crosse, _Cortez_ hauing first declared vnto them the great miseries that the son of God suffered on y^e Crosse for mankynde. And in the greatest temple of _Potonchan_, set vp a Crosse in remëbrance of the death of Christ and celebrated the feast vpon their knees, and the multitude of _Indians_ likewise, and departed to their meate. _Cortez_ desired them within two dayes to come agayne to theyr diuine seruice. And that day was Palme sunday. And so they did and brought an infinite number of men women and children of other villages with them whych was straunge to behold. And there generally gaue theyr vassalship to the king of Spaine into the handes of _Hernando Cortez_, with protestation of perpetuall friendship with the Spanish nation. So that these were the fyrste vassals that the Emperour had in the new Spayne. And this feast and ceremony ended, our men toke shipping with the palme boughes in their handes. In this doyng _Cortez_ deserued no lesse prayse than in his victorie, for he vsed wisedome with manhoode in all his doings: he lefte those _Indians_ with a newe faith, and the towne frée and without hurt, he toke none for slaues, nor yet any spoyle nor exchäged his merchaundice for any thing although he aboade there twentye dayes. The towne is called in the _Indian_ tongue _Potonchan_, that is to saye, a place that stincketh, and our menne named it, the victorie.
[Sidenote: The armor of the Indians.]
The Lord (as ye haue heard) was called _Tauasco_, and therefore the firste Spaniardes that came thyther, named the riuer _Tauasco_, but _Grijalua_ called it after hys owne name, whose name and remembraunce will not so soone be forgotten. And truely all those that do discouer newe countreys, ought to make perpetuall their owne names. This town doth containe neare fiue and twentye thousand houses (as some say) but as euery house städeth by himselfe like an Iland, it seemeth much bigger than it is in déede. The houses are great, made of lime stone, & bricke: others there are made of mood wal, and rafters & couered with straw or bordes. Their dwelling is in the vpper part of the house, for the greate moystnesse of the riuers and lakes, and for feare of fier, they haue theyr houses separated the one from the other. Without, the towne they haue more fairer houses than wythin for their recreation and pleasure. They are browne people, and go almost naked, and eat mans flesh sacrificed. Their weapons are bowes and arrowes, slyngs, darts, and lances. The armour wherwith they defend themselues, are Targets and skulles made of woodde or barke of trées, and some of gold very thinne. They haue also a certayne kinde of harneis made of cotten wooll wrapped aboute their stomacke.
The good entertainement that _Cortez had in Saint Iohn de Vlhua_.
Captaine _Cortez_ and his company beeyng embarked, sayled weastwards as nye the shoar as thei might. And this coast hauing no harbors, they founde no place where they might Anker safely with their greater vessels, vntil they arriued vpon Mandie thursday at _Saint Iohn de Vlhua_, whiche séemed a good harbor for them. The _Indians_ of this place call this harbour _Chalchicoeca_, there the fleete came to Anker. They were not so soone at Roade, but incontinente came two little boates named _Acalles_, enquiring for the Generall of the Fleete, who when they came to hys presence, dyd humble reuerence vnto him, and sayde vnto hym that _Teudilli_ the Gouernoure of that Prouince sente to knowe what people they were, and what they woulde haue, and whether they meante to stay there or procéede farther. _Aguillar_ dyd not well vnderstande that language. _Cortez_ caused them to come aboorde hys Shyppe, gyuyng them thankes for theyr paynes and visitation. Hée made vnto them a banket of Wyne and Conserua, and sayde vnto them, that the nexte day followyng hee would come alande, and talke with the Gouernoure, whome hée besoughte not to alter him nor hys people wyth hys commyng a shore, for he meant not to molest hym, but rather to pleasure and profyte hym. To that these messengers were rewarded wyth certayne gyftes, they eate and dranke, but yet suspected euill, although they lyked the Wyne well, wherefore they desired to haue thereof, and also of the Conserua, to presente vnto theyr Lorde, whyche was giuen them, and so departed.
The nexte daye béeyng good Friday, _Cortez_ came alande wyth hys Boates full of menne, and broughte hys Horses and artillerie a shore by little and little, wyth all hys menne of warre, and two hundred _Indians_ of _Cuba_, whyche serued to toyle and laboure. Hée planted hymselfe in the best scituation that hée coulde fynde among the Sandy bankes on the Sea syde, and there pytched hys Campe, and hauyng néere that place manye trées, they builte them Cotages with boughes.
[Sidenote: VVisedome.]
[Sidenote: The comming of the Gouernor.]
[Sidenote: A straunge salutation.]
From a little Village that was at hand, came many _Indians_ to gaze at things so straunge, and the like neuer séene vnto them, and brought with thë gold to barter for suche toyes, as the two little Boates had broughte from them before. They brought also bread and meate readie dressed after their vse likewise to sell. Oure men chaunged wyth them beadestones of glasse, looking glasses, sissers, kniues, pinnes, and suche other wares, whereof the _Indians_ were not a little glad, returning home to their houses, shewing their neighbours. The ioy and pleasure that these simple soules tooke with these trifles, was so greate, that the next day they came agayne wyth other _Indians_ ladë with Iewels of gold, Turkie Hennes, bread, meate, and fruite, that suffised for all the Campe, and for the same they receyued nedels, and beadestones of glasse, but the poore soules thought themselues therewith so riche, that they knewe not where they were with ioy and pleasure, yea and they thoughte that they hadde deceyued the Straungers. Nowe _Cortez_ séeyng the greate quantitie of golde broughte and bartered so foolishly for trifles of no valewe, proclaymed throughout all hys host, that no Christian shoulde take any golde vppon greate penaltie, and that they shoulde all shewe, as though they knewe not to what purpose the golde serued, and that they passed not for it, bycause they shoulde not thynke that the desire thereof had broughte them thyther, and so they did dissemble that great demonstration of golde, to sée what was meante thereby, and whether the _Indians_ hadde brought that golde, to proue whether theyr commyng was for that or no. On Easter day in the morning, came _Teudilli_ the Gouernour to the Campe, from _Cotosta_ hys dwellyng place, whyche was eyght leagues from thence. He brought attendyng vpon his person foure thousande men without weapon, and the most part well clothed, some of them with garments of Cotton, riche after their manner. And others naked, laden with victuals in great abundance, whiche was straunge to sée. _Teudilli_ according to their vsance, did his reuerence to the Captaine, burning frankinsence, and little strawes touched in bloud of his owne bodye, he presented vnto him the victuals, and certayne Iewels of golde very riche and well wrought, and other things made of feathers very curious straunge and artificiall. _Cortez_ embraced him in his armes, and receyued hym ioyfully, saluting all hys company. He gaue to _Teudilli_ a coate of silke, a brooche, and a coller of glasse, with many other péeces of Haberdashe wares, whiche was highly estéemed of him.
The talke of Cortez vvith _Teudilli_.
[Sidenote: A maruellous happe.]
Al the former talke was had without an Interpreter, bycause _Ieronimo de Aguillar_ vnderstoode not thys language, bycause it differed muche from the spéeche of the other _Indians_, whereas hée hadde bin captiue: for whyche cause _Cortez_ was somewhat carefull, bicause he would largely haue discoursed with _Teudilli_. It chanced that among those twentie women giuen hym in _Potonchan_, one of them stoode talking with a seruaunte of _Teudilli_, bycause she vnderstoode them as menne of hir owne language. _Cortez_ espying this, called hir aside, and promised hir more than libertie, so that she woulde bée a trustie and faithfull interpreter betwixte hym and those _Indians_, and that hée woulde estéeme hir as his Secretarie. And further demanded of hir of what lignage she was, then she aunswered, that she was naturall of the Countrey that bordered vpö _Xalixco_, and of a towne called _Viluto_, daughter vnto riche parentes, and of the kinrede of the Lorde of that lande. And béeyng a little girle, certayne Merchantes dyd steale hir away in tyme of warre, and brought hir to be solde at the fayre of _Xicalanco_, whyche is a greate Towne néere _Coasaqualco_, not farre distant from _Tauasco_: and after this sorte shée came to the power of the Lord of _Potonchan_. This woman was Christened _Marina_. She and hir fellowes were the firste Christians baptised in all the newe _Spayne_, and she onely with _Aguilar_, were Interpreters betwixt the _Indiäs_ and our men.
[Sidenote: The aunsvvere of Teudilli.]
[Sidenote: The disease of the Spaniardes.]