Page 1118
CHAP. VIII. Conquest of Mexico and New Spaine by HERNAN∣DO CORTES.
HErnando a 1.1 Cortes was borne at Medellin in Andulozia, a Prouince of Spaine, An∣no 1485. When he was nineteene yeeres old, he sayled to the Iland of Saint Do∣mingo, where Ouando the Gouernour kindly entertayned him. He went to the conquest of Cuba in the yeere 1511. as Clerke to the Treasurer, vnder the con∣duct of Iames Velasques, who gaue vnto him the Indians of Manicorao, where [ 10] hee was the first that brought vp Kine, Sheepe and Mares, and had heards and flockes of them: and with his Indians he gathered great quantitie of Gold, so that in short time he was able to put in two thousand Castlins for his stocke, with Andres de Duero, a Merchant. At this time Christopher Morante had sent (Anno 1517.) Francis Hernandes de Cordoua, who first discouered Xucatan, whence he brought nothing (except the relation of the Country) but stripes: whereupon Iames Velasques in the yeere 1518. sent his Kinsman Iohn de Grijalua, with two hundred Spaniards b 1.2 in foure ships: he traded in the Riuer of Tauasco, and for trifles re∣turned much Gold, and curious workes of feathers, Idols of Gold, a whole harnesse or furniture for an armed man of Gold thin beaten, Eagles, Lions, and other pourtratures found in Gold, &c. But while Grijalua deferred his returne, Velasques agreed with Cortes to bee his partner in the [ 20] Discouery, which he gladly accepted, and procured licence from the Gouernours in Domingo, and prepared for the Voyage.
Velasques afterward vsed all meanes to breake off, in so much that Cortes was forced to engage all his owne stocke, and credit, with his friends in the Expedition, and with fiue hundred and fiftie Spaniards in eleuen ships, set saile the tenth of February 1519. and arriued at the Iland of Acusamil. The Inhabitants at first fled, but by the kind entertainment of some that were taken, they returned, and receiued him and his with all kind offices.
They told him of certayne bearded men in Yucatan, whither Cortes sent; and one of them, Geronimo de Aguilar came vnto him, who told him, that by shipwracke at Iamaica, their Caruell [ 30] being lost, twentie of them wandred in the Boat without sayle, water or bread, thirteene or fourteene dayes, in which space the violence of the current had cast them on shoare in a Prouince called Maija, where, as they trauelled, seuen dyed with famine; and their Captayne Valdinia and other foure were sacrificed to be Idols by the Cacike, or Lord of the Coun••rey, and eaten in a solemne Banquet, and he with sixe other were put into a Coope or Cage, to bee fatned for a∣nother Sacrifice. But breaking Prison, they escaped to another Cacike, enemy to the former, where all the rest dyed, but himselfe, and Gonsalo Gu••rrer a Mariner. Hee had transformed him∣selfe into the Indian cut, boring his nose full of holes, his eares jagged, his face and hands pain∣ted; married a Wife, and became a Captaine of name amongst the Indians, and would not re∣turne with this Aguilar.
Cortes with this new Interpreter passed vp the Riuer Tauasco, called of the former Discouerer, [ 40] Grijalua; where the Towne that stood thereon, refusing to victuall him, was taken and sacked. The Indians herewith inraged, assembled an Armie of fortie thousand, but Cortes by his Horse and Ordnance preuayled;* 1.3 the Indians thinking the Horse and Rider had beene but one creature, whose gaping and swiftnesse was terrible vnto them, whereupon they submitted themselues. When they heard the Horses ney, they had thought the Horses could speake, and demanded what they said: the Spaniards answered, These Horses are sore offended with you, for fighting with them, and would haue you corrected: the simple Indians presented Roses and Hens to the beasts, desiring them to eate, and to pardon them.
Cortes purposed to discouer further Westward, because hee heard that there were Mines of [ 50] Gold, hauing first receiued their Vassallage to the King his Master, to whom (he said) the Mo∣narchie of the Vniuersall did appertayne. These were the first Vassals the Emperour had in New Spaine. They named the towne, where these things were done, Victorie, before called Po∣tonchan, contayning neere fiue and twentie thousand houses, which are great, made of Lime, and Stone,* 1.4 and Bricke, and some of mud-wals and rafters, couered with straw; their dwelling is in the vpper part of the house, for the moystnesse of the soyle. They did eate mans flesh sacrificed.
The Spaniards sayled Westward, and came to Saint Iohn de Vlhua, where Tendilli the Gouer∣nour of the Countrey, came to him with foure thousand Indians. Hee did his reuerence to the Captayne, burning Frankincense (after their custome) and little strawes, touched in the bloud of his owne bodie: and then presented vnto him victuals and Iewels of Gold, and other curious [ 60] workes of feathers; which Cortes requited with a Collar of Glasse, and other things of small va∣lue. A woman-slaue, giuen him at Potonchan, vnderstood their language, and shee with Agui∣lar, were his Interpreters. Cortes professed himselfe the seruant of a great Emperour, which had