CHAP. VIII. Conquest of Mexico and New Spaine by HERNAN∣DO CORTES.

HErnando a 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 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;* 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,* 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 Page  1119 sent him thither, whose power he so highly extolled, that Teudilli maruelled, thinking there had beene no such Prince in the World, as his Master and Soueraigne, the King of Mexico, whose Vassall he was, named, Mutezuma. To him he sent the representations of these bearded men, and their Horses, Apparell, Weapons, Ordnance, and other Rarities, painted in Cotton-clothes, their ships and numbers. These painted Cottons he sent by Posts, which deliuered them from one to another with such celeritie, that in a day and night the message came to Mexico, which was two hundred and ten miles distant. Cortes had demanded, whether Mutezuma had Gold? Teu∣dilli affirmed, and Cortes replyed, That he and his fellowes had a disease of the heart,* whereunto Gold was the best remedie.

Mutezuma sent him many Cotton-clothes of diuers colours, many tuffes of Feathers, two [ 10] Wheeles, the one of Siluer, with the signe of the Moone, and the other of Gold, made like the Sunne;-which they hold for Gods, and giue vnto them the colours of the Metals most like them. Each Wheele was two yards and a halfe broad. These with other parts of the Present were esteemed worth twentie thousand Duckets. Mutezuma also professed ioy, to heare of so great a Prince, & so strange people, & promised prouision of all necessaries, but was very vnwilling that Cortes should come to see him, as he pretended. Yet Cortes persisted in that his desire of see∣ing Mutezuma, that he might further acquaint himselfe with the knowledge of those parts.

The silly Indians hauing neuer seene such strange sights, came daily to the Campe to see them and when they heard the Ordnance discharged, they fell downe flat, thinking the Heauens had falne: the ships they thought were the God of the Ayre, called Quezalcouolt, which came with [ 20] the Temples on his backe, for they daily looked for him. Amongst the rest, or rather aloofe off from the rest, were certayne Indians of differing habit, higher then the other, and had the gristles of their Noses slit, hanging ouer their mouthes, and Rings of Iet and Amber hanging thereat: their neather lips also bored, and in the holes, Rings of Gold and Turkesse-stones, which weighed so much, that their lips hung ouer their chinnes, leauing their teeth bare. This vglinesse they ac∣counted gallantry, and such vncouth deformitie to be the only brauery. And thou Gallant,* that readest and deridest this madnesse of Fashion, if thine eyes were not dazeled with lightnesse (light I cannot call it) of selfe-reflected Vanitie, mightest see as Monster-like fashions at home, and a more fashionly Monster of thy selfe; thy clothes and oathes, thy gestures and vestures, make thy naked Deformitie worse then their thus deformed nakednesse: both in deed seeme to haue re∣ceiued [ 30] some hellish Character (if there may bee bodily representation) of that olde Serpent in these new fashions, striuing who shall shape himselfe, neerest to that misse-shapen vglinesse, wherein the Indian-jagges himselfe out of humane lineaments, the other swaggers himselfe further out of all Ciuill and Christian ornaments. But these Fashion-mongers haue made mee almost out of my fashion, and to forget my selfe, in remembring their forgetfulnesse.

These Indians of this New-cut, Cortes caused to come to him, and learned that they were of Zempoallan, a Citie distant thence a dayes journey,* whom their Lord had sent to see what Gods were come in those Teucallis, that is Temples (so, it seemeth, they called the ships:) which held no conuersation with the other Indians, as being not subject to Mutezuma, but onely as they were holden in by force. He gaue them certaine toyes, and was glad to heare that the Indians [ 40] of Zempoallan, and other their Neighbours were not well affected to Mutezuma, but readie, as farre as they durst, to entertayne all occasions of warre with him.* Hee sayled from thence to Pa∣nuco, and passed the Riuer farther, till he came to a little Towne, where was a Temple, with a little Towre, and a Chappell on the top ascended by twenty steps, in which they found some I∣dols, many bloudy Papers, and much mans bloud, of those which had beene sacrificed, the blocke also whereon they cut open those Sacrifices, and the Razors made of flint, wherewith they ope∣ned their brests, which strucke the Spaniards with some horrour and feare. They passed a little further, and there hauing taken possession, in the Emperours name, of the whole Countrey, they founded the Towne De la vera Crux, Cortes resigning his authoritie, and Officers being elected;* and lastly, all with generall consent appointing Cortes their Captaine.

Cortes went forward to Zempoallan, where hee was solemnely receiued and lodged in a great [ 50] house of lime and stone, whited with playster, that shined in the Sunne, as if it had beene Siluer; so did the Siluer-conceits of the Spaniards imagine, the desire of that Metall hauing made such an impression in their imagination, that they told Cortes before hee came at it, they had seene a house with wals of Siluer. Here, and at Chiauiztlan, Cortes incited them to rebell against Mu∣tezuma, and to become seruants to the Spaniards, which they did: and he vnder-hand so wrought, that Mutezuma tooke him for his friend.

All his intent was to fish in troubled waters, and to set them both by the eares, that hee might watch oportunitie to benefit himselfe. His owne people rebelled, some of whom he cha∣stised with the halter and the whip for example to the rest: and after caused all his ships to bee [ 60] sunke closely, that they should not minde any returne. He left 150. man for the guard of the new Towne, vnder Pedro de Henrico, and with 400. Spaniards, fifteene Horses, and sixe Peeces of Ar∣tillery, and 1300 Indians, they went from Zempoallan, and came to Zaclotan, the Lord whereof was Olintler the subject of Mutezuma, who to testifie his joy, and to honour Cortes, commanded fifty men to be sacrificed, whose bloud they saw, new and fresh.

Page  1120They carried the Spaniards on their shoulders, sitting on Beeres, such as whereon they vse to carry dead men. He bragged as much of the power of Mutezuma, as their Spaniards of their Em∣perour. He said he had thirty Vassals, each of which was able to bring into the field an hundred thousand men of Warre,* and sacrificed 20000. men yearely to the gods: in this he somewhat exceeded; the other was true, although some yeares, the Sacrifices also were thought to amount to 50000. This Towne was great, and had thirteene Temples, in each of which were many I∣dols of stone, of diuers fashions, before whom they sacrificed Men, Doues, Quailes, & other things with great perfumes and veneration. Here Mutezuma had 5000. Souldiers in Garrison. Cortes passed from thence to Mexico by the Frontiers of Tlaxcallon, which were enemies to Mutezu∣ma, whom he might easily haue ouercome, but reserued, partly for the exercise of his Subiects to the Warre, par•ly for the Sacrifices to his gods. [ 10]

These ioyned an hundred and fifty thousand men against Cortes, taking him for Mutezuma's friend: and yet euery day sent him Guinney-cockes and Bread, partly to espie his strength, and partly in a brauery, lest their glory should be obscured in the conquest of men already starued. But when in many skirmishes and fights they could not preuaile against that handfull of Spaniards, they thought they were preserued from harme by inchantments: and sent him three presents with this message; That if he were that rigorous god which eateth mans flesh, he should eate those fiue slaues which they brought him, and they would bring him more: if he were the meeke and gentle god, behold Frankinsence, and Feathers: if he were a mortall man, take here Fowle, Bread, and Cherries. At last they made peace with him, and submitted their City to him. Their City Tlaxcallan was great,* planted by a Riuers side, which issued into the South-Sea. It had foure [ 20] Streetes, each of which had their Captaine in the time of Warre. The gouernment was an Ari∣stocraty, hating Monarchy no lesse then tyranny. It had eight and twenty Villages, and in them an hundred and fifty thousand Housholds, very poore, but good warriors. They had one Market-place so spacious, that thirty thousand persons in a day came thither to buy and sell by exchange: for money they had none.

Mutezuma had sent before to Cortes, and promised tribute to the Emperour, whatsoeuer should be imposed; onely he would not haue him come to Mexico. And now he sent againe, that he should not trust that new friendship with the beggerly Nation of Tlaxcallan; and they againe counselled him not to aduenture himselfe to Mutezuma. Cortes held his determination for Mexico, and being accompanied with many of the Tlaxcantlexas, he went to Chololla, a lit∣tle [ 30] from whence Mutezuma had prepared an Army to intrap him in the way; but he finding the trechery,* it redounded vpon the Cholollois, the same day they had thought to haue executed the same vpon him. For this end they had sacrificed ten children, fiue males, and as many females, three yeares old, to Quezalcouatl their god, which was their custome when they began their Wars. He out-going them in their owne art of subtilty, intrapped their Captains in Counsell, and sent his Army to spoile the City, where were slaine thousands. There were twenty Gentle∣men, and many Priests which ascended vp to the high towre of their Temple, which had an hun∣dred and twenty steps, where they were burned, together with their gods and Sanctuary.

This Citie had twenty thousand Housholds within the Wals, and as many in the Suburbs. It [ 40] shewed outward very faire and full of Towres,* for there were as many Temples as dayes in the yeare, and euery one had his Towre. The Spaniards counted foure hundred Towers. It was the Citie of most deuotion in all India, whither they trauelled from many places farre distant in Pil∣grimage. Their Cathedrall Temple was the best and highest in all New-Spaine, with an hun∣dred and twenty steps vp to it. Their chiefe god was Quezalcouatl, god of the Ayre, who was (they say) founder of their Citie being a Virgin, of holy life and great penance. He instituted fasting, and drawing of bloud out of their eares and tongues, and left precepts of Sacrifices. Hee neuer ware but one garment of Cotten, white, narrow, and long, and vpon that a Mantle, beset with certaine red crosses. They haue certaine greene stones which were his, and are kept for great relikes: one of them is like an Apes head. Eight leagues from Chololla is the hill Popoca∣tepec,* [ 50] or smoake-hill, which the Earth seemeth to haue erected as a Fort to encounter and as∣sault the Ayre: now with smoky mists endeuouring to choake his purer breath, another while with violent flames, and naturall fire-workes threatning to ioyne league with his elder and su∣periour brother to disinherit him: sometimes with showers of ashes and embers, as it were, put∣ting out the eyes, and sometimes with terrible and dreadfull thunders, rending the eares of that Airy Element; alwayes (such is the euent of warre) hurting and wasting it selfe, to indamage the enemy. The Indians thought it a place of Purgatory, whereby tyrannicall and wicked Officers were punished after their death, and after that purgation passed into glory. The Spaniards ad∣uentured to see it, but two onely held on their iourney, and had there beene consumed, had they not by a Rocke bin shadowed from the violent eruption of the fire which then hapned. It [ 60] chanced that the Earth, weary it seemeth of the warre, as hauing spent her store and muniti∣on, agreed on a truce which continued ten yeares: but in the yeare 1540. it brake forth into more violent hostility then before, quaking and renting it selfe with vnbridled passion: and whereas the Ayre had alwaies a snowie Garrison about her high tops and frontiers, to coole and Page  1121 quench her fiery showers, yet these did but kindle a greater flame, the ashes whereof came to Huexozinco, Quelaxcopon, Tepiacac, Chololla and Tlazcallan, and other places, ten, or as some say, fifteene leagues distant, and burned their hearbs in their Gardens, their fields of Corne, Trees and cloathes that they laid a drying. The Vulcan, Crater, or mouth whence the fire issued, is about halfe a league in compasse. The Indians kissed their garments (an honour done vnto their gods) which had aduentured themselues to this dreadfull spectacle.

Cortes drawing neere to Mexico, Mutezuma feared, saying, These are the people which our gods said should come and inherit this Land. He went to his Oratory,* and there shut vp him∣selfe alone, abiding eight daies in praier and fasting, with sacrifice of many men, to aslake the [ 10] fury of his offended deities. The Deuill bids him not to feare, and that he should continue those bloudy Rites, assuring him that he should haue the gods Vitziliputzli and Tesca•lipuca to preserue him, saying, That Quezalcouatl permitted the destruction at Chololla, for want of that bloudy sacrifice. Cortes passed a Hill six miles in height, where, by the difficulty of the passage, and of the cold (being alway couered with Snow) the Mexicans might easily haue preuented his passing further. Hence he espied the Lake, whereon Mexico and many other great Townes did stand, Ixtacpallapan a Towne of 10000. housholds, Coyocan of six thousand, Vizilopuchtli of fiue thou∣sand. These Towns are adorned with many Temples and Towres, that beautifie the Lake. From Iztacpalapan to Mexico is two Leagues, all on a faire causey, with many draw-bridges, thorow which the water passeth.

[ 20] Mutezuma receiued Cortes with all solemnity on the eight of Nouember 1519. into this great Citie, excusing himselfe of former vnkindnesses the best he could. Of his house, and Maiestie, and the diuine conceit the people had of him, we shall speake after more fully, as also of the Temples, Priests, Sacrifices and other remarkeable things of Mexico.

Mutezuma prouided all things necessary for the Spaniards and Indians that attended them: euen beds of flowers were made, in place of litter for their Horses. But Cortes disquieted with those thoughts which commonly attend Ambition (discontent in the present, hopes and feares of the future) vsed the matter so, that he tooke Mutezuma prisoner, and detained him in the place appointed for the Spaniards lodging, with a Spanish Guard about him, permitting him o∣therwise to deale in all priuate or publike affaires, as before. Hereupon Cacama, Lord of Texcu∣co, [ 30] Nephew to Mutezuma, rebelled, but by treachery of his owne people was presented priso∣ner to Mutezuma. He, after this summond a Parliament, where hee made an Oration vnto his Subiects, saying, a That He and his Predecessours were not Naturals of the Countrey, but his Fore-fathers came from a farre Country; and their King returned againe; and said, he would send such as should rule them. And he hath now sent these Spaniards, saith he. Hereupon he counselled them to yeelde themselues Vassals to the Emperour, which they did at his command, though with many teares on his part and theirs, at this farewell of their liberty. Mutezuma presently gaue to Cortes, in the name of tribute, a great quantity of Gold and other Iewels, which amoun∣ted to sixteene hundred thousand Castlins of Gold, besides Siluer.

Cortes had hitherto a continuall victory in Mexico without any fight: but news was brought [ 40] him of Pamphilo de Naruaes, who was sent with eighty Horse, and some hundreths of Spaniards by Velasques, to interrupt the proceedings of Cortes: who leauing two hundred men in Mexico, with two hundred and fifty other came suddenly in the night, and tooke Naruaes prisoner, and returned to Mexico with Naruaes his Company, now his followers also, where he found his men exceedingly distressed by the Citizens for a murther committed in the great Temple at a so∣lemne Feast, wherein a religious dance they were slaine, for the rich garments and Iewels they ware, by the Spaniards. Cortes came in good time for the reliefe of his men: and Mutezuma caused the Mexicans to bridle their rage, which presently was renewed;* and when Mutezu∣ma, was againe by his Guardians, the Spaniards, caused to speake to the people, a blow of a stone on his Temples wounded him, whereof three daies after he died.

[ 50] Cortes had some thousands of the Tlaxoltecas to helpe him, but was driuen to flye from Mexi∣co with all his Spaniards and Indians, which he did closely in the night, but yet an alarme was raised, and the Bridges being broken, much slaughter of his people was made by the Mexicans, and all his treasure in manner lost. They pursued after him also, and had two hundred thousand in the field: when it was Cortes his good hap to slay the Sandardbearer, whereupon the Indians forsooke the field. This battell was fought at Otumpan.

At Tlazcallan, he and his were kindely entertained; they had prepared before 50000. men to goe to Mexico for his helpe, and now they promised him all offices of loyalty and seruice. With their helpe he subdued Tepeacac; and built certaine Brigandines, or Frigats, which were carried many leagues on the backes of those Indians, and there fastned and finished, without which he [ 60] could neuer haue won Mexico.

In Tezcuco certaine Spaniards had beene taken, sacrificed and eaten, which Cortes now reuen∣ged on them. Eight thousand men had carried the loose peeces and timber of this Nauie, guar∣ded with twenty thousand Tlaxcallans, and a thousand Tamemez, or Porters (which carried vi∣ctuals) attending. They calked them with Towe, and for want of Tallow and Oyle, they vsed Page  1122 Mans Grease, of such as had beene slaine in the Warres. For so the Indians vsed, to take out the Grease of their Sacrifices. Cortes had here nine hundred Spaniards, of which fourescore and six were Horse-men, three cast peeces of Iron, fifteene small peeces of Brasse▪ and a thousand weight of Powder, and 100000. Indian Souldiers on his side. He made a sluce or trench aboue twelue foot broad, and two fathome deepe, halfe a league long, in which 40000. men wrought fifty dayes. He lanched his Vessels, and soone ouercame all the Canoas of the Lake, of which were reckoned in all fiue thousand. The Spaniards brake the Conduits of sweet water, wherewith the City was wont to be serued.

Quabutimoc, now the new King of Mexico, receiuing incouragement from the Deuillish O∣racle, caused to breake downe the Bridges, and to exercise whatsoeuer wit or strength could doe [ 10] in defence of his Citie, sometimes conquering, sometimes (as is doubtfull chance of warre) con∣quered. Cortes had in Tezcuco ordained a new King, a Christian Indian, of the royall bloud, who much assisted him in this siege. The Spaniards being Lords of the Lake, and of the Causeyes, by helpe of their Galliots and Ordinance, they fired a great part of the Citie. One day the Mexi∣cans had gotten some aduantage, and thereupon celebrated a Feast of Victory. The Priests went vp into the Towers of Tlatelulco, their chiefe Temple, and made there perfumes of sweet Gums, in token of victory, and sacrificed forty Spaniards (which they had taken captiues, opening their brests, and plucking out their hearts) sprinkling their bloud in the Ayre; their fellowes looking on, and not able to reuenge it. They slew likewise many Indians, & foure Spaniards of Aluarado's company, whom they ate in the open sight of the Army. The Mexicans danced, drank themselues [ 20] drunke, made bonefires, strucke vp their Drums, and made all solemne expressings of ioy. Dread, Disdaine, and all the Furies that Passion or Compassion could coniure vp, had now filled the Spa∣niards hearts and their Indian partakers: and Cortes, that hitherto had hoped to reserue some part of the Citie, now did the vtmost that Rage aed Reuenge could effect, helped no lesse with∣in with Famine and Pestilence, then with Sword and Fire without. At last Mexico is razed, the Earth and Water sharing betwixt them what the Fire had left, and all which had sometime challenged a lofty inheritance in the Ayre. Their King also was taken; all that mightie State subuerted. And as the Mexicans before had prophesied, That the Tlaxantleca's should againe build the Citie, if conquered, for them; if conquerors, for the Spaniards: It was re-builded with a hundred thousand houses, fairer and stronger then before. The Siege lasted three Moneths, and [ 30] had therein two hundred thousand Indians, nine hundred Spaniards, fourescore Horses, seuenteene Peeces of Ordinance, thirteene Galliots, and sixe thousand Canoas. Fiftie Spaniards were slaine, and sixe Horses: of the Mexicans, a hundred thousand, besides those which died of Hun∣ger and Pestilence.

This was effected Anno 1521. on the thirteenth day of August, which for that cause is kept festiuall euery yeare. For the Description of the Country wherein Mexico is situate. Cortes in his second Narration to the Emperour saith, it is enuironed with hils: (He telleth of some hils also in his iourney, wherein diuers of his people died with cold) in the middest is a plaine of 70. leagues compasse, and therein two Lakes which extend the circuit of 50. leagues; the one salt, which ebbeth and floweth (an argument for Patritius his opinion, that saltnesse is a chiefe cause [ 40] of that vicissitude of ebbing and flowing, in the Ocean) the other fresh: When the water of the Salt Lake increaseth, it runneth l•ke a violent streame into the fresh Lake, which when it decrea∣seth, is repaired againe by the like issue of this into the former.

Nunno di Gusmau b hath written his expedition into M•choacan and other Countries of New-Spaine 1530. subduing and taking possession for the Emperour: He found some of them Sodo∣mites, others Sacrificers of mens flesh, and some closly practising this butchery after they had pro∣fessed themselues Christians▪ none of them which durst looke a Horse in the face, but were a∣fraid that that Beast would eate them. The seuerall peoples by him reckoned, would here be te∣dious to name: which we may say of the like made by Godoy and Aluarado c. Of the Customes of the Auntient Mexicans, one of Cortes his Gentlemen hath written a Treatise d extant in Ra∣musius. [ 50] wherein are described their Citie, Temples, Rites of Sacrifice, and the like, as after fol∣loweth out of him and others.