Chapter II: Part 2

VVith the aforesayd communication, _Cortez_ gaue great hope to his cöpany of waightie matters, yea and great admiration of his person, so that all his company had an earnest desire to procéede on that iorney. And _Cortez_ likewise reioyced, to sée his men so willing: and incontinente, they embarqued themselues, and after their prayers made vnto God, hoysed vp their sayles, and with faire winde departed the eighttenth day of Februarie Anno 1519. And beyng at Sea, he willed all his nauie (as the vse is) to haue S. Peter for their patrone, warning them alwayes to follow the Admirall (wherin he went) bycause he carried a light for the night season to guide them the way, whiche was almost East and West from _S. Anthonies_ point, being the nerest part of _Cuba_ to _Cape de Cotoche_, which is the first läd point of _Yucatan_, whither they were bounde, so y^t being there, they might run alög the coast, betwene the North point and the West. The firste night y^t _Hernando Cortez_ begä to passe ouer the gulfe betweene _Cuba_ & _Yucatan_, being little aboue lx. leagues, the winde rose vp at Northeast with much force, so y^t all the Fléete were separated without sight y^e one of the other: yet by the accompt that their Pilots kept, they arriued all sauing one at the Ilande of _Acusamil_, although not at one time, and those that last ariued, wer the Admirall, and Captayne _Morla_ his Ship, who had lost his Ruther, but by shoting off a pece, _Cortez_ vnderstood his necessitie, and came vering to him, and amayned his sailes to succour him, being in y^e night season. Yet when the day appeared, it pleased God y^t the rage of the tempest ceassed, & being cléere day, they found agayne their Ruther, and trimmed the Ship, and made sayle, and sayled that day and the next following, without sighte of land, or any of the Fléete. But the third day they arriued at a cape or point of land, called Womens cape. _Cortez_ cömanded _Morla_ to follow him, directing his course to séeke the residue of his Fléete, and arriued in this sorte at the Iland of _Acusamil_, and there found all his nauie excepte one, whereof they hearde no newes in many dayes after. The people of that Ilande beholding suche a straunge sight, were in great feare and admiratiö, so that they gathered their stuffe and wente vp into the Mountaynes. _Cortez_ caused a certayne number of his më to goe a land to a Towne which was néere the place where they were arriued, and they foüd the towne wrought with Masons worke, and good building, but they founde no creature therein, yet in some houses they foüd cloth made of cottë woll, and certaine Iewels of gold. Also they entred into a high tower made of stoneworke, néere the sea side, and there they founde nothing but Idols of earth and stone. With this newes they returned to _Cortez_, and enformed him what they had séene, and also many faire sowë fields of _Maiz_, and great store of hiues of Bées, and many trées of fruites, and also presented vnto him the gold and other things that they had foüd. _Cortez_ reioyced with y^e newes but yet maruelled that the people were fledde, considering that when _Grijalua_ was there, they had not so done, wherby he iudged, that his nauie béeyng greater, caused them to feare and flie, and likewise he feared least a snare were prepared for him. Then he cömanded to vnship his Horses for thrée causes: the one to discouer the Countrey: and the other to fight if néede were: and also to grase thë, hauing there abüdance. Also he vnshipped his më of warre, and sent them to discouer the land. And in the thickest of the Mountaynes, they found four women, and thrée childrë, whome they brought to _Cortez_, so that not vnderstanding their language, by signes & tokens they ymagined that one of thë was the mother to the children, & mistresse to the other women. The pore creatures bewayled theyr captiuitie. _Cortez_ made muche of them, & apparrelled the mistresse as wel as he might with Spanish attire: and to hir seruants he gaue loking glasses and sissers: and to the little children other toyes to play withall, vsing no dishonestie towards thë. And thë he determined to send one of the wenches to call hir maister, and to enforme him how well they were intreated. In this meane season came certaine spies lurking a farre off, by the cömandement of their Lord, who was called _Calachuni_, to bring newes of his wife, & what else passed. _Cortez_ receyued them gëtly, & gaue vnto them certayne trifles, and sent others to their Lord, and returned thë w^t embassage on his behalfe & his wiues, to desire hym to come vnto him, and to sée those folke from whome he had fledde, promising, that neyther his person, nor none of his countrey should receyue anye molestation of him, nor of any of his company. _Calachuni_ vnderstäding this friendshippe, and also with the loue hée bare to his wife and childrë, came the next day following with all the Townesmen, in whose houses y^e Spanyards were lodged, who woulde not permitte that their guestes should giue place. And the Lorde commaunded, that they should be wel entertayned, and frö that day forward prouided them of bread, fishe, honey, & fruite. _Calachuni_ spake and saluted _Cortez_ with greate humilitie and ceremonie, and euen so was he louingly receyued, & wel entertained. _Cortez_ did then declare vnto him the commoditie that would ensue vnto him by that nation. And also presented vnto him & his cöpany many toyes, which were vnto thë of small valewe, but muche estéemed among them, yea more than golde. And moreouer _Cortez_ cömaunded, that all the golde and other things that his men had taken in the Towne, shoulde be broughte before him, and placed it so, that euery _Indian_ knewe his owne, and was restored vnto them, whereat they were not a little ioyfull, wondering at the liberalitie of the straungers, and departed both merrie and riche with their straunge giftes, and went throughout al the Iland, shewing to their fellowes their presentes, commaunding them in the name of _Calachuni_ their Lord, to returne euery man to his house, with ther wiues and children, commending highly the honest and gentle nature of the straungers. With this newes and commaundemente, euery man returned to his house and Towne from whence he had fledde. And after thys sort their feare was past, and they prouided the Camp abundantly of honey, bread, waxe, fishe, and frute, all the time that they abode in that Iland.

The Indians of Acusamil gaue nevves _to Cortez of certaine bearded men_.

[Sidenote: Nevves of bearded men.]

Now _Cortez_ seeing these _Indians_ quiet and wel pleased, and also very seruiceable, he did determyne to take away theyr Idols, and to giue them a remembraunce of Iesu Christ borne of the Virgin Mary, by one _Melchior_ a fisher man and very rustical, who had bin ther before with _Francisco Hernandez de Cordoua_, who declared vnto them, that _Cortez_ his Lord and captaine would enforme them of a better god, and better lawes, than those which they maintained. The _Indians_ answered, that they were contented therewith, and went with them vnto their temples, and there brake downe their Idols, and celebrated diuine seruice, teaching them to adore and worshippe Christ crucifyed, so that they were verye attentiue to the doctrine, and ceased sacrifise of men which they were wöt to vse. These _Indians_ did wonder much at the shippes and horses, yea and marueyled as muche at our colour and beardes, so that many times they would come and féele them, and signifyed vnto them by signes and tokens towardes _Yucatan_, that there were fiue or sixe bearded men. Then _Cortez_ considering how profitable it wold be to haue an interpreter to vnderstand and to be vnderstood, he besought _Calachuni_ that he would appoint a messenger to carrye a letter to the bearded men, who were in the power of a great Lord and Tyrant, and _Calachuni_ found none that durst take that iourney in hand, fearing that they should be slaine and eaten. _Cortez_ seing this, entreated with faire words, thrée of the _Indians_ that serued him to accept the iourney, and gaue thë rewards for theyr labour: yet the _Indians_ excused them, saying that they should be slayne, notwithstanding with faire promises and rewardes, they accepted the voyage, so that _Cortez_ wrote with them this letter following.

Worshipful sirs, I departed from _Cuba_ with eleuen saile in my fléete, furnished with fiue hundred and fiftie Spaniardes, and I arriued here at _Acusamil_ from whence I write you this letter. The people of this Iläd haue certifyed me, that there is in that countrey fiue or sixe bearded men, and in al pointes like vnto vs: they can not here enforme me of anye other signes or tokens, but hereby I do coniecture, and certainely beleue that ye be Spaniards. Both I and these gentlemen of my company do come to discouer and inhabit this land, we hartily pray you y^t within sixe days after the receite hereof, ye come vnto vs, w^tout any excuse or delay, and if ye so doe, al we of this nauie wil gratifye your gentlenesse & good seruice y^t ye shal do vnto vs. I do send you a Vergantyn wherin you may come, & two shippes for your safeconduct.

_Hernando Cortez._

This letter being written, there was found an inconuenience, which was, they knew not how to carrye the letter so secretly y^t it might not be séene, & they taken for espies, wherof the saide _Indians_ stoode in great feare. Thë _Cortez_ bethought him, y^t the letter wold passe wrapped in y^e haire of the head of one of thë, for ordinarily the _Indians_ wear lög heare, & on their solemn feasts & in wars they vse their haire platted & boüd about their forheads. And he appointed captaine of the Vergantine wherin y^e messëgers wët, _Iohn de Escalante_, & _Iames de Ordas_ for captaine of the other two ships, with fiftie men if any nede should happen. So shortly after the ships arriued at the place appointed, _Escalante_ set a land his messengers, and abode there eight days they returne, although he promised thë to abide there but sixe dayes. And thë séeing that they came not, he surmysed y^t they were either slaine or taken captiues: & so returned backe againe to _Acusamill_ without his messëgers, wherof al the army were sorowful, & chiefly _Cortez_, thinking that the _Indians_ had wrög enformed him. Nowe in this meane season they trymmed their shippes of the hurte receiued by the late tempest, & at the returne of the two ships and Vergantyne, they hoysed vp sailes and departed.

A miraculous chaunce hovv Geronimo de _Aguilao came to Cortez_.

_Calachuni_ and all his subiectes were full of heauinesse (as it semed) with the departure of the Christians, bycause they were wel vsed at their handes. From _Acusamil_ the fleete sayled to get the coast of _Yucatan_ to the cape called Womens point, with prosperous weather, & there _Cortez_ came to an Anker, desirous to sée the disposition of the lande, and the manner of the people: but it liked him not, so that y^e next day folowing being shrouetuisday, he departed, meaning to double the sayde cape, and so to passe to _Cotoche_ and to viewe it. But before they hadde doubled the poynte, _Peter de Aluarado_ shotte off a piece, in token that hee was in great peril, wherevppon the other shippes drewe neare to knowe what hadde happened: And when _Cortez_ vnderstoode that _Aluarados_ shippe was in so great a leake that with two pumpes they mighte not emptie the water, he found no other remedy but to returne backe again to _Acusamil_ with al his fléet. The _Indians_ of y^t Ilande came incontinent to y^e water side very ioyfull, and to knowe whether they had left any thing behind thë. The Christiäs enformed thë of their mishap, and came a shore, & in short time found the leake & amended it. The Saterday following they toke shipping again, al the army excepte _Hernando Cortez_, and fiftie of his company, then the wind arose contrary, and so much, that they could not departe that day: & the furie of the winde endured al that night, but in the morning it waxed calme, so that they myghte proceede on their voyage. But for as much as that was the Sabboth daye, they determined to heare diuine seruice, and after dinner to make saile. When their seruice was ended, and _Cortez_ sitting at his meate, there was newes brought him that a little vessell called a _Canoa_, came vnder saile toward the shippes, whiche seemed to come from _Yucatan_: with that newes _Cortez_ arose from his meate, to behold whether the _Canoa_ went, and perceiuyng that she left the way toward the shippes, he sente _Andrew de Tapia_ with certaine others, as secrete & closely as might be deuised, to lye in ambushe for their comming a shoare. The _Canoa_ arriued in a calme place, out of the which came foure men all naked, except their priuie members, and the heare of their heades platted and bound aboute their foreheades like vnto women, with bowes and arrowes in their hands: three of them which were _Indians_, wer afraide when they saw the Spaniards with their drawen swordes, and would haue fled againe to their _Canoa_, but the Christian feared not, and desired his fellowes in the _Indian_ tong to abide with hym. And then he began to speake in the Spanish tongue in thys wise: Maisters are ye Christians, yea (quoth they) and of the Spanish nation. Then he reioyced so much, that the teares fell from his eyes, and demaunded of them what day it was, although he had a Primer wherein he dayly prayed.

[Sidenote: The cöming of Aguilar to Cortez.]

He then besought them earnestlye to assist him with their prayers & thanksgiuing vnto god for his deliuery, & kneling deuoutly downe vppon his knees, holding vp his handes, his eyes toward heauen, and his face bathed with teares, made his humble prayer vnto God, giuing most hartie thankes, that it hadde pleased hym to deliuer him out of the power of Infidels and infernal creatures, and to place hym among Christians and men of his owne nation. _Andrew de Tapia_ holpe hym vppe, and toke hym in hys armes, and so did al y^e others embrace & louingly salute him. Then he commaunded the other thrée _Indians_ to follow him, and went talking wyth hys friendes, where _Cortez_ aboade, who receyued him ioyfully, and gaue vnto hym such apparel as he néeded, and wyth great pleasure hauing him in his companye, hee demaunded the estate of his misfortune, and what was hys name, who aunswered before them al, saying, Sir my name is _Geronimo de Aguilar_, I was borne in the Cittie of _Esija_ in the _Andolozia_, and by misfortune I was loste after this sorte. In the warres of _Darien_ and in the time of the contentions and passions of _Iames de Nicuessa_, and _Vasco Nonez Balboa_, I came with Captaine _Valdinia_ in a little Caruell, toward _Santo Domingo_, to giue aduice to the Admirall and gouernour, of the troubles which had happned, and my comming was for men and victuals: and likewise we brought twentye thousand Duckettes of the kings in _Anno .1511._ And whë we apported at _Iamayca_, our Caruel was lost on the shallowes whiche were called the Vipars, and with greate pain we entred (about twenty persons) into the boate, w^t out sayle, water or bread, and weake prouision of oares: we thus wander thirtéene or fourtéene dayes, and then the currant, whiche is there very great & runneth alway weastward, cast vs a shoare in a prouince called _Maija_, & traueling on our way, seauen of our fellowes died wyth hunger & famin. And captain _Valdinia_ & other 4. were sacrifised to the ydols by a cruel and cursed _Cacike_, that is to say, a Lord in whose power we fell .&c.

And after the sacrifice, they were eaten among the _Indians_ for a solemne banket: and I, and other sixe wer put into a Cage or coupe, to be fatned for an other sacrifice. And for to escape suche abhominable death, we brake the prison and fledde through certaine mountaines: So that it pleased God that wee mette with another _Cazike_ who was enimy to him that first toke vs, his name was _Quinqus_, a man of more reason and better condition, hee was Lord of _Xamansana_: he accepted vs for his captiues, but shortly after he dyed, and then I aboad with _Taxmar_ his heire. Then deceased other fiue of our fellowes, so that there remayned but onely I and one _Gonsalo Guerrer_, a maryner, who now abydeth with _Nachancan_ the Lorde of _Chetemal_, and he married with a rich gentlewoman of that countrey, by whom he hath children, and is made a Captaine, and wel estéemed with the _Cazike_ for the victories y^t he hath had in the wars against the other Lords. I sent vnto him your worships letter, desiring him that he would come with me hauing so fit a passage, but he refused my request, I belieue for verye shame, bycause hee had his nose ful boared of holes, & his eares iagged, hys face & handes painted according to the vse of y^t countrey, or else he abode there for the loue he bare to his wife and children. All those whiche stoode by & hard this Historie, were amased, to heare _Geronimo de Aguilar_ report howe those _Indians_ did sacrifise & eate mans flesh. They also lamented the miserie & death of his fellowes, and highly praysed God, to sée him frée frö his bondage & from such cruel & barbarous people, & to haue likewise so good an enterpreter with thë, for vndoubtedly it semed a miracle y^t _Aluarados_ ship fel into a leak, for with y^t extremity they returned back again to that Iland, wheras with contrarie winde they were constrayned to abide y^e cöming of _Aguilar_. And certainly he was y^e mean & spéech of al their procéedings. And therfore haue I bin so prolixious in y^e rehearsal of this matter, as a notable point of this historie. Also I wil not let to tell how the mother of _Geronimo de Aguilar_, became mad .&c.

When she hard y^t hir son was captiue among people y^t vsed to eate mäs flesh, & euer after whë she saw any flesh spitted or roasted, she would make an open outcrie, saying, oh I miserable woman, behold this is the flesh of my dearebeloued sonne who was all my comfort.

The Iland of Acusamil.

The _Indians_ naturall of that countrey do cal their Ilande _Acusamil_, & corruptlye _Cosumel_. _Iohn de Grijalua_ was y^e first Spaniard that apported there, and named it the holy Roode, bycause hee fell in sighte therof on holy roade daye. It cötayneth ten leagues in length & thrée leagues in breadth, although some say more, some lesse: it standeth twentye degrées on this side the equator, and fiue leagues from the womës cape: it hath thrée villages, in y^e which liueth nere 3 thousand më. The houses are of stone and brick, and couered with straw & bowes, & some with tile. Their temples and towers are made of lime & stone very wel built: thei haue no other fresh water but out of welles and raine water. _Calachuni_ is their chiefe Lord: they are browne people & goe naked: & if any weare cloth, it is made of cotten wool only to couer their priuie mëbers: they vse lög hear platted & bound about their foreheads: they are great fishermë, so y^t fish is their chiefest foode & sustenance, they haue also _Maiz_ which is for bread: also good fruites: & hony, but somewhat soure: and plots for bées, which contayn .1000 hiues. They knew not to what vse wax serued, but whë they saw our më make cädels therof, they wödred therat. Their dogges haue Foxe faces and barke not, these they gelde and fatten to eate. This Iland is ful of high moütaines, & at the feete of them, good pastures, many Deare, and wilde Boares, Connyes and Hares, but they are not great. The Spaniardes with their handguns and crossebowes prouide them of that victual, fresh salt and dried. The people of this _Iland_ are Idolaters, they doe sacrifice children, but not manye. And many times in stead of children they sacrifice dogges. They are poore people, but very charitable and louing in their false religion and beliefe.

The religion of the people of _Acusamil_.

[Sidenote: A straunge Idol.]

[Sidenote: The God of rayne.]

The temple is like vnto a square Toure broad at the foote, & steps round about it, & from y^e middest vpward very straight: the top is hollow & couered with straw: it hath foure windowes with frontals and galleries. In y^t holow place is their chappel, wheras their Idols do stand. The temple that stoode by the sea side was such a one, in the which was a maruellous straunge Idol, and differed muche from all the rest, although they haue manye and of diuerse fashions. The body of this Idol was great and hollow, and was fastened in that wall with lime: hee was of earth. And behinde this Idols backe was the Vesterie, where was kept ornaments & other things of seruice for y^e temple. The priests had a little secret dore hard adioyning to y^e Idol, by which dore they crept into y^e hollow Idol, and answered the people y^t came with prayers & peticiös. And w^t this deceit y^e simple soules beleued al y^t the Idol spake, & honored y^e god more thä al the rest w^t many perfumes & swéete smelles, and offered bread and fruite, with sacrifice of Quayles bloud, and other birds, and dogges, and sometime mans bloud. And through the fame of this Idoll and Oracle, many Pilgrimes came to _Acusamil_ from many places. At the foote of this Temple was a plotte like a Churchyard, well walled and garnished with proper pinnacles, in the middest whereof stoode a Crosse of ten foote long, the which they adored for God of the rayne, for at all times whë they wanted rayne, they would goe thither on Procession deuoutely, and offered to the Crosse Quayles sacrificed, for to appease the wrath that the God séemed to haue agaynste them: and none was so acceptable a sacrifice, as the bloud of that little birde. They vsed to burne certaine swéete güme, to perfume that God withall, and to besprinckle it with water, and this done, they beléeued assuredly to haue rayne. Suche is the Religiö of those _Indians_ of _Acusamil_. They could neuer know the original how that God of Crosse came amögst them, for in all those parties of _India_, there is no memorie of anye Preaching of the Gospell that had bin at any time, as shall be shewed in another place.

The Battell and vvinning of _Potonchan_.

[Sidenote: Policie.]

_Cortez_ procéeded with his Fléete very ioyfull, bycause he had found one of his Ships which hée thought had bin lost, & aported at the riuer _de Grijalua_, whiche in the _Indian_ tong is called _Tauasco_, and anckred at the riuers mouth, fearing to enter in with the bigger vessels ouer the barre: and incontinente came manye _Indians_ to gaze at them and theyr Shippes, who were armed with feathers, and suche lyke armour as they vse, séeming a farre off trimme fellowes. They wondered not muche to sée oure Shyppes and menne, bycause they hadde séene before _Iohn de Grijalua_ in the same Riuer. The behauiour of that people, and scituation of the Countrey, liked _Cortez_ verye well, so that leauyng sufficiente garde in hys Shyppes, he manned hys Vergantynes and Boates, and carried with hym certayne pieces of Ordinance, and with force of oares he entred the Riuer agaynste the streame, whiche was verye greate, and hauyng rowen little more than halfe a league, they espyed a greate Towne walled wyth Timber, and the houses made of mudwall, couered with strawe. The Towne wall was verye strong, with loope holes to offende withall. And before oure menne came néere the Towne, they mette with manye little Boates, whiche the _Indians_ call _Tahucup_, full of armed menne, shewyng themselues desirous of battayle. _Cortez_ procéeded forwardes, and made vnto them signes of peace, declaring vnto them by his interpreter, that hys commyng thither was not to molest or disquiet them, but onely to take freshe water, and to buy victuals, as menne that trauelled by Sea, and stoode in néede thereof, promising good paymente for anye thing that they shoulde take. The _Indians_ hearyng theyr request, promised to shewe theyr message to the Townesmen, and woulde also returne with theyr aunswere and vittayles, and so departed. In shorte space they returned againe, and broughte bread and fruite, and eyght Turkie Cockes, and presented it franckely vnto them. _Cortez_ gaue them thankes, but (quoth he) the prouision that ye haue brought, is very little, for the néede that I and so manye persons which I haue within yonder greate vessels locked and shutte vp, therefore I pray you to bryng me more vittayles, or else to permitte and suffer mée and my folkes to come vnto youre Towne to séeke oure remedie.

[Sidenote: Diligence of a good Captayne.]

The _Indians_ demaunded one nyghtes space to doe the one and the other, and departed towarde the towne. _Cortez_ also went to a little Iland that standeth in the riuer, to abide their aunswere, so that eache pretended to deceyue the other, for the _Indians_ demaunded that time, to the intent to carrie that night away theyr goodes, and to put in safetie their wiues and children in the Mountaynes, and likewise to gather their men of warre to defende theyr Towne. _Cortez_ also commaunded his Hargabushiers and Crossebowmen to goe a lande vppon the Ilande, and caused the Riuer vpwardes to bée soughte for way, to wade ouer, so that these thyngs were done that nyghte without anye knowledge to the contrarye syde. And all those whyche abode aboorde the Shyppes, came vnto _Cortez_, and those who wente to séeke the passage, founde within lesse than halfe a league vpwardes, a place that was of depth to the girdle of a manne. And likewise founde suche couerte of wooddes, that they myghte come néere vnto the Towne, and not to bée séene.

Thys newes lyked well _Cortez_, wherevppon he appoynted two Captaynes, whose names were _Alonso de Auila_, and _Peter de Aluarado_, and to eache of them fiftie menne. The same nyghte hée sente certayne Souldyers wyth a sea compasse, to lye in ambushe in the woodde whyche stoode betwéene the riuer and the towne, for two considerations. The one, bycause the _Indians_ shoulde sée, that there were no moe Spanyardes in the Ilande, than were the daye before. And the other was, that hys menne hearing their watchword, shoulde assaulte the towne on the land side. And as soone as the day appeared, came eight boates of _Indians_ armed, wheras oure Campe was pitched, who broughte a little victuall, saying they could get no more, bycause that the inhabitantes of the Towne were fledde, with feare of them, and their deformed vessels, desiring them to returne aboorde their Shippes, and not to disquiet the people of that Countrey. The interpreter aunswered, that it was against humanitie to suffer them to perishe wyth hunger, yea and if they woulde heare the cause of theyr comming, they should shortly sée what profite would rebound vnto them. The _Indians_ replyed, that they woulde take no counsell of straungers and menne whome they knewe not. Lykewise, they thoughte not good to lodge suche guestes in their houses, for they séemed terrible, and such as would be commaunders. But if they woulde néedes haue water, they mighte take riuer water, or else make welles on the shore, for so dyd they at theyr néede.

Then _Cortez_ séeyng that wordes preuayled not, hée signifyed vnto them that he woulde enter their Towne by force, to sée it and their Countrey, for to giue thereof relation to the greatest Prince in the worlde, who hadde sent them thither: requesting them to be therewith contented, considering he meante not to disquiet them: and if they would not permitte the same, he would commend himselfe to his God, and to the strength and force of hys men. The _Indians_ aunswered agayne, that they shoulde depart, and not thus bragge in other mens land, for in no wise they woulde permitte them to enter their Towne. And if with this warning they would not departe, they meante to kyl both him and as many as were with him. Yet _Cortez_ ceassed not to vse all humanitie with those barbarous people, according to the commaundemente and instructions giuen vnto him by the King of _Castill_, whiche was, to require those people oftentimes with peace, before the attempting of warre, or entring perforce into their Townes and Countrey, so that yet agayne he conuited them with peace, promising them libertie with good entertainement, assuring them of things profitable both for body and soule, and that they myghte accompt themselues happie with the knowledge thereof: but if now they would refuse his offer, he did then warne them to make them ready for the euening, for before the going downe of the Sunne, he did hope with the help of his God, to rest and take vp his lodging in the Towne, in despite of all the inhabitants thereof, who had refused his offer.

The _Indians_ laughed at his talke, and skorning at him, they returned to the Towne, to enforme their fellowes of the pride and madnesse that they thought they hadde hearde. Then the Spanyardes wente to dinner, and hauing well refreshed themselues, they putte on their Armour, and went aboorde their Boates and Vergantines, looking for some aunswere from the _Indians_, and séeyng the Sunne decline apace, and no aunswere, _Cortez_ aduised the Spanyardes that lay in ambushe in the woodde, to giue assault, and he embarqued himselfe with his rapier and Targette, gyuyng likewise assaulte with néere two hundred men, who comming néere the Towne walles, discharged his Ordinance, and lept into the water to the knées, and began valiantly to assault the walles and bulwarkes. The _Indians_ séeyng their enimies so nigh vnto them, beganne to fighte with courage, shooting arrowes, throwing of dartes and stones, wherewith they hurte about twenty Spanyardes: yea, and though the fearefull noyse of the Ordinance did many times so annoy them, being things so straunge, and neuer before séene of them, yet they fledde not from the walles, but resisted the Christians valiantlye, and suffered them not to enter the Towne that way, if they had not bin assaulted in another place. But when the Company that lay in ambush hearde the shooting of their fellowes, they began likewyse theyr onsette. The _Indians_ knowyng nothyng what was prepared behynde theyr backes, and hauing also theyr handes full in defending the entrance by the Riuer: and the Christians fyndyng that parte of the Towne without resistance, entred in wyth a terrible noyse, killing as many as they mette. Then the Townesmen vnderstoode theyr oversyghte, and woulde haue remedyed it, and fledde from the place where _Cortez_ was gyuing combat, whereby _Cortez_ and hys Company entred the Towne at ease, without contradiction, so that hée and the other Companye of his Souldyers mette togither at the Markette place, and expulsed all the _Indians_ out of the Towne, excepte those that were taken prisoners, and the carkases of the deade. Then the Chrystians soughte the spoyle, and founde nothyng but Turkie Hennes, and some thyngs wrought of Cotten wooll, but verye little Golde.

There was that daye aboue foure thousande _Indians_ in fyghte and defence of the Towne: There was much _Indian_ bloud shedde, bycause they fought naked, manye were wounded, and fewe Captiue. _Cortez_ lodged himselfe wyth hys armie in the chiefest Temple of the Idolles, where was roome sufficiente. They kepte that nyghte good watche, as in a house of enimies, but the poore _Indians_ durst not once interrupte them. After thys forte was _Potonchan_ taken, béeyng the fyrste Cytie that _Cortez_ wanne by force in all hys Conquest.

The Battell of Cintla.

[Sidenote: Care of a good Captayne.]

[Sidenote: Fortye thousande Indians.]

[Sidenote: Perill of the Christians.]

[Sidenote: A miracle.]

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.]