The pleasant historie of the conquest of the VVeast India, now called new Spayne

Francisco López de Gómara

The pleasant historie of the conquest of the VVeast India, now called new Spayne / atchieued by the vvorthy Prince Hernando Cortes, marques / of the Valley of Huaxacac, most delectable to reade

TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE, Sir Francis VValsingham and one of hir highnesse most Knight, principall Secretary to the Queenes most excellent Maiestie, Honorable priuie Counsell

Whilest I abode (right Honorable) in the Isle of Palma, in affaires of merchandize for the vvorshipfull Thomas Locke deceased, and his company, time then permitted me, to haue cōference vvith auncient gentlemen vvhiche had serued in the Conquest of the vveft India, novve called nevve Spaine, vnder the princely Captaine Hernando Cortez. By vvhom as present vvitnesses at many of the actes herein contayned, I vvas credibly informed, that this delectable and vvorthy Historie is a most true and iust reporte of matter paste in effect: vvherefore I did the more vvillingly turne ouer and peruse the same, vvhiche is a Mirrour and an excellent president, for all such as shall take in hande to gouerne nevve Discoueries: for here they shall behold, hovv Glorie, Renovvne, and perfite Felicitie, is not gotten but vvith greate paines, trauaile, perill and daunger of life: here shall they see the vvisedome, curtesie, valour and pollicie of vvorthy Captaynes, yea and the faithfull hartes vvhiche they ought to beare vnto their Princes seruice: here also is described, hovv to vse and correct the stubbern & mutinous persons, & in vvhat order to exalt the good, stoute and vertuous Souldiers, and chiefly, hovv to preserue and keepe that bevvtifull Dame Lady Victorie vvhē she is obtayned. And vvhere it vvas supposed, that the golden mettall had his beginning and place in the East and VVeast India, neare vnto the hote Zoane, (as moste learned vvriters helde opinion) it is novve approued by the venterous trauellour and vvorthy captaine Martin Frobisher Esquire, yea and also through the greate paynes, procurement, and firste inuention of the vvorshipfull Mychaell Locke Merchaunt, that the same golden mettall dothe also lie incorporate in the bovvelles of the Norvveast parties, enuironned vvith admirable Tovvers, Pillers and Pynacles, of Rockes, Stone, and Ise, possessed of a people bothe straunge, & rare in shape, attire and lyuing, yea suche a Countrey and people, as all Europe had forsaken and made no account of, excepte our moste gratious Queene and her subiectes, vvhome vndoubtedly God hath appoynted, not onely to be supreme Princesse ouer them, but also to be a meane that the name of Christ maybe knovven vnto this Heathenish and Sauage generation.

Not long since (right Honorable) I happened to trauayle from the famous Cittie of Tolledo in Spayne, tovvarde highe Castile, and by fortune ouertooke an auncient Gentlemen, vvorshipfully accompanied, vnto vvhō I vvas so bold as to approch, beseching his vvorship to aduertise me of his iourney: vvho (after he had beheld my white head & beard) ansvvered ful gentlely, that his intēt vvas to trauayle vnto the king of Spaynes Court, and vvelcomed me vnto his company. In shorte space that vve had iourneyed togither, and communed of each other his Countrey, it pleased him to say as follovveth: My good friende, if you knevv my sute vnto the Kings maiestie, you vvould iudge that I vvere a mad man, and therefore to shorten oure vvay, I vvill declare my attempted sute vnto you. You shall vnderstande, that I am a Gentleman of lxx. yeares of age, and sometimes I serued in the ciuill vvarres of Pirru, vvhere I vvas vvounded in diuers parts of my body, and am novv thereby lame in one of my legges and shoulder. I haue neyther VVife nor childe, and at this presente (God be praised) I haue in the Contractation house in the Citie of Siuill, in golde and plate, the summe of thirtie thousande Duckates: and I haue also in Pirru in good lands and possessions, the yearely rente of tvvelue thousande Duckates, vvhiche rentes and readye money is sufficiente to mainteyne a poore Gentleman. But al this notvvithstanding, I do novv sue vnto the Kings Maiestie, to haue licence and authoritie to discouer and conquere a certayne parte of India, vvhyche adioyneth vvith Brazile, and is part of the Empire of Pirru, I pray you novve declare what you thinke of my sute. By my troth sir (quoth I) I trust your vvorship vvill pardon a rash and suddaine iudgemēt, which you now demand at my hād: yea truly (quoth he) say vvhat you list. Then (quoth I) my opiniō is, that you are not wel in your wit, for vvhat vvould you haue? vvil not reason suffice you? or else would you now in your old days be an Emperour, considering that your Sepulchre attendeth for you. Novve truly I thanke you (quoth he) for of youre iudgement are most men: but I say vnto you, considering that all flesh must finish, I seeke for no quiet rest in this transitorie life: yea the vvise and Christian Doctors do teach and admonish, that euery true Christian is borne, not for his ovvne priuate vvealth and pleasure, but rather to help and succoure others his poore breethren. Likevvise doe I consider the greate number of Gentlemen, yonger brethren, and other valiāt persons, vvho through vvant of liuing, do fall into many disorders. VVherefore to accomplish my dutie tovvard God and my Prince, and to releeue such poore Gentlemen, do I novv attempte this iourney, vvith the aduenture of my bodye and goodes, and for that purpose I haue in readinesse foure tall Shippes, vvell furnished in the porte of Saint Lucar de Barrameda, hoping assuredlye, that before the life depart from my body, to heare these valiante yong Gentlemen (vvhome novv I meane to haue in my company) say, oh happie day, vvhen olde Zarate (for so is my name) broughte vs from penurie, yea and from a number of perils that vve vvere like to fall into. I hope also, that the royall estate of my Prince shall be by my paynes and poore seruice enlarged: beleeue you me, this is the onely sumptuous Tumbe that I pretende to builde for my poore carkas. But yet I knovv there are some, vnto vvhome I may compare the Bore that lyeth vvallovvyng in his Stye, vvho vvill not lette to saye, vvhat neede vve any other vvorld, honor, or Kingdomes? let vs be contented vvith that vve haue: vvho may easily be aunsvvered, Sir glutton, your paunch is full, and little care you for the glory of God, honor of youre Prince, neyther the neede and necessitie of youre poore neyboures. VVith this conclusion the Gentleman ended his tale, the iudgement vvhereof I leaue to noble Gentlemen his peeres to be determined.

And vvhere oure Captayne Hernando Cortez, of vvhose valiant actes this historie treateth, hathe deserued immortal fame, euē so doubtlesse I hope, that vvithin this happie Realme is novv liuing a Gentleman, vvose zeale of trauayle and valiant beginnings dothe prognosticate greate, maruellous, and happie successe: for perfection of honor and profite is not gotten in one daye, nor in one or tvvo voyages, as the true histories of the East and VVest Conquests by Spanyardes and Portingalles do testifye. And calling to remembrance the greate zeale and good vvill vvhich your honor hath alvvayes extended to good and profitable attemptes, and especially in the proceedings of the nevv discouery, youre honor hath not only vsed liberalitie in your aduētures, but also taken greate paynes in Courte, to aduance and further the voyage, a number I saye of Gentlemen, Marriners, and other artificers, shal haue great cause to pray for your honor. And vvhere I for my parte haue tasted of your honors goodnesse sundrye vvayes, I am novve most humbly to beseech youre honor to accept this poore gifte, the vvhiche I haue translated out of the Spanish tong, not decked vvith gallant couloures, nor yet fyled vvith pleasant phrase of Rhetorike, for these things are not for poore Marchant trauellers, but are reserued to learned VVriters: yet I trust the Author vvill pardon mee, bycause I haue gone as neere the sense of this Historie, as my cunning vvoulde reach vnto. I also craue, that it may please youre honor, vvhen your greate and vvaightie businesse vvill permitte, to beholde this vvorke, and that shall be for me an encouragemente to take in hande the translation of the East India, vvhiche is novve enioyed by the King of Portingall. Thus I ende, beseeching the Almighty to preserue your honorable estate.

(?)Your honors most ready at commaundement Thomas Nicholas.

The Conquest of the Weast India

The Byrth and lynage of Hernando Cortez

In the yeare of our Sauiour, 1485. being kings of Castill and Aragon, the Catholike princes Fernando and Isabell his wyfe, was borne Hernando Cortez in a towne called Medellin, situated in the prouince of Andulozia: his Father was named Martyn Cortez de Monroy, & his mother was called Lady Katherin Pisarro Altamirano, they were bothe of good byrth, and procéeded from foure principall houses, that is to say, the house of Cortez, the house of Monroy, the house of Pisarro, and the house of Altamirano, which foure houses are auncient, noble and honorable: yet these parents but poore in goods, but riche in vertue & good life, for whiche cause they were muche estéemed and beloued among theyr neighbours. His mother was of inclination deuoute, but somewhat harde: his father was charitable and mercyfull, who in his youth applied himselfe to the warres, and was Liuetenant to a company of horsemen. Hernando Cortez in his childehood was very sickely, so that many tymes he was at the poynt of death: And when he came to .xiiii. yéeres of age, his parents sent him to the Vniuersitie of Salamanca, where he remayned twoo yeares, learnyng Grammar, and then returned to Medellin werie of his studie, yea possible for want of money: yet his parēts were much offended with him for leauing his studie, for theyr onely desire was to haue had him a student at lawe, whiche is a facultie both riche and worshipfull, consideryng their sonne to be of a good witte and abilitie: Yet he caused muche strife in his Fathers house, for he was a very vnhappy ladde, high minded, and a louer of chiualrie, for which cause he determined with himselfe to wander abroad to séeke aduentures. And at that instant happened two iorneys fit for his purpose & inclination. The one of them was to Naples wyth Gonsalo Hernandez of the Citie of Cordoua, who was a worthy man, & named the great captaine. And the other iourney was to the Weast India, with the Lorde Nicholas de Ouando, a knight of the order of Larez, who was then appointed for gouernour of those parties. And musing with himselfe which waye to take, determined to passe into India, chiefly bycause the gouernour was of his acquaintance, and such a one as would haue care of him. And likewise the great desire of gold made him to couet that voyage more than the Iorney vnto Naples. Now in the meane while that ye fleet was preparing for India, it chaunced, Hernando Cartez pretended to go vnto a certaine house in the night season to talke with a woman, and clyming ouer a Wall whyche was of weake foundation, both he and the Wal fell togither: So that with the noyse of hys fall, and ratling of his armoure which he ware, came out a man newly married, and findyng him fallen at hys dore would haue slayne hym, suspecting somewhat of his newe married wife, but that a certaine olde woman (being his mother in lawe) wyth great perswasions stayed him from that fact. Yet with the fall he fell into a grieuous Ague, and continued sicke for a long season, so that he could not procéede vppon his voyage with the gouernour Ouando. And when he had obtained and fullye recouered his health, he mynded to passe into Italy, And so toke hys way towarde Valentia, wandering here and there almoste a whole yeare wyth much necessitye and penurie, and then returned home againe to Medellyn, with determination to procéed vppon his pretended voyage of India: Wherevppon hys father and mother waying their sonnes estate, desired God to blesse hym, and gaue him money in his purse for his iorney.

The age of Cortez vvhen he passed into India

Hernando Cortez was of the age of nintéene yeares, in the yeare of Christ 1504. and then he went toward India, and agréed for his passage and victual with Alonso Quintezo who went in companie of other four shippes laden with merchandise, whiche nauie departed from saint Lucas de Barramedo, with prosperous nauigation, vntyll they arriued at the Iland of Gomera one of the Canarie Ilands, where they did prouide themselues of all things necessarie for so long a voyage as they then had in hand.

Comfort of God

Alounso Quintezo, being greedie of his voyage, and desirous to come to the Ilande of Sainto Domingo before his fellowes, hoping to sel his commoditie the better, departed from Gomera in the night season without knowledge giuing vnto his company. But incontinent after he had hoysed vp his sayles, arose vp so great a winde and tempest, that his maine mast brake, whereby hee was forced to retourne backe againe to the Ilande of Gomera. And he made earnest requeste to them of the other shyppes to staye for him, vntyl hee hadde mended his Mast, who friendlye and neyghbourlye graunted hys desire, and departed altogither, sayling in sight the one of the other certayne dayes: yet the sayde Quintero, seyng the weather stedfast, and harpyng vpon gaynes, flewe from his fellowes agayne. And where as Frances Ninio de Guelua his pilote was not experte in that Nauigation, they knew not where they were at length: the Mariners did giue sundry Iudgements: the Pilote was in great perplexitie and sadnesse, their passengers lamented, and bewayled their unfortunate successe: the Master of the shippe layde the faulte to the Pilote, and the Pilote likewise charged the Master, for it did appeare that they were fallen out before. In this meane time their victuall waxed skant, and their freshe water wanted, so that they prepared themselues to die. Some cursed theyr fortune, others asked mercie at Gods hande, lookyng for death and to be eaten of the Cariues. And in this tyme of tribulation came a Doue flying to the shippe, beyng on good Friday at Sunne sette, and satte him on the shippe toppe: whereat they were all comforted, and tooke it for a myracle and good token and some wept with ioy, some sayd yt God had sente the Doue to comforte them, others sayde that lande was neare, and all gaue hartie thankes vnto God, directing their course that way that the Doue flew: and when the Doue was out of sighte, they sorrowed againe, but yet remayned with hope to sée shortlye lande and on Easterday they discouered the Ilande of Santo Domingo, whiche was firste discried by Christopher Zorso, who cryed, lande, lande, a chéerefull voyce to the saylers. The Pilote looked out, and knewe that it was the poynt, or cape of Semana, and within foure dayes after they arriued in the porte of Santo Domingo, whiche was long wished for, and there they founde the other shippes of their company arriued many dayes before.

The time that Cortez abode in Santo Domingo

Soone after that the Gouernoure Ouando was in his regimente and office, Cortez arriued at Santo Domingo, and the Gouernoures Secretarie, called Medina, receyued and lodged him, and also enformed him of the estate of the Iland, and aduised hym what was néedefull to doe, wishing that hée would be a dweller there, and that he should haue a plot to build vpon, with certaine ground for husbandry. But Cortez his thought was cleane contrary, for hée iudged, that as soone as he came thither, he should lade with gold, whereby hée did little estéeme his friend Medina his coūsell, saying, that he had rather goe to gather gold, than to trauell in husbandrie. Medina yet perswaded him, that he shoulde take better aduisement, for to finde golde, was doubtfull, and very troubesome. This talke ended, Cortez went to kisse the Gouernours handes, and to declare the cause of his comming, with other newes from Estremadure the Gouernours Coūtrey. The Gouernour friendly welcommed him, and also perswaded him to abide there, the which councell he accepted, and shortlye after wente to the warres, whereof was Captayne Iaymes Velasques, in the prouince of Anigua Iaqua, and Guaca Iarima, and other Lordships whiche were not as yet pacifyed wyth the late rebellion of Anacoana widdowe, who was a gentlewoman of great liuing. Ouando gaue vnto Cortez certayne Indyans in the Countrey of Daiguao, and also the office of publike notarie in Azua, a towne whyche the Gouernour had builded, and there dwelt Cortez fyue or syxe yeares, and began to play the good husband. Now in this meane season he woulde haue gone to Veragua, which was reported to bee maruellous riche, with the Captayn Iaymes de Nicuesa: but bycause of an empostume that he had vnder his righte knée, he went not, and as it happened, he was therein fortunate, for that thereby hée escaped great perils and troubles, whiche happened to them that went on that voyage and iourney.

Things that happened to Cortez in the Ilande of Cuba

Cortez escapethThe Gouernoure vvas sore afrayde

The Lorde Iames Colori being Admirall and chiefe Gouernour of the new India, sent one Iaymes Velasques to conquer the Ilande of Cuba, in the yeare .1511. And gaue vnto him men, Armour, and other thinges necessarie. And then Hernando Cortez wente to that conquest as a Clearke to the Treasorer called Michaell de Passamontes, for to kéepe the accompts of the Kings fiftes and reuenewes, being so intreated and required by the same Iaymes Velasques, bycause he was holden for a man both able and diligente. And it followed, that in the repartition of the lands conquered, Iaymes Velasques gaue vnto Cortez the Indians of Manicorao, in coniunct company with his brother in lawe called Iuan Xuarez, wherevpon Cortez did inhabite in Saint Iames de Barucoa, whiche was the first place of habitation in that Ilande, whereas he bredde and broughte vp Kine, Shéepe, and Mares, and was the first that hadde there any heard or flocke, and with his Indians he gathered great quantitie of golde, so that in short time he waxed riche, and ioyned in company with one Andres de Duero a Merchaunt, and put in two thousande Castlins for his stocke. He was also highly estéemed with Iaymes Velasques, and put in authoritie to dispatch businesse, and to giue order for edifices. In his tyme he caused a money house to be built, & also an Hospital. At that time one Iuan Xuarez naturall of the Citie of Granada, carried to the Ile of Cuba his mother and thrée sisters, whiche came to the Iland of Santo Domingo, with that vicequéene the Lady Mary of Toledo, in Anno .1509. hoping to marrie them there with rich men, for they were very poore. And the one of them named Cathelina was wont to say, That she shoulde be a greate Gentlewoman: it was eyther hyr dreames and fantasies, or else some Astronomer hadde made hir beléeue so, but hir mother was reported to bée very cunning. The maydens were beautifull, for which cause, and also being there but fewe Spanishe women, they were muche made of, and often feasted. But Cortez was woer to the saide Cathelina, and at the ende married with hir: Although at the first there was some strife about the matter, and Cortez put in prison, bycause he refused hir for his wife, but she demaunded him as hir husband by faith and troth of hand: wherein Iaymes Velasques did stande hir friende, by reason of an other sister of hyrs which he had, but of an euil name. It so fell out that one Baltazar Bermudez, Iuan Xuares, and the two Anthony Velasques, with one Villegas accused Cortez, that he ought to marrie with Cathelina, yet those witnesses spake of euill will many things, as touching ye affaires cōmitted to his charge, alleadging yt he vsed secret dealing with certaine persons. The which causes although they were not true, yet they carried great colour thereof. For why? many wēt secretly to Cortez his house, complayning of Iaymes Velasques. Some bycause they had not iust repertitiō of the cōquered Indiās, and other some not according to deserte. Contrariwyse Iames Velasques gaue credit to his talebearers, bicause Cortez refused to marrie wt Cathelina Xuarez, & vsed vncourteous words vnto him in ye presēce of many that stoode by, and also commaunded him to warde. And when Cortez sawe himselfe in the stockes, he feared some proces of false witnesse, as many times dothe happen in those parties. At time conueniente he brake the locke off the stockes, and layde hand vpon the Sword and Target of the kéeper, and brake vp a windowe, escaping thereby into the stréete, and tooke the Church for Sanctuary. But when Iaymes Velasques had notice thereof, he was greatlye offended with Christopher Lagos the Iayler, saying, that for money he had losed him: wherefore he procured by al meanes to plucke him out of the Sanctuary. But Cortez hauing intelligence of his dealing, did resiste and withstand his force. Yet notwithstanding one daye Cortez walking before the Churche dore, and being carelesse of his businesse, was caught by the backe with a Serieant called Iohn Esquier and others, and then was put aboorde a Shyppe vnder hatches. Cortez was welbeloued among his neighboures, who did well consider the euill will that the Gouernour bare vnto him. But nowe Cortez séeing himselfe vnder hatches, despaired of his libertie, and did verily thinke, that he shoulde be sent prisoner to the Chancerie of Santo Domingo, or else to Spayne, who being in this extremitie, soughte all meanes to get hys foote out of the chayne, and at length he gote it out, and the same nighte he changed his apparell with a ladde that serued him, and by the Pump of the Shippe he gote out, not heard of any his kéepers, climbing softly along the Shippe syde, he entred the Skiffe and went hys way therewith, and bycause they shoulde not pursue after him, he losed the Boate of another Shippe that roade by them. The Currant of Macaguanigua a riuer of Barucoa, was so fierce, that he could not gette in with his Skiffe, bicause he had no help to row, & was also very werie, fearing to be drowned if he should put himselfe to the land, wherefore he stripped himselfe naked, and tyed a nyghtkerchiefe aboute hys head, with certayne wrytings apperteyning to his office of Notarie and Clearkshippe to the Treasourer, and other things that were agaynst the Gouernoure Iames Velasques, and in this sorte swamme to lande, and wente home to hys owne house, and spake with Iohn Xuarez hys brother in law, and tooke Sanctuarie agayne with Armour. Then the Gouernoure Iames Velasques sente hym worde, that all matters shoulde bée forgotten, and that they shoulde remayne friendes, as in tyme past they hadde bin, and to goe with hym to the Warres agaynste certayne Indians that hadde rebelled. Cortez made hym no aunswere, but incontinent married with mistresse Catalina Xuarez according to his promise, and to lyue in peace. Iames Velasques procéeded on hys iourney wyth a greate companye agaynste the Rebelles. Then sayde Cortez to hys brother in lawe Iohn Xuares, bryng me (quoth he) my Launce and my Crosbowe to the Townes ende. And so in that euening hée wente out of Sanctuarie, and taking hys Crossebowe in hande, hée wente with his brother in lawe to a certayne Farme, where Iames Velasques was alone, with his householde seruauntes, for hys armye was lodged in a Village thereby, and came thither somewhat late, and at suche tyme as the Gouernoure was perusing hys Booke of charges, and knocked at his dore which stoode open, saying: Héere is Cortez that woulde speake with the Gouernoure, and so wente in. When Iames Velasques sawe hym armed, and at such an houre, he was maruellously afrayde, desiring hym to rest hymselfe, and also to accepte hys Supper: No Sir (quoth he) my onely comming is, but to knowe the complayntes you haue of me, and to satisfye you therein, and also to bée youre friende and seruitor. They then embraced eache other in token of friendship. And after long talke, they lay both in one bedde, where Iames de Orrelano founde them, who went to carrie newes to the Gouernoure, how Cortez had fledde. After this sort came Cortez agayne to his former friendshyppe with Iames Velasques, and procéeded with him to the Warres, but afterwarde at his returne, he was lyke to haue bin drowned in the sea: For as he came from the Caues of Bani to visite certayne of hys Shepheardes and Indians that wrought in the Pines of Barrucoa where his dwelling was, his Canoa or little boate ouerthrew, being night, and halfe a league from land, with tempeste, wherby he was put to his shiftes, and forced to swimme, and happened to espye lyght that certayne Shepheardes had which were at supper néere the Sea side. By suche like perils and daungers, runne the excellente menne their race, vntill that they arriue at the Hauen where their good lotte is preserued.