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

The discouerie of nevv Spayne

Men tangled in foolish loue

Fraunces Hernandes de Cordoua did first discouer Xucatan, going with thrée Shyps for Indians, or else to barter. These Shippes were sette forthe by Christopher Morante, and Lope Ochoa de Saizedo, in Anno .1517. And although he broughte home nothing at that time but stripes, yet he broughte perfect relation, how the Countrey was rich of gold and siluer, and the people of the countrey clothed. Then Iames Velasques Gouernoure of the Iland of Cuba, sent the next yeare following his kinsman, called Iohn de Grijalua, with two hundred Spanyardes in foure Shippes, thinking to obtayne much gold and siluer for his Merchandise at those places, which Fraunces Hernandez had enformed him: So that Iohn de Grijalua wente to Xucatan, and there foughte with the Indians of Champoton, and was hurt. From thēce he entred the riuer of Tauasco, which Grijalua hadde so named, in the whiche place he bartered for things of small value. He had in exchaunge golde, cloth of cotten wooll, and other curious things wrought of feathers. He was also at Saint Iohn de Vlhua, and tooke possession for the King, in the name of Iames Velasques, and there also exchanged his Haberdashe wares, for Golde, and Couerlets of cotten, and feathers: and if he hadde considered his good fortune, he would haue planted habitation in so rich a land, as his company did earnestly request him, and if he had so done, then had he bin as Cortez was. But suche wealth was not for him which knew it not, although he excused himselfe, saying, he went not to inhabite, but to barter onely in traffike of his Marchandise, and to discouer whether that land of Xucatan were an Ilande, or no. And finding it a mayne land, and populous, he left off for very feare. Likewise, some of his company were desirous to returne to Cuba, among whome, was one Pedro de Aluado, who was farre in loue with a woman of that countrey. So they determined to returne, with relation to the Gouernoure of suche things as hadde happened till that day, and sayled homewardes along the coast to Panuco, and so came to Cuba, to the greate griefe of many of hys company. Yea some of them wept, with sorrowe that hée would not abide in that rich countrey. He was fiue monethes vpon his voyage homewarde from land to lande, and eyght monethes till his returne to the Citie. But when he came home, the Gouernoure hauing hearde of his procéedings, would not looke vppon him, whiche was hys iust reward.

The Inuentorie of the treasure that Grijalua brought for his wares

Iohn de Grijalua bought of the Indians of Potonchan, Saint Iohn de Vlhua, and other places of that coast, suche thynges as made his fellowes farre in loue with the Countrey, and loth to depart from thēce. The workmāship of many of the things that they bought, was more worth than the thing it selfe, as this Inuentory perticularly doth shew.

The Inuentory

A little Idoll of golde hollowe.

A greater of golde, with hornes and heare, with a string of beadestones aboute his necke, and a Flyeflappe in his hand, and a little stone for his nauell.

A péece of golde, like the patent of a Challice, garnished with stones.

A Skull of golde, with two hornes, and blacke heare.

Two and twenty earerings of golde.

Two and twenty péeces of an other fashion.

Foure bracelettes of golde very broade.

A payre of beades of golde, the stones hollowe, wyth a Frogge of golde hanging at the same.

Another paire, with a Lyon of golde.

A great paire of earerings of golde.

Two little Eagles of golde hollowe.

A little Saltseller of golde.

Two earerings of golde with Turkie stones.

A coller to hang aboute a womans necke, of twelue péeces, with four and twenty stones hanging thereat.

A great coller of golde.

Sixe little collers of golde thinne.

Seauen other collers of gold with stones.

Foure earerings of golden leafe.

Twentie fishinghookes of golde.

Twelue graines of gold, waying fiftie Duckets.

A headlace of gold.

Certaine thinne planches of gold.

A Potedge pot of gold.

An Idoll of golde hollowe.

Certaine thinne brouches of gold.

Nine beade stones of gold.

Two payre of gilt beades.

One payre of wodden beades guilt.

A little cuppe of golde, with eighte purple stones, and twentie thrée stones of an other collour.

Foure belles of gold.

A little sauser of gold.

A little boxe of gold.

Certaine smal collers of gold of smal value.

A hollow apple of gold.

Fourtie hatchets of gold mixed with copper, valued in two thousand fiue hundred Duckets.

A whole harneis or furniture for an armed man of gold thinne beaten.

An other whole armour of wood with leaues of golde, garnished with little blacke stones.

A certaine piece made like vnto a feather, of an hyde and gold ioyntly wrought.

Foure pieces of armour of wood made for the knées, and couered with golden leafe.

Two targets couered with feathers of many and fyne colours.

Diuerse other targets of gold and feathers.

A tuffe of feathers of sundry colours, with a little byrd in the middest, very liuely.

A wing of gold and feathers.

Two flyflappes of feathers.

Two little chamberpottes of Allabaster, beset with many trimme stones, and some fyne, & among them there was one esteemed at two thousand Duckets.

Certaine beades of tinne.

Fiue paire of woodden beades rounde and couered wyth a leafe of gold very thinne.

A hundred and thirty hollow bead stones of gold.

Many beades of woodde gilt.

A paire of Sissers of wood gilt.

Two gilt vissors.

A vissor of strange gesture of gold.

Foure vissors of wood guilt.

Foure dishes of wood couered with golden leafe.

A dogges head of gold beset with stones.

An other beastes head garnished with gold.

Fiue paire of rush shooes.

Thrée red hides.

Seuen rasors of flint stone, for to cut vp men that were sacrifised.

Two painted dishes of wood with an Ewer.

A garmēt with halfe sléeues of feathers of excéeding fine colours.

A couerlet of feathers.

Many couerlets of cotten very fine.

Many other couerlets of cotten course.

Two kerchiefs of good cotten.

Many perfumes of sweete odor, much of that countrey fruite.

They also brought newes that there were Amazons women of warre, in certaine Ilandes, and manye gaue credit, being amazed at the things that they had brought bartered for things of a vile price: as here-vnder appeareth the Merchandise that they gaue for al the aforesaid Iewels.

The Inuentorie of the Spanish Merchandise

Sixe course shirts.

Thrée paire of Maryners breeches of lynnen.

Fiue paire of womens shoes.

Fiue broad leatherne girdels wrought with coloured thréed, with their purses.

Manye purses of shéepes skinne.

Sixe glasses a little gilt.

Foure brouches of glasse.

Two thousand beadstones of glasse greene.

A hundred paire of beades of diuerse colours.

Twenty wooddencombes.

Sixe paire of Sissers.

Fiftéene kniues great and small.

A thousand taylers nedels.

Two thousand pinnes of sorts.

Eight paire of corded shoes.

A paire of pinsers and a hammer.

Seauen red night cappes.

Thrée coates of colours.

A freese coate with a cap of the same.

An old gréene veluet coate.

An olde veluet cappe.

The determination of Cortez to prepare a Nauie for discouerie

Bycause Iohn de Grijalua was absent a lōger season than was Francisco Hernandez de Cordoua, before his returne, or giuing aduise of his procéedings, the gouernoure Valasques prepared a Caruel, and therein sent one Christofer de Olid, for to séeke Grijalua with succor if néed wer, and gaue Olid great charge, that he should returne with newes from Grijalua with all spéede. But this messenger taried but a small while vpon his voyage, and saw but little of Yucatan, and not fynding Grijalua, he returned backe againe to Cuba, which returne happed not wel for the gouernour nor yet for Grijalua. For if he had procéeded forthe on his way to Saint Iohn de Vlhua, hee had then mette with whom he sought for, and likewise caused him to haue inhabited there. But he excused him self, alleaging that he had lost his ankers, and was therfore forced of necessitie to returne.

And as soone as Olid was departed on that voyage, Pedro de Aluarado returned to Cuba, wyth full relation of the discouerie, & brought many things wt hym, wrought in gold, with strange coloured feathers, and cotton wool. The gouernour Iames Valasques reioyced much to behold those principles: And all the Spaniardes of Cuba wondered therat, and likewise to heare the whole relatiō of the iourney. Yet the gouernour feared the returne of his kinsman, bycause some of his companye that came sicke and diseased from those parties, saide that Grijalua meaned not to inhabite there, and that the people and land was great, and also how the same people were warlike: likewise the gouernour feared the wisedome and courage of his kinsman. Wherevppon he determined to send thyther certaine shippes, with souldiers and armor and other trifling things, thinking chiefly to enrich himself by barter, and also to inhabite by force. He requested one Baltazer Vermudez to take that voyage in hand, who accepted the offer, but he demaunded thrée thousand duckets for his furniture and prouision. Their gouernour hearing this demaund, answered, that in such sorte the charges would be more than the profite: And so for that tyme lefte off the matter, bycause he was couetous, and loth to spend, thinking to prouide an army at other mēs cost, as he had done before, when Grijalua went firste on that voyage, for at that time one Francisco de Montezo did furnish one shippe. And also certaine gentlemen called Alaunso Fernādez, Porto Carero, Alaunso de Auila & Iames de Ordas with manye others, wente with Grijalua at theyr proper costes and charges. It followed that the gouernour brake the matter to Cortez, & required that the voyage shoulde be set forth betwixte them, knowing that Cortez had two thousand Castlyns of gold in the power of one Andres de Duero, a merchaunt, and also that Cortez was a man diligent, wise, and of stoute courage. Cortez being of haughtye stomacke, accepted both the voyage and the charges, thinking the cost would not be much .&c. So that the voyage and agréemente was concluded, whervpon they sent one Iohn de Sanzedo to the kings coūsel and chauncery, resident in the Iland of Santo Domingo, who were then religyous persons to haue and obtain of them licence, fréelye to goe and traffike into those parties of newe discouerie, and also to séeke for Iohn de Grijalua, for they imagyned that wythout hym small trafficke woulde bee hadde, whyche was, to exchaunge trifles of Haberdashe for golde and syluer. The chiefe rulers of gouernemente at that tyme in ye kings counsell there, were these following, Segniour Aloūso de Sāto Domingo, Segniour Luys de Figueroa, & Segniour Barnardo de Munsanedo, who graunted the licence, and appointed Hernando Cortez for captaine Generall of the voyage, and setter forth in company of Iames Velasques. They also appointed a Treasurer, and Surueyour to procure for the kings portion or parte, whych was according to custome one fifte parte. In thys meane season Cortez prepared hymselfe for the Iourney, and communed wyth hys especiall friendes to sée who woulde beare hym companye: And hee founde thrée hundred men that agréed to his request. He then bought a Caruell and Vergantine, and another Caruell that Pedro de Aluarado brought home. An other Vergantine he had of Iames Valesques: he prouided for them armour, artillery, and other Munition: hee brought also wyne Oyle, Beanes, Pease, and other victuals necessarye: he toke vp also vppon hys credite, of one Iames Sauzedo muche Haberdashe, to the value of seauen hundred Castlyns in golde. The gouernour Velasques deliuered vnto hym a thousande Castlyns whyche he possessed of the goods of one Pamfilo de Naruaiz in hys absence, alleaging that he had no other money of hys owne proper. And beeyng in thys manner agréed, the Articles and Couenauntes were drawen and set downe in wryting, before a Notary, called Alounso de Escalantes, the thrée and twenty day of October Anno .1518.

The cōming home of GrijaluaThe gouernour an old enemyCourage of Cortez

In this meane time arriued at Cuba, Iohn de Grijalua, vpon whose arriuall, the gouernour chaunged his purpose and pretence, for hee refused to disburse any more money, nor yet would consent that Cortez should furnish his Nauie. For the onely cause was, that he ment to dispatch backe againe his kinseman and his army. But to behold the stoute courage of Cortez, his charges, and liberalitie in expences, it was straunge, and to sée how hee was deceiued. And also to cōsider, the flatterie and deceite of his aduersarie, yea what complaints were made to the Lord Admiral, saying that Cortez was subtil, high minded, and a louer of honor, which were tokēs that he wold rebel, being in place conuenient, and that he woulde reuenge olde griefes. Also it grieued Vermudez that he had not accepted yt voyage, vnto whō it was once offered, seing the great treasure that Grijalua had brought, & what a rich land the countrey newely discouered was. Also he pretended that ye gouernor would be chieftain of ye fléet, although his kinesman were not fit for ye roome. The gouernor also thought yt he being slacke, Cortez would also be slacke. But yet he séeing Cortez earnestly procéed, he sent one Amador de Larez a principal mā, to intreate him to leaue off ye voyage (cōsidering yt Grijalua was returned) and yt he would pay him al ye costs & charges yt he had layd out. Cortez vnderstāding the gouernors minde, made answere vnto Larez, yt he wold not leaue of the Iorney, for very shame, nor yet breake the agréement made. And also if Valasques would send a Nauy for his owne account, he woulde be contente, for (quoth he) I haue alreadie my licence and dispatch of the fathers & gouernours. And thē he conferred with his friendes, to knowe their mindes if that they would fauour and beare him cōpany, at whose handes he found both ready helpe and friendshippe. Hee sought then for money, and toke vp vpon his credit foure M. Castlyns in gold, of his friend Andreas de Duero, & of Pedro de Xerez & others. With ye which money he bought two ships, 6. horses, & much apparel, & began to furnish a house & kepe a good table for cōmers & goers: he went also armed like a captaine, & many wayting & attēding vpon him, whereat diuerse murmured, saying that hee was a Lord without rente. In thys meane whyle came Grijalua to the Cittie of Sainte Iames de Cuba: but hys kinseman the gouernour woulde not loke vppon hym bycause he had lefte and forsaken so riche a lande. Also it grieued him inwardlye that Cortez procéeded thitherward so strong and mightye, and coulde by no meanes disturbe or lette hym, and to sée the greate traine that wayted vppon hym wyth manye of them that had byn the other voyage with Grijalua: yea if that he should disturbe him, bloud shedde would follow in the Citie. So that he was forced to dissemble his sorow. Yet (as many affyrme) hee commaunded that hee shoulde haue no victuals solde vnto hym. Nowe Cortez departed from thence, proclayming himselfe for General, and that the gouernour Valasques had nothing to doe wyth hys Nauie, requesting his soldiers to enbarke themselues wyth such victuals as they had. He also bargayned wyth one Fernando Alfonso for certaine Hogges and Shéepe that were prepared for the shambles, and gaue vnto hym a chayne of golde and brouches for payment, and also moneye, to pay the penaltie that the butcher fel into for not prouiding the Cittie. And so he departed frō Saint Iames de Baracoa the eightéenth of Nouember, with about thrée hundred Spaniardes in sixe shippes.

The nauie and men that Cortez caried with him to the Conquest

Cortez departed from Saint Iames de Barocoa with small prouision of victuals for suche a number of men, and also for the nauigation whyche as yet was vncertaine. And beeyng out of that parte, he sent Pedro Xuarez Gallinato with a Caruell to Iaymaica for vittailes, commaunding him, that those things which he should there buy, to goe therwith to Cape de Corrientes, or to S. Anthonies point, which is the farthest part of that Iland Westward. And he himselfe wente with his companye to Macaca, and boughte there greate quantitie of bread, and some Hogges, of one Taymaio. Then he procéeded to the Trinitie Ilande, and there boughte an other Shippe of one Alonso Guillen. And of perticulare persons he bought thrée Horses, and fiue hundred bushels of Corne. And being there at roade, he had aduice, that Iohn Nonez Sedenio passed that way with a Shippe laden with victuals, for to make sale thereof at the Mynes. Wherevppon he sente Iames de Ordas, with a Caruel well armed, for to take him, and to bring him vnto S. Anthonies point. Ordas went and tooke him at the Channell de Iardines, and brought him to the place appointed. Sedenio broughte the register of his marchandise, whiche was greate store of bread, Bacon, and Hennes: Cortez gaue him chaynes of golde, and other pieces for payment, and a bil for the rest. In consideration whereof, Sedenio wente with him to the Conquest. In the Trinitie Ilande Cortez gathered togyther two hundred men more, who had bin in Grijalua hys company, and were dwellers in that Iland, and in Matancas, Carenias, and other Villages, and sending his ships forward, he went with his men by land to Hauana, which was then inhabited on the South side in the mouth of the riuer called Onicaxinall, but there they would sell him no prouision, for feare of the Gouernour Velasques. But yet one Christopher Galsada rentgatherer to the Byshoppe, and receyuer for the Popes Bulles, solde to him great store of Bacon and bread of that Countrey called Maiz, and other prouision, whereby his fléete was reasonably prouided .&c. And then he beganne to distribute his men and vittayles aboorde eache vessell in good order. Then came Aluarado with his caruell, with his other friendes Christopher de Olid, Alonso de Auila, Francisco de Monteio, & manye others of Grijalua hys company, who had bin to talke with the Gouernoure Velasques. And among them came one Garnica so called, with letters for Cortez from Velasques, wherein he wrote, desiring him to abide there, for that he meant to come himselfe, or else to send vnto hym, to treate of matters profitable for them both.

A snare layde for Cortez

Also, the sayd Gouernour sente other secret letters to Iames de Ordas and others, requiring them to apprehende and take prisoner Cortez. Nowe Ordas did inuite Cortez to a banket aboorde his Caruel, thinking by that meanes to catche Cortez in a snare, and so to carrie him prisoner to the Citie of Saint Iames de Barocoa, but Cortez vnderstood the matter, and fayned hymselfe to be very sicke, and also fearing some vprore, he went aboorde his Shippe Admirall, and shot off a péece of Ordinance, giuing warning to his Nauie to be in a readinesse to make sayle, and to follow him to Saint Anthonies poynte, whiche was done with expedition, and there in the Towne of Guani Guaniga he mustered his men, and found fiue hundred and fiftie Spanyardes, whereof fiftie were Marriners. He deuided them into eleuen companies, and appointed these persons following for Captaynes, that is to say, Alonso de Auila, Alonso Fernandez Porto Carrero, Iaimes de Ordas, Francisco de Monteio, Francisco de Morla, Francisco de Salzeda, Iohn de Escalante, Iohn Velasques de Leon, Christopher de Olid, and one Escouar, and he himselfe as Generall tooke one Company. He made these many Captaynes, bycause his whole fléete was eleuen sayle, and that eache of them shoulde seuerally be Captayne, both of Shippe and men. He also appoynted for chiefe Pilote Antonio de Alamines, who had taken charge before with Francisco de Hernandez de Cordoua, and Grijalua, &c. He carried also 200 Indians, borne in ye Ile of Cuba, to serue and to carrie baggage, & also certayne Negros with some Indian womē, and sixtéene Horses & Mares, with great prouision of Bacon, corne, bisket, hennes, wine, oyle, pease, and other fruites, wt great store of Haberdash, as Belles, necklaces, beades of glasse, collers, points, pinnes, purses, nedels, girdels, thredde, kniues, sissers, pinsars, hāmers, hatchets, Shirts, Coyfes, headkerchiefes, handkerchiefs, bréeches, coates, clokes, cappes, Marriners bréeches, all ye which Merchādise be deuided amōg his nauie. The Ship Admiral was of the burthen of a hūdred Tunnes. Other thrée Shippes of the burthen of eightie Tunnes the péece. All the residue were small withoute ouerloppe, and vergantines. The deuice of his ensigne or aunciente, was flames of fire in white and blewe, with a redde crosse in the middest, and bordred round with letters, in the Lattine and Spanishe tongs, which signified this in effect: friends, let vs follow the Crosse, and with liuely faith with this standerde we shall obteyne victorie. The premisses (as ye haue hearde) was the furniture that Cortez prouided for his iourney, and with so small a thing he conquered so greate and mightie an Empire, & strange Countreys, vnknowen at that time. There was neuer Captayne that did with like army ouercome so infinite a people, & bring both thē and their coūtrey vnder subiectiō. He caried no money to pay his souldiers, but was rather much indebted to others at his departure. And to say the truth, there néeded any money to make pay to those souldiers that went to the Cōquest, for if they shuld haue serued for wages, they would haue gone to other places néere hand. But in India, euery one pretēdeth ye state of a noble man, or else great riches. Now all ye fléete being in readinesse (as ye haue hearde,) Cortez began an exhortation to his cōpany as followeth.

The Oration that Cortez made to his Souldiers

My louing fellowes and déere friendes, it is certayne that euery valiant manne of stoute courage, doth procure by déedes to make him selfe equall with the excellente men of his time, yea and with those that were before his time. So it is, that I do now take in hād such an enterprise, as godwilling shall be héereafter of greate fame, for myne heart doth pronosticate vnto mée, that we shall winne greate and rich Countreys, and manye people, as yet neuer séene to anye of oure nation, yea and (I beléeue) greater Kingdomes than those of oure Kinges. And I assure you, that the desire of glory dothe further extend, than treasure, the whiche in sorte, mortall life doth obtayne. I haue now prepared Shippes, Armor, Horses, and other furniture for the warres, with victuall sufficient, and all things that are vsed as necessary in Conquestes. I haue bin at greate costes and charges, wherein I haue not onely employed myne owne goodes, but also the goodes of my friendes, yet me thinketh that the employmente thereof dothe encrease my treasure and honor. We ought (louing fellowes) to leaue off small things, when great matters doe offer themselues. And euen as my trust is in God, euen so greater profite shall come to our kings, and a nation of this oure enterprise, than hath héeretofore of any other. I doe not speake how acceptable it will be to God our sauiour, for whose loue I do chiefly and willingly hazard my goods and trauel. I will not nowe treat of the perils and danger of life that I haue passed since I began this voyage. This I say, that good men doe rather expect renoune, than treasure. We doe now attempt and begin warre that is both good and iust, and the almighty God in whose name and holy faith this voyage is begonne, will assuredly graunte vnto vs victory, and the time will shew the end of things well begonne. Therefore we will now haue an other manner in our procéedings, than eyther Cordoua or Grijalua hadde, whereof I meane not nowe to dispute, for the presente time doth hasten vs away, but at our arriuall, we will do what shall séeme vnto vs conuenient. Héere déere friends do I lay before you great gaynes, but wrapped in greate trauell, yet Vertue is an enimie to idlenesse .&c. Therefore if you will accept hope for Vertue, or Vertue for hope, and also if ye forsake me not, as I will not forsake you, I will with Gods help make you in shorte time the richest men that euer passed this way. I doe sée you are but fewe in number, but yet such men of haughtie courage, that no force or strength of Indians can offende. Likewise wée haue experience, that Christ our sauiour hathe alwayes fauoured our nation in these parties. Therfore my déere friendes, let vs now in Gods name depart ioyfull, exspecting good successe, according to our beginning .&c.