The conuersion of the Indians.

Oh how greately are those Indians bound to prayse God, who being seruants of Satan, and lost Shéepe, yet it pleased the goodnesse of the Almighty to haue compassion of thē, who hath giuen them light to come out of darkenesse, and brought them to the knowledge of theyr cruell and abhominable life, and hath nowe giuen vnto them the holy Ghost in baptisme: oh most happie Cortes, thy paynes was well employed, oh valiant Conquerors, your names shall liue for euer. I am now bolde to saye, that all the lande which is conquered in the new Spaine, the people thereof are generally conuerted vnto the faith of Iesus Chryste: oh what a greate felicitie is it vnto those blessed Kyngs who were the beginners thereof.

Some doe saye, that in the newe Spayne onely are conuerted Christians sixe Millions. Others hold opinion of eyghte Millions. And othersome doe assuredly affirme, that aboue tenne Millions are Christened. But in conclusion, I am assured, that within the limittes of four hundred leagues, there are none vnchristened.

The conuersion began with the Conquest, but wyth the diligence in prosecuting the warres, little good was done, vntyll the yeare 1524. and then the matter wente forwarde effectuallye, by reason that certayne learned menne wente thyther for the same purpose.

At the begynnyng it was a troublesome thyng to teach them, for wante of vnderstandyng the one of the other, wherefore they procured to teache the chyldren of Gentlemen whiche were most aptest, the Spanishe tong, and they likewise learned the Mexican spéeche, in the whiche language they dayly preached. It was at the firste a paynefull thing to make them leaue those Idols in whome they hadde euer beléeued, yea and the Diuell gaue them cruell warres in spirite, and manye times, in appearing in diuers formes vnto them, threatning, that if they dyd call vpon the name of Iesus Christ, it should not rayne, and that all their delight and pleasure shoulde be taken from them, prouoking them still to Rebellion against the Christians, but his wicked counsell woulde not preuayle.

Through greate punishmente they haue left off the horrible sinne of Sodomy, although it was a greate griefe to put away their number of wiues.

There are nowe in the newe Spayne eyght Byshoprikes, whereof one is an Archbishoprike.

The death of Hernando Cortes.

[TOC]

There was a greate contention betwéene Hernando Cortes, and Don Antonio de Mendosa, the Vizeroy, as concerning the prouince of Sibola, for each of them pretended a title vnto the same through the Emperoures gift, the one by meanes of his office of Vizeroy, and the other by his office of Captayne Generall, vpon the whyche matter they grewe into such hatred, that perfyte friendshippe coulde neuer after take place betwéene them, although at the beginning they were familiar and louing friendes: but malice grewe to such extremitie, that eache of them wrote vndecently agaynste other, to the Emperoure theyr maister, the whyche theyr doyngs blemished both theyr credites.

Cortes wente to lawe with the Licenciat Villa Lobos the Kings Attourney, aboute certayne of his vassals, and also the Vizeroy assisted agaynste him as muche as hée myghte. Vpon consideration whereof, he was enforced to come into Spayne in Anno 1540. and broughte Don Martin his sonne and heyre, béeyng a childe of eyghte yeares of age, and hys sonne Don Luys, to serue the Prince: he came very riche, but not so riche as the fyrste time. He entred into great friendship with the Cardinal Loaisa, and the Secretarie Cobos, but it preuayled not, for the Emperoure was gone into Flanders about matters of Gant.

In the yeare 1541. the Emperoure personally wente to the séege of Argell with a mightie armye, and Cortez with his two sonnes went also thither to serue him with a good companye of men and Horses, but it pleased God to raise vp suche a tempest, wherewith the most parte of the fléete perished. Cortes then being in the Galley of Don Henrike Enrikes, called the Esperanca, and fearing to lose his rich emraldes and other Iewels at the time that the Galley was driuen by violence of weather vpon the shore, he then bound about him the sayde fyue rich emraldes, estéemed in a hundred thousande Duckates, yet notwithstanding through the throng of people, and hast to escape out of oese and mire, the Iewels fell from him, who could neuer heare more of them, so that the present warres cost hym more than any other, except the Emperoures maiestie, although Andrea de Oria lost eleuen Galleys.

But the losse of treasure gréeued hym not so much, as the excluding hym out of the Counsell of the warres, whereas other yong Gentlemen of lesse knowledge and abilitie were accepted, which was a cause of greate murmuryng among the host. And where in the counsell of warre it was determined to leaue the séege and to depart, it gréeued manye, whereupon Cortes made an open offer, that he alone with the Spanishe nation would presume to take Argell, hauyng but the one halfe of the Tudescos and Italians, if it woulde please the Emperoure to graunte vnto hym the enterprise. The Souldyers on the lande dyd hyghly commende hys courage, but the Sea menne woulde giue no eare vnto him, so that it is thoughte that the offer came not to the Emperoures knowledge. Cortes wente vp and downe in the Courte a long season, being sore afflicted in a certaine sute aboute hys vassals, and also the processe and allegations of Nunio de Guzman, layde vnto hys charge in hys residence. The whole processe was séene in the counsell of Indias, but iudgemente was neuer pronounced, whyche was a greate hartes ease for Cortes. And then hée departed from the Courte towarde Siuill, with determinate wyll to passe vnto the newe Spayne, and to ende his lyfe in Mexico, and also to receyue the Lady Mary, Cortes hys daughter, who was come from India, and promised in marriage vnto Don Aluar Perez Osorio, with a hundred thousande Duckates in dowry, and hyr apparell, but the marriage tooke no effecte, through the faulte of Don Aluar and hys father.

He then fell sicke of a flixe and indisgestion, whiche endured long, so that on hys iourney towarde the Citie of Siuill, he departed thys transitory lyfe, in a little Village called Castilleia de La Cuesta, whyche standeth a myle from the Citie of Siuill, on the seconde of December Anno 1547. béeyng thréescore and thrée yeares of age.

His body was deposited w^t y^e dukes of Medina Sidonia.

He left a Sonne and thrée Daughters begotten of the Lady Iane de Zuniga his wife, his Sonne was called Don Martin Cortes, who did inherite his fathers estate, and was married vnto the Lady Ana de Arellano, his cousine, daughter to the Countie De Aguilar, by order of his father.

The doughters vnto Cortes were named as foloweth, the lady Donea Maria, Donea Catalina, and Donea Iuana who was the yongest. He had another Sonne by an Indian woman, and he was called Don Martin Cortez. He had also another base sonne by a Spanish woman, who was named Don Luys Cortez, and thrée daughters by thrée seuerall Indian women.

Cortez buylt an hospitall in Mexico, and gaue order for a Colledge to be also erected there. He builte also a Temple in Coioacan, where he willed in his Testament that his bones shoulde be buried at the charges of his Sonne and heyre. He situated foure thousand Ducates of rent, whiche yéeldeth yéerely his houses in Mexico for the purpose aforesayd, of the which foure thousande Ducates, two thousand should be to maynteyne the Studients in the Colledge.

(^•_•^•)

FINIS.

A Table expressyng the Chapiters vvhiche are conteyned in this Historie.

The birth and lynage of Hernando Cortez. Fol. [1].
The age of Cortes vvhen he passed into India. [2]
The time that Cortes abode in Santo Domingo. [5]
Things that happened to Cortes in the lande of Cula. [6]
The discouery of the nevv Spayne. [10].
The inuentory of the treasure that Griialua brought. [12]
The determinatiō of Cortes to prepare a fleete for discouery. [16]
The nauy and men that Cortes caried to the Conquest. [20]
The oration made by Cortes to his Souldiers. [24]
The entraunce of Cortes into the Iland of Acusamil. [25]
The Indiās of Acusamil gaue nevves of bearded men. [29]
A miraculous chaunce hovv Aguillar came to Cortes. [31]
The Iland of Acusamil. [35]
The religion of the people of Acusamil. [40]
The battell of Potonchan. [41]
The battell of Cintla. [43]
The Lord Tauasco yeeldeth to the Christians. [46]
Questions demaunded by Cortes of the Cacike Tauasco. [48]
Hovve the Indians of Potonchan brake dovvne their Idols. [50]
The good entertaynement that Cortes had in Saint Iohn de Vlhua. [51]
The talke of Cortes vvith Teudilli. [55]
The presente by Mutezuma vnto Cortes. [58]
Hovve Cortes knevv of discorde in the countrey. [61]
Hovve Cortes vvent to suruey the countrey vvith .400. men. [64]
Hovve Cortes rendred vp his office by pollicie. [67]
Hovve the Souldiers chose Cortes for their Captayne generall. [69]
The receeuing of Cortes into Zempoallan. [72]
The talke of the Lorde of Zempoallan vvith Cortes. [76]
Things that happened vnto Cortes in Chiauiztlan. [80]
The message sent by Cortes to Mutezuma. [83]
The rebellion done by the industry of Cortes. [85]
The fundation of the riche tovvne of Vera Crux. [88]
The taking of Tizapanfinca. [90]
The presente that Cortes sente to the Emperour Charles for his fifth parte. [92]
Letters in generall from the Magistrates of Vera Crux to the Emperour. [97]
An vprore among the Souldiers agaynst Cortes, and the correction for the same. [100]
Cortes caused all his shippes to bee sunke, a vvorthy fact. [102]
Hovv the inhabitantes of Zempoallan brake dovvne their Idolles. [104].
Hovv Olintlec exalted the mightie povver of Mutezuma. [107]
The first encounter that Cortes had vvith the men of Tlaxcallan. [112]
Hovve there ioyned a hundreth and fiftie thousande men agaynst Cortes. [116]
The threatenings of the Indian campe agaynst the Spaniardes. [120]
Hovve Cortes cut off the handes of fiftie espies. [124]
The Embassage that Mutezuma sent vnto Cortes. [126]
Hovve Cortes vvanne the Cittie of Zimpanzinco. [129]
The desire that some of the Spanierdes had to leaue the vvarres. [132]
The oration made by Cortes to his Souldiers. [133]
Hovv Xicotencatl came for Embassadour to Cortes his campe. [136]
The receiuing of Cortes into Tlaxcallan. [136]
The description of Tlaxcallan. [141]
The ansvvere of the Tlaxcaltecas touchyng the leauyng of their Idolles. [145]
The discorde betvvene the Mexicans and the Tlaxcaltecas. [147]
The solemne receyuing of the Spaniardes into Chololla. [148]
The conspiracie of the Cholollans against the Spaniardes. [152]
The punishment for conspiracy. [155]
The sanctuary among the Indians vvas Chololla. [158]
The hill called Popocatepec. [160]
The consultation of Mutezuma cōcerning the cōming of Cortes into Mexico. [162]
Things that happened to Cortes in his iourney tovvarde Mexico. [164].
The solemne pompe vvherevvith Cortes vvas receyued into Mexico. [169]
The Oration of Mutezuma to the Spaniardes. [172]
The Maiestie and order vvhervvith Mutezuma vvas serued at his table. [175]
The foote players that played before Mutezuma. [178]
The tennys play in Mexico. [179]
The number of vviues that Mutezuma had. [181]
A house of foule vvhiche vvere only preserued for the feathers. [183]
A house of fovvle for havvking. [184]
The armory of Mutezuma. [186]
The gardens of Mutezuma. [187]
The court and guarde of Mutez. [188]
The greate subiection of the people to their King. [189]
The situation of Mexico. [192]
The market place of Mexico. [196]
The great temple of Mexico. [201]
The Idols of Mexico. [204]
The charnell house of Mexico. [206]
Hovv Cortes tooke Mutezuma prisoner. [207]
The recreation of hunting vvhiche Mutezuma vsed. [212]
Hovve Cortes beganne to plucke dovvne the Idols of Mexico. [214]
The exhortation made by Cortes to Mutezuma and the Citizens for the abolishing of Idolles. [215]
The burning of the Lorde Qualpopoca and other Gentlemen. [219]
The cause of the burnyng of Qualpopoca. [220]
Hovv Cortes put a paire of gyues on Mutezuma his legges. [221]
Hovve Cortes sente to seeke for the mynes of golde in diuers places. [223]
The imprisonment of Cacama king of Tezcuco. [227]
The sorovvfull oration that Mutezuma made vnto his noble men, to yeeld them to the Emperour. [230]
The golde and Ievvels that Mutezuma gaue vnto Cortes for his first tribute. [233]
Hovve Mutezuma required Cortes to depart from Mexico. [235]
The feare that our men stande in to be sacrificed. [239]
Hovv Iames Velasques sente Pamfilo de Naruaez agaynst Cortes. [241].
The substaunce of a letter that Cortes vvrote vnto Naruaez. [244]
The talke of Naruaiz to the Indians, and his ansvvere to Cortes. [246].
The talke that Cortes had vvith his ovvne Souldiers. [249]
The requestes of Cortes to Mutezuma. [251]
The imprisonment of Pamfilo de Naruaiz. [252]
The rebellion of Mexico. [256]
The cause of the rebellion. [259]
The threatnings of the Mexicans against the Spaniardes. [261]
The great daūger that our mē vvere put in by the straungers. [263]
The death of Mutezuma. [266]
The combat betvveene the Spaniardes and the Indians. [268]
Hovve the Mexicans refused the offer of peace and amitie. [271]
Hovv Cortes fledde from Mexico. [274].
The battell of Otumpan. [280]
The entertaynement of the Spaniardes at their returne to Tlaxcallan. fol. [283]
The protestation and request of the Souldiers to Cortes. [286]
The oration made by Cortes in ansvvere to his Souldiers demaunde. [289]
The vvarres of Tepcacac. [292]
The great auctoritie that Cortes had among the Indians. [294]
The Vergātines that Cortes caused to be buylte, and the Spanyerdes vvhiche he had to besiege Mexico. [296]
The exhortation of Cortes to his Souldiers. [298]
The exhortation made to the Indians of Tlaxcallan. [301]
Hovv Cortes tooke Tezcuco. [302]
The Spaniardes vvhich vvere sacrifised in Tezcuco. [307]
Hovv the Vergātines vvere brought from Tlaxcallan to Tezcuco. [310].
Of the docke or trenche vvhiche vvas made to lanche the Vergantines. [311]
The order of the hoste and army to besiege Mexico. [314]
The battell and victory of the Vergantines agaynst the Canoas. [316]
Hovve Cortes besieged Mexico. [320].
The firste skirmishe vvithin the Citie of Mexico. [322]
The great hurte and damage in the house of Mexico by fire. [327]
Things that happened to Pedro de Aluarado through his bolde attempt. [329]
The triumph & sacrifice vvhich the Mexicans made for victory. [331]
The determination of Cortes to destroy Mexico. [336]
The hungar and infirmitie vvhiche the Mexicans suffered vvith great courage. [340]
The imprisonment of Quahutimoc. [343].
The taking of Mexico. [347]
Maruelous signes and tokens of the destruction of Mexico. [349]
The buylding vp agayne of the Citie of Mexico. [352]
Hovv the Emperour sent to take account of Cortes his gouernment. [354].
The death of the Licenciat Luys Ponce. [358]
Hovv Cortes came into Spaine. [359]
The honour vvhiche the Emperour shevved vnto Cortes vvith revvarde. [361]
The mariage of Cortes. [362]
Hovv the Chancery vvas firste placed in Mexico. [364]
The returne of Cortes to Mexico. [367].
The letters vvhich the Indians vsed in Mexico. [369]
The Mexican yeare. [371]
The Indians beleeued that fiue ages vvere paste, &c. [377]
The nation of the Indians called Chichimecas. [378]
The Coronation of the Kings of Mexico. [379]
The opinion of the Mexicans concerning the soule. [382]
The buriall of kings in Mexico. [383]
The order of the burial of the kings of Michuacan. [386]
The order of Matrimony among the Indians. [389]
Of the iudges and order of Iustice. [391].
The order of cruell sacrifice vsed among the Indians. [392]
The order of certayne religions vvomen. [396]
Hovv the Diuell appeared to the Indians in a strange forme. [398]
The viceroys of Mexico. [399]
The conuersion of the Indians. [401]
The death of Hernādo Cortes. [402]

FINIS.

TRANSCRIBER'S ENDNOTE.

Inconsistent and strange spelling and grammar has been retained, with a few exceptions noted below. Sidenotes have been moved from beside paragraphs to the heads of the associated paragraphs. In some cases this may result in several sidenotes appearing together, between paragraphs.

These have been rendered herein with superscript notation: y^e, y^t, and w^t, and are abbreviations for "ye", "that", and "with".

Certain names such as "Mutezuma" or "Vitzilopuchtli" were generally printed in italic type, and sometimes were printed with what appears to the transcriber to be an interior capital Z, like this: "VitZilopuchtli". These have all been rendered with small z in this ebook.

Occasionally commas were printed where full stops were wanted, and vice versa. These have sometimes been fixed without comment here.

This book was originally printed with some incorrect page numbers. For one example, starting at page 32, the sequence of printed numbers was 32, 37, 34, 35, 40, 41, 38, 39, 37, 41, 42, 43. . . . The printed page numbers have been discarded in this ebook. In the following notes, the page numbers referenced are the printed ones.

P. 23: "vergan ines" changed to "vergantines".

P. 47: "crrtaine" changed to "certaine".

P. 50: "Tauasco Cortez" changed to "Tauasco, Cortez".

P. 58: In "of siluer whiche wayde .25. markes", the text between "wayde" and "markes" was somewhat unclear.

P. 100: The word after "Ierome Friers" was unclear, but a different edition had "dame", which is adopted herein.

P. 170: In "as i paynted of the Antikes", changed "i" to "is", supported by a different edition of the book.

P. 179: "butttocke" changed to "buttocke".

P. 209: "crosse stéete" changed to "crosse stréete", supported by a different edition.

P. 218: "officers made a solēpne vowe" changed to "officers made a solēne vowe".

P. 309: "deblared" to "declared".

P. 312: "entefrayned" to "entertayned".

P. 375: "Chicoei Cipactti" to "Chicoei Cipactli".

P. 390: "Diuoremcent" to "Diuorcement".

P. 395: "solempnitie" to "solemnitie".

P. 400: "prudētdently" to "prudētly".