In this history will be found many curious facts worthy of notice. It likewise points out the errors and blunders contained in a work written by Francisco de Gomara, who not only commits many errors himself in what he writes about New Spain, but he has also been the means of leading those two famous historians astray who followed his account, namely, Dr. Illescas and the bishop Paulo Jovio. What I have written in this book I declare and affirm to be strictly true. I myself was present at every battle and hostile encounter. Indeed, these are not old tales or romances of the seventh century; for, if I may so say, it happened but yesterday what is contained in my history. I relate how, where, and in what manner these things took place; as an accredited eyewitness of this I may mention our very spirited and valorous captain Don Hernando Cortes, marquis del Valle Oaxaca, who wrote an account of these occurrences from Mexico to his imperial majesty Don Carlos the Fifth, of glorious memory; and likewise the corresponding account of the viceroy Don Antonio de Mendoza. But, besides this, you have only to read my history and you see it is true.

I have now completed it this 26th day of February, 1568, from my day-book and memory, in this very loyal city of Guatimala, the seat of the royal court of audience. I also think of mentioning some other circumstances which are for the most part unknown to the public. I must beg of the printers not to take away from, nor add one single syllable to, the following narrative, etc.

CONTENTS

OF

THE FIRST VOLUME.

[Chap. I.]The time of my departure from Castile, and what farther happened to me1
[Chap. II.]Of the discovery of Yucatan, and the battle we fought there with the natives3
[Chap. III.]Discovery of the coast of Campeachy6
[Chap. IV.]How we landed in a bay close to some maise plantations, near the harbour of Potonchan, and of the attack that was made upon us there9
[Chap. V.]We resolve to return to Cuba. The extreme thirst we suffered, and all the fatigues we underwent until our arrival in the port of Havannah12
[Chap. VI.]How twenty of us went on shore in the bay of Florida with the pilot Alaminos in search of water; the hostilities which the natives of this country commenced with us; and of all that further befel us on our passage to the Havannah13
[Chap. VII.]The fatigues I had to undergo until my arrival in the town of Trinidad17
[Chap. VIII.]How Diego Velasquez, governor of Cuba, sent out another armament to the country we had discovered19
[Chap. IX.]How we landed at Champoton23
[Chap. X.]We continued our course and ran into Terminos bay, as we named it24
[Chap. XI.]How we came into the Tabasco river, which we termed the Grijalva, and what happened to us there25
[Chap. XII.]We come in sight of the town of Aguajaluco, and give it the name of La Rambla28
[Chap. XIII.]How we arrive on the Bandera stream and gain 1500 pesos29
[Chap. XIV.]How we come into the harbour of San Juan de Ulua32
[Chap. XV.]Diego Velasquez sends out a small vessel in quest of us33
[Chap. XVI.]What befel us on our coasting voyage along the Tusta and Tuspa mountains34
[Chap. XVII.]Diego Velasquez despatches one of his officials to Spain38
[Chap. XVIII.]Of some errors in the work of Francisco Lopez de Gomara39
[Chap. XIX.]How another armament was fitted out for a voyage to the newly discovered countries; the command of which was given to Hernando Cortes, afterwards Marquis of the Vale of Oaxaca; also of the secret cabals which were formed to deprive him of it42
[Chap. XX.]Of the designs and plans of Hernando Cortes after he had obtained the appointment of captain45
[Chap. XXI.]Cortes' occupations at Trinidad, and of the cavaliers and warriors who there joined our expedition, and other matters47
[Chap. XXII.]How the governor, Diego Velasquez, sends two of his officials in all haste to Trinidad, with full power and authority to deprive Cortes of his appointment of captain, and bring the squadron away, &c.49
[Chap. XXIII.]Cortes embarks with all his cavaliers and soldiers in order to sail along the south side of the island to the Havannah, and sends off one of the vessels to go around the north coast for the same port51
[Chap. XXIV.]Diego Velasquez sends one of his officials, named Gaspar Garnica, with full authority to take Cortes prisoner, whatever might be the consequence; and what further happened54
[Chap. XXV.]Cortes sets sail with the whole squadron for the island of Cozumel, and what further took place56
[Chap. XXVI.]Cortes reviews his troops, and what further happened57
[Chap. XXVII.]Cortes receives information that two Spaniards are in the power of the Indians at the promontory of Cotoche: the steps he took upon this news58
[Chap. XXVIII.]The manner in which Cortes divides the squadron. The officers whom he appointed to the command of the several vessels. His instructions to the pilots; the signals which were to be made with lanterns at night, &c.62
[Chap. XXIX.]How the Spaniard Geronimo de Aguilar, who was in the power of the Indians, came to us when he learnt that we had again returned to the island of Cozumel, and what further happened63
[Chap. XXX.]How we re-embark and sail for the river Grijalva, and what happened to us on our voyage there66
[Chap. XXXI.]How we arrive in the river Grijalva, called in the Indian language the Tabasco; the battle we fought there; and what further took place68
[Chap. XXXII.]How Cortes despatches two of our principal officers, each with one hundred men, to explore the interior of the country, and what further took place71
[Chap. XXXIII.]Cortes issues orders that we should hold ourselves in readiness to march against the Indians on the following day; he also commands the horses to be brought on shore. How the battle terminates we fought with them73
[Chap. XXXIV.]How we are attacked by all the caziques of Tabasco, and the whole armed force of this province, and what further took place74
[Chap. XXXV.]How Cortes assembles all the caziques of this province, and what further happened77
[Chap. XXXVI.]How all the caziques and calachonis of the river Grijalva arrive with presents, and what happened after this80
[Chap. XXXVII.]How Doña Marina herself was a caziquess, and the daughter of distinguished personages; also a ruler over a people and several towns; and how she came to Tabasco84
[Chap. XXXVIII.]How we arrive with our vessels in San Juan de Ulua, and what we did there86
[Chap. XXXIX.]How Teuthlille makes his report to Motecusuma, and gives him our presents; as also what further took place in our camp90
[Chap. XL.]How Cortes goes in search of another harbour and a good spot to found a colony, and what further happened92
[Chap. XLI.]What happened on account of our bartering for gold, and of other things which took place in our camp94
[Chap. XLII.]How we elected Hernando Cortes captain-general and chief justice until we should receive the emperor's commands on this head; and what further happened97
[Chap. XLIII.]How the partisans of Diego Velasquez would not acknowledge the power we had conferred upon Cortes, and what further took place100
[Chap. XLIV.]How Pedro de Alvarado was ordered to make an excursion into the interior of the country, in order to procure maise and other provisions; and what further happened101
[Chap. XLV.]How we marched into Sempoalla, which at that period was a very considerable township, and what we did there104
[Chap. XLVI.]How we march into Quiahuitzlan, which was a town with fortifications, and were most friendly received106
[Chap. XLVII.]How Cortes ordered the five Mexican tax-gatherers to be rther obedience to be paid Motecusuma, nor tribute to be exacted; and of the rebellion which was now excited against this monarch109
[Chap. XLVIII.]How we resolved to found Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz, and construct a fortress on the low meadows, in the neighbourhood of some salt springs and the harbour, where our vessels were anchored; and what further happened111
[Chap. XLIX.]How the fat cazique and other chief men of the country come and complain to Cortes that a garrison of Mexicans had been thrown into the strong fortress of Tzinpantzinco, committing great depredations; and what further took place114
[Chap. L.]How some of Diego Velasquez's adherents refused to take any further part in our proceedings, and declared their determination to return to Cuba, seeing that Cortes was earnestly bent upon founding a colony, and had already commenced to pacify the inhabitants115
[Chap. LI.]What happened to us at Tzinpantzinco, and how, on our return to Sempoalla, we destroyed all the idols; likewise of other matters117
[Chap. LII.]How Cortes erects an altar, and places thereon the image of the blessed Virgin with a cross; after which mass was said, and the eight Indian females were baptized121
[Chap. LIII.]How we arrived in our town of Vera Cruz, and what happened there123
[Chap. LIV.]Concerning the account of our adventures, with the letter, which we sent his majesty the emperor, through Puertocarrero and Montejo, the letter being attested by some officers and soldiers125
[Chap. LV.]How Diego Velasquez is informed by his agents that we had sent messengers with letters and presents to our king, and what further took place127
[Chap. LVI.]How our agents passed through the Bahama channel with the most favorable wind, and arrived in Castile after a short passage; and of our success at court129
[Chap. LVII.]What took place in our camp after the departure of our agents to his majesty with the gold and the letters; and the instance of severity which Cortes was compelled to give132
[Chap. LVIII.]How we came to the resolution of marching to Mexico, and of destroying all our vessels, which was done with the sanction and by the advice of all Cortes' true adherents133
[Chap. LIX.]Of the speech which Cortes made to us after our vessels were destroyed, and how we prepared for our march to Mexico135
[Chap. LX.]How Cortes arrived with us at the spot where the vessel lay at anchor, and captured six soldiers and sailors of the said vessel who had stepped on shore; also what further took place136
[Chap. LXI.]How we set out on our march to the city of Mexico, and, upon the advice of the caziques, take our road over Tlascalla. What took place here, and of the battles we fought138
[Chap. LXII.]How we commenced our march upon Tlascalla, and sent messengers before us, to obtain the sanction of the inhabitants to pass through their country; how they took our messengers prisoners; and what further happened143
[Chap. LXIII.]Of the terrible battles we fought with the Tlascallans, and what further happened146
[Chap. LXIV.]How we quartered ourselves in the township of Tehuacacinco, and what we did there149
[Chap. LXV.]Of the great battle we fought with the Tlascallans, and what further took place150
[Chap. LXVI.]How we sent a message next day to the caziques of Tlascalla to bring about peace between us, and the determination they came to upon this153
[Chap. LXVII.]How we again sent messengers to the caziques of Tlascalla em to make peace, and the resolution they came to upon this157
[Chap. LXVIII.]How we came to the determination of marching to a township in the neighbourhood of our camp, and what happened upon this158
[Chap. LXIX.]How we found, on our return to our encampment, that new intrigues had been set on foot; and the answer Cortes gave to certain representations which were made to him160
[Chap. LXX.]How the captain Xicotencatl assembled 20,000 chosen warriors to make an attack upon us in our camp, and what happened upon this165
[Chap. LXXI.]How four chief personages arrived in our camp to negotiate terms of peace with us, and what further happened167
[Chap. LXXII.]How ambassadors arrive in our camp from Motecusuma, and of the presents they brought with them170
[Chap. LXXIII.]How the captain-general Xicotencatl arrives in our camp to negotiate terms of peace; the speech he made, and what further happened171
[Chap. LXXIV.]How the old caziques of Tlascalla arrived in our camp and invited Cortes and all of us to visit their city, and what further happened175
[Chap. LXXV.]How we marched into the city of Tlascalla, and were received by the old caziques; of the present they made us, and how they brought us their daughters and nieces; and what further happened176
[Chap. LXXVI.]How mass was said in the presence of a great number of caziques, and of the present the latter brought us178
[Chap. LXXVII.]How the caziques presented their daughters to Cortes and all of us, and what further happened180
[Chap. LXXVIII.]How Cortes gained some information respecting Mexico from Xicotencatl and Maxixcatzin183
[Chap. LXXIX.]How our captain Hernando Cortes and all our officers and soldiers determine to march to Mexico187
[Chap. LXXX.]How the great Motecusuma despatched four ambassadors to us, rity, with presents in gold and cotton stuffs, and what they said to our captains190
[Chap. LXXXI.]How the inhabitants of Cholulla despatched four Indians to tinction, to apologise for not having visited us in Tlascalla, and what further happened192
[Chap. LXXXII.]How we arrived in the town of Cholulla, and the brilliant reception we met with193
[Chap. LXXXIII.]How the inhabitants of Cholulla concerted a plan, at the instigation of Motecusuma, to murder us all, and what further happened195
[Chap. LXXXIV.]The negotiations we set on foot with the great Motecusuma, and the ambassadors we sent him208
[Chap. LXXXV.]How the powerful Motecusuma sends a valuable present in essage which accompanied it, and how we all agree to commence our march upon Mexico; and what further happened210
[Chap. LXXXVI.]How we set out on our march to Mexico; what happened to us on our route; and the message Motecusuma sent us212
[Chap. LXXXVII.]How the powerful Motecusuma again sends ambassadors to us d and cotton stuffs: that monarch's message to Cortes, and the answer he returns216
[Chap. LXXXVIII.]The magnificent and pompous reception which the powerful rtes and all of us, on our entrance into the great city of Mexico220
[Chap. LXXXIX.]How Motecusuma, accompanied by several caziques, pays us a , and of the discourse that passed between him and our general223
[Chap. XC.]How our general, the day following, paid a visit to Motecusuma, and of the discourse that passed between them225
[Chap. XCI.]Of Motecusuma's person, disposition, habits, and of his great power228
[Chap. XCII.]Our general takes a walk through Mexico, and views the Tlatelulco, (the great square,) and the chief temple of Huitzilopochtli235
[Chap. XCIII.]How we erect a chapel and altar in our quarters with a cross on the outside; discover the treasure of Motecusuma's father; and determine to seize the monarch's person and imprison him in our quarters244
[Chap. XCIV.]Of the battle which the Mexican generals fought with Escalante and the Totonaque tribes247
[Chap. XCV.]Of the imprisonment of Motecusuma, and what further happened249
[Chap. XCVI.]How our general appoints Alonso Grado lieutenant of Vera Cruz, and Sandoval alguacil-major of the same place255
[Chap. XCVII.]How we entertained and amused Motecusuma during his confinement, and granted him permission to visit his temple258
[Chap. XCVIII.]How Cortes orders two large brigantines to be built for the navigation of the lake of Mexico; Motecusuma begs permission to visit his temples to offer up his prayers there; and what Cortes said to him when he granted this permission261
[Chap. XCIX.]How our two brigantines are launched, and Motecusuma, go a hunting, sails in one of these vessels to a river where he usually went for that purpose263
[Chap. C.]How the nephews of Motecusuma assembled the principal personages of the empire, and formed a conspiracy to rescue the monarch from confinement, and beat us out of the city265
[Chap. CI.]How the powerful Motecusuma, with several caziques and chief personages of the country, declare themselves vassals of our emperor; and of other occurrences which happened then271
[Chap. CII.]How Cortes sends out some of our men to explore the gold mines and those rivers which wash down gold; also the harbours from the Panuco to the Tabasco, but particularly the river Guacasualco273
[Chap. CIII.]How the officers whom Cortes had despatched to the gold mines and the river Guacasualco returned to Mexico274
[Chap. CIV.]How Cortes desired the powerful Motecusuma to order all the caziques of the empire to bring in the tribute of gold due to our emperor277
[Chap. CV.]How all the gold presented by Motecusuma, and collected from ps, was divided; and what happened to one of our soldiers on the occasion280
[Chap. CVI.]Of the high words which arose between Velasquez de Leon and our treasurer Gonzalo Mexia on account of the gold which was missing from the heap, and how Cortes put an end to that dispute282
[Chap. CVII.]How Motecusuma offers one of his daughters in marriage to Cortes, who accepts her, and pays her the attention due to her high station284
[Chap. CVIII.]How the powerful Motecusuma acquaints Cortes that it is requisite for his safety to quit Mexico, with the whole of his men, as all the caziques and papas were upon the point of rising up in arms to destroy us all, in compliance with the advice given them by their gods: the steps which Cortes took upon this news286
[Chap. CIX.]How the governor of Cuba, Velasquez, in all haste fits out an armament against us, the command of which he gives to Pamfilo de Narvaez, who was accompanied by the licentiate Lucas Vazquez de Aillon, auditor of the royal court of audience at St. Domingo289
[Chap. CX.]How Narvaez arrives with the whole of his flotilla in the harbour of San Juan de Ulua, and what happened upon this290
[Chap. CXI.]How Pamfilo Narvaez despatches five persons to Sandoval, the commandant of Vera Cruz, with summons to surrender up the town to him293
[Chap. CXII.]How Cortes, after he had gained every information respecting the armament, wrote to Narvaez, and several of his acquaintances who had come with him, and particularly to Andreas du Duero, private secretary to Velasquez; and of other events296
[Chap. CXIII.]The high words which arose between the auditor Vazquez de Aillon and Narvaez, who orders him to be seized and sent back prisoner to Spain298
[Chap. CXIV.]Narvaez marches, with the whole of his troops, to Sempoalla; his proceedings there; and how we in Mexico determine to march against him300
[Chap. CXV.]How the powerful Motecusuma inquires of Cortes whether it was really his intention to march out against Narvaez, though the latter's troops were double the number of ours302
[Chap. CXVI.]How we determined once more to despatch father Olmedo to Narvaez's head-quarters, and what we commissioned him to say306
[Chap. CXVII.]How father Olmedo arrived in Narvaez's head-quarters at Sempoalla, and what he did there308
[Chap. CXVIII.]How Cortes reviews the whole of his troops, and we are supplied with two hundred and fifty very long new lances, by the Tchinantecs310
[Chap. CXIX.]How Duero, with the soldier Usagre and two of his Indian servants from Cuba, arrived in our camp; who this Duero was, and the reason of his visit, &c.311
[Chap. CXX.]How Juan Velasquez arrives in Narvaez's head-quarters, and what took place there314
[Chap. CXXI.]What took place in Narvaez's quarters after the return to our camp of the ambassadors we had sent there318
[Chap. CXXII.]The order of our march against Narvaez; the speech Cortes made to us; and our reply to it320
[Chap. CXXIII.]How the 2000 Indians of Chinantla, whom Cortes had demanded of the caziques there, arrived at Sempoalla after Narvaez's defeat329
[Chap. CXXIV.]How Cortes despatches Francisco de Lugo, with two men who had formerly been ship-builders, to the harbour where Narvaez's flotilla lay, to bring all the captains and pilots of the vessels to Sempoalla329
[Chap. CXXV.]How we all, including Narvaez's troops, hasten to Mexico by forced marches333
[Chap. CXXVI.]How the Mexicans made war upon us, and the battles we fought with them337
[Chap. CXXVII.]Cortes determines to announce Motecusuma's death to the Mexican generals and chiefs who are at war with us345
[Chap. CXXVIII.]How we come to the determination of leaving Mexico secretly at night; and what further happened347
[Chap. CXXIX.]How we quartered ourselves in the metropolis of Tlascalla, and what we did there359
[Chap. CXXX.]How we marched into the province of Tepeaca, what we did there, and of other things which happened365
[Chap. CXXXI.]How a vessel, which had been sent by Diego Velasquez from Cuba, arrived at Vera Cruz, commanded by the captain Pedro Barba, and the manner in which Caballero captured her369
[Chap. CXXXII.]How the inhabitants of Quauhquechola called upon Cortes, and begged of him to drive out the Mexican troops from their town, as they were plundered and ill-used by them370
[Chap. CXXXIII.]How one of the vessels which Francisco de Garay had fitted out for the object of forming settlements on the river Panuco, put in at Vera Cruz, and what further happened373
[Chap. CXXXIV.]How Cortes despatches Sandoval with 200 men, among which were twenty horse and twelve crossbow-men, to punish the tribes of Xalatzinco and Zacatemi, for having put some Spaniards to death, and to demand restitution of the gold they had robbed us of; and also further to explore the country375
[Chap. CXXXV.]How all the slaves we had taken in Tepeaca, Quauhquechola, Tecalco, and Castilblanco, were brought together in our head-quarters, and branded with an iron, in his majesty's name379
[Chap. CXXXVI.]How the chief officers and principal personages of Narvaez's troops request leave to return to Cuba, which Cortes grants, and they accordingly leave; also how our general sends ambassadors to Spain, St. Domingo, and Jamaica381
[Notes] 387

Transcriber's note: The errata below have been corrected in the text. Footnote [24] also has been moved in the text to its correct position.

ERRATA.

P. 17, l. 3, for Fronseca, read Fonseca.
17, 24, for dubbloons, read doubloons.
20, 18, for Chaopa, read Chiapa.
20, 26, for Mautanzas, read Matanza.
31, 8, for this, read their.
31, 28, for surrounded, read surmounted.
51, 17, for his, read its
P. 53, l. 19, read whom the king Quauhtemoctzin took.
126, 2, for which, read whom.
230, 22, for were, read was.
355, 9, for when, read where.
365, 33, for were the townships, read was the township.