The Spaniards coming to Land were courteously receiv’d, and conducted into the City; the neatness of whose Market-places, and exactness of their Streets, they beheld with admiration; as also the costly Stuff Garments both of Men and Women: but their wonder increas’d when they beheld very artificial Crosses, concerning which upon inquiry they related, That a Man more glorious than the Sun, being busie in erecting the Crosses, died. But these People, though so courteous and civil at first, seem’d in few days to be weary of their company; which the Spaniards observing sounded a Retreat, and Sailing Westerly, proceeded on their intended Design, and soon after anchor’d before Campechium; the King of which conducted Fernandez and Morantes, with some others, into the City, consisting of three thousand Houses. In his Palace they were entertain’d with all manner of Fowl roasted: After which refreshment they survey’d the City; in which, amongst other curious Buildings, was a high, but square Theatre of Marble, on which stood the Image of a Man, on all corners assaulted by four wild Beasts, which were of a no less strange than horrible shape. Not far from this Image they saw a Serpent fashion’d up of Chalk and little Stones, whose coyl’d up Tail was forty seven Foot long, and of a proportionable thickness. This Serpent, sprinkled with Mens Blood yet warm, seem’d to prey upon a Marble Lyon: both these were inclos’d with a Stone Rail, within which Malefactors were daily executed. Bloody Bows and Arrows broke in small pieces lay between the Bones and dead Bodies. Igniguez call’d the King Lazarus, because he discover’d his Countrey on St. Lazarus’s Day.
Moscobo a City.
Spaniards slain.
Mighty Island Cosumella.
Making no long stay here, they return’d to their Ship, and weighing Anchor Sail’d fifty Leagues more Westerly, the Fleet got sight of Moscobo, in the Territory Aguanil, whose King assaulted the Spaniards with so much fury, that two and twenty of them were slain, and scarce one escap’d which was not wounded: wherefore they return’d with bad success to Cuba. Yet Velasques no ways discourag’d thereat, not long after fitted out four Vessels, Manning them with three hundred Men under the Command of Juan Grisalva and Alamines; who having Sail’d seventy Leagues, discover’d the fruitful Island Cosumella; along whose Shore stood fair Stone Edifices, intermix’d with Temples, whose Steeples appear’d above the Houses. Grisalva being led up into one of these Steeples by a Priest, saw at a distance off at Sea the Territory Jucatan: and in the Place where they were, there were spacious Halls, full of Marble and Stone Images of deformed Men and Beasts, which with a murmuring noise, and burning of incense they religiously worship. The Spaniards call’d this Island Sancta Cruz.
Spaniards fight with the Campechiums.
Sailing from hence they directed their Course to Campechium, where the year before they had been so civilly treated; where arriving, and without any fear coming ashore, they found the Campechiums quite of another humor than they were the former year, telling them, They would not suffer any Strangers to be amongst them; and placing a burning Torch between theirs and the Spanish Forces, threatned, That if they did not depart in quiet, they would force them: which accordingly they endeavor’d, making a fierce Onset upon the Spaniards; who being now come under their Battlements, when they saw their advantage, pour’d what they had kept as a reserve, whole Volleys of small Shot amongst them; which struck so much terror, that they all ran away, shifting for themselves, and crowding into the City.
The Spaniards found afterwards Jucatan to be but a Peninsula, and came before a River which fell with so strong a Current into the Mexican Sea, that it retain’d its sweetness for the space of two Leagues.
