Spaniards rosted.
Cortez his Ambition.
But whilst Cortez staid in the Countrey of Tenustitan (now call’d Mexico) Franciscus Garajus sail’d out of the Haven of Jamaica, with eleven Ships, to the River Panucus, there, according to the Command of the Emperor Charles, to plant a Colony: Whereupon he went ashore, ordering his Fleet to sail along in sight of Land: So wading through the River Montaltus, which glides between high Mountains, he came to a Morassy Ground, in which he and they often sunk almost up to the Middle, and lost his way in a Thicket of young Trees; yet at last being come to the River Panucus, he found several high Walls, being the Ruines of Fortresses, Temples, and Towers, destroy’d by Cortez; so that the City lay quite desolate. Twenty Leagues further, upon the Banks of the same River, Cortez had in like manner sack’d and destroy’d Chiglia, a Town which before its burning reckon’d above twenty thousand Houses, besides many fair Palaces, Walls, Towers, and Temples: Which Cruelties and Spoil had bred so great an Odium in the Inhabitants against the Spaniards, that they immediately sent an Army against Garajus, who had only a few half-starv’d Men with him; yet he receiv’d the Enemy twice in his Retreat to the new Colony St. Steven, rais’d out of Chiglia’s Ruines; but finding no Provisions where-ever he came, he judg’d it fittest to send his Horse into the Countrey to Forage; which Cortez meeting, took Prisoners, under pretence that Garajus came to take Possession, where he had neither Authority nor Right. Cortez also made himself Master of Garajus Ship and Fleet, commanding him withal to appear in Tenustitan, which not knowing how to avoid, he obey’d: His People mean time ranging up and down without a Head or Commander, either died by Famine, or were murther’d and eaten by the Natives; for at one time the Americans made a general Feast with two hundred and fifty rosted Spaniards: But their days of Triumph lasted not long; for Sandovalus, one of Cortez his Prime Officers, set with so much fury upon those Cannibals, that he kill’d several thousands of them, and burnt sixty Persons of Prime Quality, all Commanders, in the sight of their Friends and Relations. But Garajus, whose Son was married to Cortez his Daughter, liv’d not long after the Wedding, which occasion’d a murmur as if Cortez had poyson’d him, to rid himself of a Partner in his Government; for it had been generally observ’d, that his Ambition suffer’d no Equal. The Americans fell all down before him; all were Servants alike: The Court which he kept swarm’d with Attendance, on which he spent vast Sums of Money; yet his Incomes were able to bear such excessive Disbursements. He kept in constant Pay five thousand Soldiers, and several Ships ready rigg’d and prepar’d on all occasions, to hold in awe the enslav’d People, or else for the Discovery of New Countreys: Yet after all these extraordinary Charges defray’d, to shew his Wealth and Greatness, he caus’d a Piece of Cannon to be cast all of massie Gold: for the Kings which formerly acknowledg’d Montezuma for their Sovereign, gave him a yearly Revenue, most of which were valu’d to be worth twenty three Tun of Gold; for so much the King of Tescuscus, a stately City, paid, whose Houses Plaister’d with White-Lime, seem’d afar off to be rather a Chalky Hill or Mountain, cover’d with Snow: Full as much did the King pay which reigned in Otumba, notwithstanding he had receiv’d with his Christianity the Name of Ferdinand Cortez; yet others gave less: The King Guacinalgo, with his Mother, and some Slaves, bringing Gold, came to present it to Cortez; and entring the Palace, through a Guard of five hundred Horse and four Hundred Foot, which were always ready Arm’d for fear of Insurrections, he fell down prostrate on the Ground. Thus all things even out-went whatever he could desire, hope for, or imagine. And Alvaredo, one of his Commanders, being sent Eastwardly, brought great Treasures back with him, which the conquer’d Kings were forc’d to raise.
His Misfortunes.
But Fortune, who seldom continues her Favors long, at last began to frown; for Cortez having sent an unvaluable Treasure of Gold and Pearls to the Emperor Charles the Fifth, Floryn the French Pyrate met with and took it, which went so much to his Heart, that for a considerable time he sent no Advice to the Spanish Court, which made them grow jealous of him, doubting that he intended to make himself King over New-Spain; and this Suspicion was not a little augmented by his Enemies.
A Plot of two Spanish Officers.
In the Neck of these, follow’d another Misfortune; for Christopher Olitus, sent out by Cortez to discover new Countreys, rebelling, took up Arms against him, being then in the Haven Figueras, five hundred Leagues beyond. Notwithstanding the Spaniards, although amongst a new-conquer’d People, which without doubt long’d for Revenge, were not to take notice of their danger, but to go on with undaunted Resolution; whereupon Cortez drawing out a strong Party, march’d a long and troublesom way to meet Olitus, making great Slaughters where-ever he came. Francisco de las Casas was commanded to go upon the same Account by Sea, and arriving first, found him setling his new Colony, which he nam’d Triumph de Sancta Crux; and notwithstanding the Water with a Northerly Wind was very rough and boysterous in the Haven Figueras (which the Spaniards call’d so, because they found Trees there, which growing at the Foot of the Mountains, bore a Fruit not unlike a Fig) yet they came to a present Engagement, wherein Casas worsting Olitus, having sunk one of his Ships, stood out again to Sea; but surpriz’d by a violent Storm, and driven on the Shore, fell into Olitus’s Hands, who had a little before also taken Egidíus or Giles Gonsales. These two Prisoners consulted together how they might poyson or murder Olitus, which fell out according to their desires, because the Servants of the House where they lodg’d sided with them; so taking hold of the first opportunity, as they were at Supper together, they stabb’d him with their Knives in several places; yet the Wounds were not so great or mortal, but that he retain’d strength to escape in the dark to a neighboring Hut; but the Assassinates immediately sent out Messengers, publishing, That he who did not, knowing where Olitus was immediately bring him to them, should receive condign punishment; which terrifying Olitus, he discover’d himself, and was immediately beheaded.
Mexicans Apparel.
During the time that the Spanish Officers had these Civil Broyls one against another, Lodowick Pontæus, a Man well experienc’d in the Law, came from Spain to America, there in the Emperors Name to settle all things in good order; having also particular Instructions, to shew great kindness to Cortez, and to make him a Knight of the Order of St. James, that by that means the Emperor might be the more esteem’d for his Noble Subjects and Servants, amongst the Mexicans, who are themselves of a proud and ambitious spirit, and chiefly the Nobility, which doth manifestly appear by their Apparel, more gorgeous than the meaner sort of Americans; and though the Slaves go stark naked (having onely a Cloth tied about their Privities) and with a Bowe and Arrows walk before their Lords, yet the Better Sort go very costly Habited; for about their Necks they wear Strings of Pearl; on their Heads, a Cap, from whence hang down two Scarfs, one longer than the other; then a party-colour’d Cotton Coat covers their whole Bodies to their Knees, under which they wear a Vest girt about their Middle.