The report which the adventurers carried home of the severity of the climate abated the ardour of colonisation for a few years. At length, in an interval of peace, the remembrance of that magnificent river, which exceeded in grandeur any river of Europe, awoke anew the spirit of adventure, and Francis de la Roque, lord of Robertval in Picardy, was appointed viceroy of the unknown regions of Norimbega, that is to say, all the vast territories around the gulf and river of St. Lawrence, with all its islands; and Cartier, on account of his knowledge and experience, was associated in the enterprise, as captain-general and chief pilot. Cartier was also commissioned to take with him artisans of all kinds, that useful colonies might be established. We must suppose that but little public enthusiasm existed on the subject; for Cartier had to ransack the jails to make up his complement of men. This was an ill-starred enterprise altogether; the two leaders did not even act in concert. Cartier set sail long before his superior, ascended the St. Lawrence, built a fort near the present site of Quebec, where he passed the winter in hostility with the natives, and in the spring set sail homeward, meeting Robertval on his way out, off Newfoundland. Robertval, though he remained a twelvemonth in his new territory of Norimbega, effected very little, and so returned home.
For the next fifty years nothing was done by France, which was absorbed by her own internal conflicts—feudalism against monarchical power, Calvinism against Catholicism. In the meantime, however, the value and importance of the northern fisheries increased, and in 1578 no less than one hundred and fifty French ships were employed in the Newfoundland trade.
While the French were thus vainly endeavouring to colonise the regions of Acadia and Canada lying around the bay and along the river of St. Lawrence, the Spaniards were occupied in the south. The brilliant discoveries of Spain had kindled the most extraordinary enthusiasm throughout the nation for adventure beyond the seas. Nothing was too extravagant for their imaginations to conceive of the new world, where it was believed “that the natives ignorantly wore the most precious ornaments, and the sands of every river sparkled with gold.” Spaniards, high and low, young and old, rich and poor, were all ready to rush to the conquest and the spoil. Among others, Juan Ponce de Leon, an aged veteran in the wars of Granada, a companion of Columbus in his second voyage, and some time governor of Porto Rico, fitted out three ships at his own expense, and resolved to go forth to seek his fortune, and more especially to seek for that which he had been told existed in those paradisiacal regions of the sun and the palm—a fountain whose waters possessed the extraordinary virtues of restoring or perpetuating youth. In search of this poetical fountain, Ponce de Leon set sail with his three ships, in March 1512. On Easter Sunday, which the Spaniards call Pascua Florida, the aged adventurer discovered a glorious land, covered with woods, which were brilliant with flowers. Spite of the marvellous beauty of the country, to which he gave the name of Florida, it was some time before he was able to land, in consequence of stormy weather. At length a landing was effected, and formal possession taken of the country; but though he remained exploring the coast for several weeks, the fountain of youth was nowhere to be found, the natives were hostile, and Ponce de Leon returned to Porto Rico still an old man. A new and splendid region had, however, been discovered, and thither Ponce de Leon returned a few years afterwards, intending to select a site for a colony, but in a contest with the natives was mortally wounded.
Ponce de Leon’s discovery had opened a new path for Spanish commerce through the Gulf of Florida, and in 1516 Diego Miruelo, a bold sea captain, trafficking with the natives, brought away gold which he had obtained in exchange for toys, and thus gave a yet more brilliant colouring to the reports current regarding the wealth of this new region.
In 1517, Francisco Fernandez de Cordova discovered the province of Yucatan and the Bay of Campeachy, but soon afterwards, like Ponce de Leon, was mortally wounded by the natives. The pilot of Fernandez in the following year conducted another squadron to the same shores, under the command of Grijalva. The amount of gold which was here collected, and the costly presents of the unsuspecting natives together with the rumours of the magnificent empire of Montezuma, excited the general imagination, and led to the enterprise of Cortes.
While events were thus opening the way for the conquest of Mexico, seven wealthy men of St. Domingo, at the head of whom was Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon, despatched two vessels as slavers to seek for labourers in their mines and plantations. These ships were driven northward from the Bahamas by adverse winds upon the coast of Carolina, which they called Chicora; they anchored at the Cambahee river, to which they gave the name of Jordan. The natives received them with great kindness, being new to the sight of Europeans, and visited their ships in crowds, both with curiosity and good faith, but when they were all below, the hatches were suddenly closed, and the perfidious Spaniards sailed away. One of these ships was lost, the captives in the other refused food, and died of starvation and distress of mind.
Again de Ayllon sailed with three ships to the newly-discovered Chicora, of which he was appointed governor, intending now to take formal possession. But the largest of his ships was stranded and lost at the mouth of the river Cambahee, and he himself, though received with apparent kindness by the natives, narrowly escaped with his life, many of his men having been killed, the friendly aspect being merely a feint on the part of the incensed natives to get them more completely into their power. This unsuccessful attempt preyed so severely upon de Ayllon’s heart as to cause his death.
But now let us return to the discoveries of Francisco Fernandez de Cordova and Grijalva on the northern coast of Yucatan. On approaching the shore, the Spaniards had been astonished to find no longer rude and half-clad savages, but people well dressed in cotton garments, and dwelling apparently in edifices of stone. They were of a bold and martial character, and received the strangers with demonstrations of hostility. Cordova being, as we have said, wounded, his expedition hastened back to Cuba, only however to be followed by a second, when the southern coast of Mexico was discovered, and Juan de Grijalva carried home with him a large amount of treasure obtained by traffic with the natives. Valesquez, the governor of Cuba, highly pleased with the result of this expedition, resolved on the conquest of this rich country, and hastily fitted out an armament of eleven vessels for this purpose, giving the command to Fernando Cortes.
In March, 1519, Cortes landed in Tabasco, a southern province of Mexico, where he defeated the natives with great slaughter. Advancing from this point westward, he reached San Juan de Ulloa, where he was kindly received by two officers of the monarch, Montezuma, who had been sent to inquire into the object of his visit, and to offer him any assistance which he might require. Cortes replied with great courtesy that his business was important, and could be confided to no less a person than Montezuma himself. The great monarch of Mexico, not being accustomed to such interviews, his officers made valuable presents to Cortes, and set before him the impossibility of his request. In vain; Cortes was determined; messengers were sent backwards and forwards, and magnificent presents still made to Cortes, with the request finally that he would depart. But no; Cortes destroyed his vessels, to prevent his soldiers escaping, and marched to the capital of Mexico. As he advanced, the disaffected in Montezuma’s kingdom joined him. Montezuma was overcome by alarm.
The Spaniards marched onward; and the vast plain of Mexico opened before them. It was covered with villages and cultivated fields, all wearing an aspect of prosperity. In the middle of the plain, partly encompassed by a lake, and partly built on the islands within it, towered aloft the city of Mexico, like some gorgeous fairyland city. The Spaniards could scarcely believe their senses; it seemed more like a splendid vision than reality. Montezuma received the strangers with great pomp and kindness; admitted them into the city; appropriated to their use splendid accommodations; supplied all their wants, and presented them with gifts.