# Yale University Library 39002005103081 :.j|M?t YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY £/ Lev pr 6 £rfre>u~/ fand four hundred and eighty-five, and defcended h/*1 f ;"nts from a family of noble blood, but of very mo- Cortes com-' derate fortune. Being originally deftined by hismander# parents to the ftudy of law, as the moft likely method of bettering his condition, he was fent early to the univerfity of Salamanca, where he im bibed fome tincture of learning. But he was foon idifgufted with an academic life, which did not luit his ardent and reftlefs genius, and retired to Medellin, where he gave himfelf up entirely to active lports and martial cxercifes. At this period of life, he was fo impetuous, fo overbearing, and fo diffipated, that his father was glad to comply with his inclination, and fend him abroad as an adventurer in arms; There were in that age two confpicuous theatres, on which fuch of the Spanifh youth as courted military glory might difplay their valour ; one in Italy, under the command of the Great Captain ; the other in the New World. Cortes preferred the former, but was prevented by indifpoution from embarking with a reinforce ment of troops fent, to Naples. Upon this difap- pointment he turned his views towards America, whither he was allured by the profpect of the ad vantages which he might derive from the pa tronage of Ovando *, the governor of Hifpaniola, who was his kinfmam When he landed at St. Domingo in one thoufand five hundred and fourf his reception was fuch as equalled his moft fan;- guine hopes, and he was employed by the goi- vernor in feveral honourable and lucrative ftations. Thefe, however, did not fatisfy his ambition; and in the year one thoufand five hundred and eleven, he obtained permifiion to accompany Diego B 2 Velafquez * See NOTE II- 4 HISTORY OF AMERICA. BOOKVelafquez in his expedition to Cuba. In this V. fervice he diftinguifhed himfelf fo much, that, T-"-' notwithstanding fome violent contefts with Velaf- 'Si 8. queZj occafioned by trivial events, unworthy of remembrance, he was at length taken into favour, and received an ample conceffion of lands and of Indians, the recompence ufually beffowed upon adventurers in the New World f. Though Cbrtes had not hitherto acted in high command, he had difplayed fuch qualities in Se veral fcenes of difficulty and danger, as railed univerfal expectation, and turned the eyes of his countrymen towards him, as one capable of per-. forming great things. The turbulence of youth, as foon as he found objects and occupations fuited to the ardour of his mind, gradually fubfided, and fettled into a habit of. regular indefatigable acti vity. The impetuofity of his temper, when he came to act with his equals, infcnfibly abated, by being kept under reftraint, and mellowed into a cordial foldierly franknefs. , Thefe qualities were acccompanied with calm prudence in concerting his fchemes, with perfevering vigour in executing them, and with what- is peculiar to fuperior genius, the art of gaining the confidence and governing the minds of men. To all which were added the inferior accomplifhments that ftrike the vulgar, and command their refpect ; a graceful perfon, a winning aipect, extraordinary addrefs in martial exerciles, and a conftitution of fuch vigour, as to be capable of enduring any fatigue.) As foon as Cortes was mentioned to Velafquez by his two confidents, he flattered himfelf that he had at length found what he had hitherto fought, in vain, a man with talents for command, butf not an object of jealoufy. Neither the rank nor f Gomara Cron. c. i, 2, 3. HISTORY OF AMERICA. s lior the fortune of Cortes, as he imagined, were BOOK fuch that he could afpire at independence. He v- had reafon to believe, that by his own readinefs 1— Hr^ to bury ancient animofities in oblivion, as well as J5l8- his liberality in conferring feveral recent favours, he had already gained the good will of Cortes, and hoped, by this new and unexpected mark of con fidence, that he might attach him for ever to his intereft, Cortes receiving his commiffion with the soon be- warmeft expreffions of refpect and gratitude to the£™"f^' governor, immediately eredted his ftandard before oaober'13". his own houfe, appeared in a military drefs, and afTumed all the enfigns of his new dignity. His utmoft influence and activity were exerted in per- fuading many of his friends to engage in the fer vice, and in urging forward the preparations for the voyage. All his own funds, together with what money he could raife by mortgaging his lands and Indians, were expended in pure haling military ftores and provifions, or in fupplying the wants of fuch of his officers as were unable to equip themfelves in a manner fuited to their rank*. Inoflenfive, and even laudable as this conduct was, his difappointed competitors were malicious enough to give it a turn to his difadvantage : They re- prefented him as aiming already, with little dif- guife, at eftablifhing an independent authority over his troops, and endeavouring to fecure their refpect or love by his oftentatious and intereftcd liberality. They reminded Velafquez of ! his for mer diflenfions with the man in whom he now repofed fo much confidence, and foretold that Cortes would be more apt to avail himfelf of the power, which he was inconfiderately putting in his * See NOTE III. 6 HISTORY OF AMERICA, B O O K his hands, to avenge paft injuries, than to re-. v- quite late obligations, Thefe infinuatious made; Vttv fiich impreffion upon the fufpiciou.s mind of Ve, J5l8' lafquez, that Cortes foon obfcrved fome fymptoma of a growing alienation and diftruft in his be-. haviour, and was advifed by his friends, Lares and Duero, to haften his departure, before they fhould become fo confirmed, as to break out with open violence. Fully fenfible of this dan ger, he urged forward his preparations with fuch rapidity, that he fet fail from St. Jago de Cuba on the eighteenth of November, Velafquez ac companying him to the fhore, and taxing leave of him with an appearance of perfect friendfhip. and confidence, though he had fecretly given it in charge to fome of bis officers, to keep a watch ful eye upon every part of their commander's, conduct *, Endeavours Cortes, proceeded to Trinidad, a ftnall fettle-, himofhi! ment 0Xi tne *"amc $d$ of the Ifland, where he was, commiffion. joined by feveral adventurers, and received aj fupply of provifions and military ftores, of which his ftock was ftill very incomplete. He had hardly left St Jago, when the jealoufy which had been working in the breaft of Velafquez grew fo violent that it was impcflible to. fupprefs it. The arrrjament was no longer under his own eye and, direction ; and he felt that as his power over it ceafed, that of Cortes became more abfolute. Ima gination now aggravated every circumftance, which had formerly excited fufpicion : the rivals of; Cortes induftrioufly threw in reflections which increafed his fears; and with no lefsart than malice they called fuperftition to their aid, employing the predictions of an aftrologer in order to complete the alarm. All thefe, by their united operation, produced * Gomara Cron. c. 7. B. Diaz. c. 2Q. HISTORY OF AMERICA, 7 produced the defired effect. Velafquez repented BOOK bitterly of his own imprudence, in having com- v- mitted a truft of fo much importance to a perfon ,T",«-' whofe fidelity appeared fo doubtful, and haftily I5'8' difpatched inftructions to Trinidad, empowering Verdugo, the chief magiftrate there, to deprive Cortes of his commiffiop. But Cortes had already made fuch progrefs in gaining the efteem and con fidence of his troops, that, finding officers as well as foldiers equally zealous to fuppOrt his authority, he foothed or intimidated Verdugo, and was per mitted to depart from Trinidad without molefta- tion. From Trinidad Cortes failed for Havanna, in or- and t0 ^ d. r r 1 1 • i ^ i ¦ "'m under er to raile more loldters, and to complete the vie- arreft. tualling of his fleet. There feveral perfons of dis tinction entered into the fervice, and engaged to fupply what provifions were ftill wanting ; but as it was necefiary to allow them fome time for per forming what they had promifed, Velafquez, fen- fible that he ought no longer to rely on a man of whom he had fo openly difcovered his diftruft, availed himfelf of the interval, which this unavoid able delay afforded, in order to make one attempt more to wreft the command out of the hands of Cortes. He loudly complained of Verdugo's con duct, accufing him either of childifh facility, or of manifeft treachery, in fufferipg Cortes to efcape from Trinidad, Anxious to guard againft a fecond difappointment, he fent a perfon of confidence to the Havanna, with peremptory injunctions to Pedro Barba, his lieutenant-governor in that co lony, inftantly to arreft Cortes, to fend him pri soner to St. Jago under a ftrong guard, and to countermand the departure of the armament until he fhould receive farther orders : he wrote like- wife to the principal officers, requiring them to affift 8 HISTORY OF AMERICA. BOOK aflift Barba in executing what he had given hin$ V. in charge. But before the arrival of his meffen- ^-"~5-,-/ ger, a Francifcan friar of St Jago had fecretly con- i5!8. veyed an account of this interefting tranfadtion to Bartholomew de Olmedo, a monk of the fame order, who acted as chaplain to the expedition. Cortes de- Cortes, forewarned of the danger, had time fchemes3, to take precautions for his own fafety. His firft andconti- ftep was to find fome pretext for removing from parationPsre" Havanna Diego de Ordaz, an officer of great merit, but in whom, on account of his known attach- rnent to Velafquez, he could not confide in this. trying and delicate juncture. He gave him the pommand of a veffel, deftined to take on board fome pro/ifions in a fmall harbour beyond Cape Antonio ; and thus made fure of his abfence, without feeming to fufpect his fidelity. When he was gone, Cortes no longer concealed the inten tions of Velafquez from his troops ; and as officers. and foldiers were equally impatient to fet out on an expedition, in preparing for which moft of them had expended all their fortune, they exprefied their- aftonifhment and indignation at that illiberal jea- loufy, to which the governor was about to facri- fice, not only the honour of their general, but all their fahguine hopes of glory and wealth. With one voice they entreated that he would not aban don the important ftation to which he had fuch a good title, They conjured him not to deprive them pf a leader whom they followed with fuch Well-founded confidence, and offered to fhed the laft drop of their blood in maintaining his author rity. Cortes was eafily induced to comply with what he fo' ardently defired. He fwore that he never would defert foldiers who had given him fuch a fignal proof of their attachment, and pro- mifed inftantly to conduct them to that rich coun<. HISTORY OF AMERICA. 9 try, which had been fo long the object of their BOOK thoughts and wifhes. This declaration was re- v« ceived with tranfports of military applaufe, ac- *T*** companied with threats and imprecations againft I51?- all who fhould prefume to call in queftion the jurifdiction of their general, or to obftruct the exe cution of his defigns. Every thing was now xeady for their ' depar- The amount ture: but though this expedition was the umted ot — "^ effo/t of the Spanifh power in Cuba ; though every. fettlement had contributed its quota of men and provifions ; though the governor had laid out con siderable fums, and each adventurer had exhaufted his flock, or ftrained his credit, the poverty of the preparations was fueh as muft aftonifh the prefent- age, and bore, indeed, no refemblance to an ar mament deftined for the conqueft of a great em pire. The fleet confifted of eleven veffels, the largeft of a hundred tons, which was dignified with the name of Admiral, three of feventy or eighty tons, and the reft fmall open barks. On board of thefe were fix hundred and feventeen men ; of which five hundred and eight belonged to the land fervice, and a hundred and nine were feamen or artificers. The foldiers were divided into eleven companies, according to the number of the fhips ; to each of which Cortes appointed a captain, and committed to him the command of the vefiel while at fea, and of the men when on fhore *. As the ufe of fire-arms among the nations of Europe was hitherto confined to a few battalions of regularly difciplined infantry, only thirteen foldiers were armed with mufkets, thirty-two were crofs-bow- men, and the reft had fwords and fpears. In- ftead of the ufual defenfive armour, which muft have See NOTE IV. jo. HISTORY OF AMERICA. BOOK have been cumbejrfome in a hot climate, they wore V. jackets, quilted with cotton, -which experience had ^^T^ taught the Spaniards to be a fufficient protection 15 1 8. againft the weapons of the Americans. They had only fixteen horfes, ten fmall field-pieces, and four falconets f Feb. 10. . With this flender and ill-provided train did {torture*1'8 fortes fet fail, to makeovar upon a monarch whofe ffpm Cuba, dominions were more cxtenfive than all the king-. doms fubjedt to the Spanifh crown. As relig^pus enthufiafm always mingled with the fpirit of ad-. venture in the New World, and, by a combina tion ftill more ftrange, united with avarice, in prompting the Spaniards to all their enterprifes, a large crofs was difplayed in their ftandard s, with, this infcription, Let us follow the crofi ; for under; this Jign wejhall conquer. So powerfully were Cortes and his followers animated with both thefe paffions that, no lefs eager to plunder the opulent country whither they were bound, than zealous to. propagate the Chrif? tian faith among its inhabitants,, they fet out, not with the folicitude natural to men going upon daiu gerous fervice, but with that confidence which arifes from fecurity of fiiccefs, and certainly of the. divine prote&ion, Touches at As Cortes had determined to touch at every cozumdj ^^ which Grijalva had viflte(j, he fleered di, rectly towards the ifland of Cozumel ; there he had the good fortune to redeem Jerome de Aguilar, a, Spaniard, who had been eight years a prifoner among the Indians. This man was perfectly ac quainted with a dialect of their language, under-, flood through a largd extent of country, and pofc fefling befides a confiderable fhare of prudence and f B. Diaz. c. 19. HISTORY OF AMERICA. x* and fagacity, proved extremely ufeful as an inter- BOOK preter. From Cozumel Cortes proceeded to the V. river ofTobafco, in hopes of a reception as friends "-•nr"*"' ly as Grijalva bad met with there, and of finding lSl9- gold in the fame abundance ; but the difpofitionand »tCT»« of the natives, from fome unknown caufe, was to-bafco. tally changed. After repeated endeavours to con ciliate their good-will, he was conftrained to have recourfe to violence, Though the forces of the enemy were numerous, and advanced with extra ordinary courage, they were routed, with great flaughter, in feveral fucceffive actions. The lofs which they fuftained, and ftill more the aftonifh-r ment and terror excited by the deftructive effect of the fire-arms, and the dreadful appearance of the horfes, humbled their fierce fpirit:, and in duced them to fue for peace. They acknowledged the king of Caftile as their fovereign, and granted Cortes a fupply of provifions, with a prefent of cotton garments, fome gold, and twenty female flaves*. Cortes continued his courfe to the weftward, Arrives »t keeping as near the fhore as poflible, in order to uiiuL obferve the country ; but 'could difcover no pror per place for landing, until he arrived at St. Juan de TJluaf. As he entered this harbour, a large April i. canoe full of people, among whom were two who feemed to be perfons of diftinction, approached his fhip, with figns of peace and amity. They came on board without fear or diftruft, and ad- drefTed him in a moft refpectful manner, but in a language altogether unknown to Aguilar. — Cortes was in the utmoft perplexity and diftrefs, at an event of which he inftantly forefaw all the confe- quences * See NOTE V. t B. Diaz. c. 31 — 36. Gomara Cron. c. 18 — 23. Her- ?era, dec. 2. lib. ir. c. 11, &,c. i? HISTORY OF AMERICA." BOOK quences, and already felt the hefitation and uncer, V. tainty with which he fhould carry on the grea?' v-m-' fchemes which he meditated, if, in his tranfactions; ?5i9- with the natives, he muft depend entirely upon fuch an imperfect, ambiguous, and conjectural mode of communication, as the ufe of figns. But he did not remain long in this embarraffing fitua-. tion : a fortunate accident extricated him, when his own fagacity could have contributed little to wards his relief. One of the female flaves, whom he had received from the cazique of Tabafco, hap pened to be prefent at the firft interview between Cortes and his new guefts. She perceived his dif- trefs, as well as the confufion of Aguilar ; and as fhe perfectly underftood the Mexican language, fhe explained what they faid in the Yucatan tongue, with which Aguilar was acquainted. This woman known afterwards by the name of Donna Marina, and who makes a confpicuous figure in the hiftory' of the New World, where great revolutions were brought about by fmall caufes and inconfiderable inftruments, was born in one of the provinces of the Mexican empire. Having been carried off a captive by fome hoftile party, after a variety of1 adventures fhe fell into the hands of the Tabaf-. cans, and had refided long enough among them to acquire their language, without lofing the ufe' of her own. Though it was both tedious and troublefome to converfe by the intervention of two different interpreters, Cortes was fo highly pleafed with having difcovered this method of carrying on fome intercourfe with the people of a country into which he was determined to penetrate, that in the tranfports of his joy he confidered it as a vifible interpofition of Providence in his favour. * He * B. Diaz. c. 3% 38, 39. Gomara Gron, c. 25, 26. Her^ rera, dee. 2. lib. v. c. 4. HISTORY OF AMERICA. 13 He now learned, that the two perfons whom BOOK he had received on board his fhip were deputies V. from Pilpatoe and Teutile ; the one governor of ,-*-ip,"/ that province under a great monarch, whom they I51?- called Montezuma, and the other the commander troo^^ of his forces there, and that they were fent to inquire what his intentions were in vifiting their coaft, and to offer him what affiftance he might need, in order to continue his voyage. Cortes. ftruck with the appearance of thofe people, as well as the tenor of the meffage, affured them, in refpedtful terms, that he approached their country with moft friendly fentiments, and came to propofe matters of great importance to the welfare of their prince and his kingdom, which he would unfold more fully in perfon to the go vernor and the general. Next morning, without waiting for any anfwer, he landed his troops, his horfes and artillery ; and having choi'en proper ground, began to erect huts for his men, and 10 fortify his camp. The natives, inftead of oppo- fing the entrance of thofe fatal guefts into then- country, affifted them in all their operations, with an alacrity of which they had ere long good reafon to repent. Next day, Pilpatoe and Teutile entered the H''s firft in- Spanifh camp with a numerous retinue; and Cor-^th^ tes confidering them as the minifters of a great Mexicans. monarch, entitled to a degree of attention very dif ferent from that which the Spaniards were accuf- tomed to pay to the petty Caziques, with whom they had intercourfe, received them with much formal ceremony. He informed them, that he came as ambafTador from Don Carlos of Auftria, king of Caftile, the greateft monarch of the eaft, and was intrufted with propofitions of fuch mo ment, that he could impart them to none but the emperor Montezuma himfelf; and therefore re quired i4. HISTORY OF AMERICA. BOOK quired them to conduct him, without lofs of timej V. into the prefence of their mafter. The Mexican '-""IT'**' officers could not conceal their uneafinefs at a re- 15l9- queft, which they knew to be difagreeable, and which, they forelaw, might prove extremely cm- barrafling to their fovereign, whofe mind had beeii filled with many difquieting. apprebenfions, ever fince the former appearance of the Spaniards on his coafts. But before they attempted to diffuade Cortes from infifting on this demand, they endea voured to conciliate his good will, by entreating him to accept of certain prefents, which, as hum ble flaves of Montezuma, they laid at his feet; Thefe were introduced with great parade, and cori- fifted of fine cotton cloth, of plumes of various colours ; and of ornaments of gold and filver to a considerable value ; the workmanftiip of which appeared to be as curious, as the materials were rich. The difplay of thefe produced an effect very different from what the Mexicans intendeds Inftead of fatisfying, it ittcreafcd the avidity of the Spaniards, and rendered them fo eager and impatient to become matters of a country which abounded with fuch precious productions, that Cortes could hardly liften with patience to the arguments which Pilpatoe and Teutile employed to diffuade him from vifiting the capital, and in a haughty determined tone he infilled on his de mand, of being admitted to a perfonal audience of their fovereign, During this interview, fome painters, in the train of the Mexican chiefs, had been diligently employed in delineating, upon white cotton cloths, figures of the fhips, the horfes> the artillery, the foldiers,- and whatever elfe at tracted their eyes, as lingular. When Cortes ob- ferved this, and was informed that thefe pictures were to be fent to Montezuma, in order to con vey to him a more lively idea of the ftrange1 and HISTORY OF AMERICA. »S and wonderful objects now prefented to their BOOK view, than any words could communicate, he re- V. folved to render the reprefentation ftill more ani- W"TT*»'' mated and interefting, by exhibiting fuch a fpec- 1519' tacle as might give both them and their monarch an awful impreflion of the extraordinary prowefs of his followers, and the irrefiftible force of their arms. The trumpets, by his order, founded an alarm ; the troops, in a moment, formed in order of battle, the infantry performed fuch martial ex- ercifes as were beft fuited to difplay the effects of their different weapons ; the horfe, in various evo lutions, gave a fpecimen of their agility and ftrength ; the artillery, pointed towards the thick Woods which furrounded the camp, made dreadful havock among the trees. The Mexicans looked on with that filent amazement, which is natural when the mind is ftruck with objects, which are both awful and above its comprehenfion. But, at the explofion of the cannon, many of them fled, fome fell to the ground, and all were fo much con founded at the fight of men whofe power fo nearly refembled that of the Gods, that Cortes found it difficult tocompofe and re-affure them. The painters had now many new fubjedts on which to exercife their art, and they put their fancy on the ftretch in order to invent figures and characters to repre- fent the extraordinary things which they had feen. Messengers were immediately difpatched to Negotiations Montezuma with thofe pictures, and a full account™*^0"" of every thing that had paffed fince the arrival of the Spaniards, and by them Cortes fent a pre- fent of fome European curiofities to Montezuma, which though of no great value, he believed would be acceptable on account of their novelty. The Mexican monarchs, in order to obtain early infor mation of every occurrence in all the corners of their vaft empire, had introduced a refinement in police 16 HISTORY OF AMERICA. BOOKpolice, unknown, at that time, in Europe. The^ v- had couriers ported at proper ftations along the s""~in*"/ principal roads, and as thefe were trained to agility 15I9- by a regular education, and relieved one another at moderate diftances, they conveyed intelligence with furprifing rapidity. Though the capital in which Montezuma refided. was above a hundred and eighty miles from St. Juan de Ulua, Cortes's prefents were carried thither, and an anfwer to his demands Was received in a few days. The fame officers who had hithertb treated with the Spaniards, were employed to deliver this anfwer ; but as they knew how repugnant the determination of their mafter was to all the fchemes and wifhes of the Spanifh commander, they would not ven ture to make it known until they had previoufly en deavoured to footh and mollify him; For this His prefents. pufpofe, they renewed the negociation by intro ducing a train of an hundred Indians loaded with prefents fent to him by Montezuma. The magni ficence of thefe was fuch as became a great mo narch, and far exceeded any idea which the Spa niards had hitherto formed of his wealth. They were placed upon mats fpread on the ground, in fuch order as fhewed them to the greateft advantage, Cortes and his officers viewed, with admiration, the various manufactures of the country, cotton fluffs fo fine, and of fuch delicate texture as to referable filk ; pictures of animals, trees* and other natural ob jects formed with feathers of different colours, dif- pofed and mingled with fuch fkill and elegance, as to rival the works of the pencil in truth and beauty of imitation* But what chiefly attracted their eyes, were two large plates of a cireular forim one of maffive gold reprefenting the fun, the othef of filver, an emblem of the moon*. Thefe were ac companied * See NOTE "VI. HISTORY OF AMERICA. 17 companied with bracelets, collars, rings, and other B O O K trinkets of gold ; and that nothing might be want- v- ing which could give the Spaniards a complete V-T"*»' idea of what the country afforded, with fome J5I9' boxes filled with pearls, precious ftones, and grains of gold unwrought, as they had been found in the mines or rivers. Cortes received all thefe with an appearance of profound veneration for the monarch by whom they were beftowed. But£°^sw when the Mexicans, prefuming upon this, in- approaciihlj formed him that their mafter, though he defired "P'"1, him to accept of what he had fent as a token of 'his regard for the prince whom he reprefented, would not give his confent that foreign troops fhould approach nearer to his capital, or even allow them to continue longer in his dominions, Cortes declared, in a manner more refolute and peremptory than formerly, that he muft infift on his firft demand, as he could not without dif- honour, return to his own fovereign, until he was admitted into the prefence of the prince whom he was appointed to vifit in his name. The Mex icans, aftonifhed at feeing any man dare to op- pofe that will, which they were accuftomed to confider as fupreme and irrefiftible, yet afraid of precipitating their country into an open rupture with fuch formidable enemies, prevailed with Cortes to promife, that he would not move from his pre fent camp, until the return of a melTenger, whom they fent to Montezuma for farther inftruc- tions*. The firmnefs with which Cortes adhered to his *fxeic°afnthe original propofal fhould, naturally, have brought empire at the negociation between him and Montezuma to *at Pcri0£l- a fpeedy ifiue, as it feemed to leave the Mexican monarch no choice, but either to receive him with Vol. II. C confidence *. B. Diaz. c. 39. Gomara Cron. c. 27. Herrera, dec. 2. lib. v. c. 5, 6. r8 HISTORY OF AMERICA. BOO K confidence as a friend, or to -oppo-fe him openly v- as an enemy. The latter was what might have v-VTn*-' been expected from a haughty prince in pofTeffion J519' of extenfive power. The Mexican empire, at this period, was at a pitch of grandeur to which no fociety ever attained in fo fhort a period, Though it had fubfifted only a hundred and thirty years, its dominion extended ,from the North to the South Sea, over territories, ftretching . about five hundred leagues from eaft to weft, and more than two hundred from north to fouth, compre hending provinces not inferior in fertility, popu lation, and opulence, to any in the torrid zone. The people were warlike a»d enterprifing ; the authority of the monarch unbounded, and his revenues confiderable. If, with the forces which might have been fuddenly afTembled in fuch an empire. Montezuma had fallen upon the Spa niards while encamped on a barren unhealthy coaft, unfupported by any ally, without a place of xetreat, and deftitute of provifions, it is impoffible, even with all the advantages of their fuperior dis cipline and arms, that they could have flood the ihoek, and they muft either have perifhed in fuch an unequal conteft, or have abandoned the enter- ' prife. charaaer of As the power of Montezuma enabled him to takp this fpirited part, his own difpofitions feemed na turally to prompt him to it. Of aU the princes who had fwayed the Mexican fceptre, he was the moft haughty, the moft violent, and the moft im patient of controul. His fubjeets looked up to him with awe, and his enemies with terror. The former he governed with unexampled rigour, but they were imprefTed with fuch an opinion of his capacity as commanded their refpect ; and by many victories over the latter, he had fpread far the dread of his arras, and had added feveral con fiderable provinces to his dominions. But though his the mo narch. HISTORY OF AMERICA. 19 his talents might be fuited to the tranfadtions of B O O K a ftate fo imperfectly polifhed as the Mexican em- v- pire, and fufficient to conduct them while in their ^-T^ accuftomed courfe, they were altogether inadequate 15*9- to a conjuncture fo extraordinary, and did not qua lify him either to judge with the difcernment, or to act with the decifion, requifite in fuch a trying emergence. From the moment that the Spaniards appeared on "^J*1"^ his coaft, he difcovered fymptoms of timidity and terror upon embarrafTment. Inftead of taking fuch refolutions^*""™?^ as the oonfcioufnefs of his own power, or the me- ards. mory of his former exploits, might have infpired, he deliberated with an anxiety and hefitation which did not efcape the notice of his meaneft courtiers. The perplexity and difcompofure of Montezuma's mind upon this occafipn, as well as the general dif- may of his fubjeets, was not owing wholly to ffie impreffion which the Spaniards had made by the novelty of their appearance and the terror of theif arms , its origin may be traced up to a more remote fource. There was an opinion, if we may believe the earlieft and moft authentic Spanifh hiftorians, almoft univerfal among the Americans, that fome dreadful calamity wag impending over their heads, from a race of formidable invaders who fhould come from regions towards the rifing fun, to over run and defolate their country. Whether this difquieting apprehenfion flowed from the memory of fome natural calamity, which had afflicted that part of the globe, and impreffed the minds of the inhabitants with fuperftitious fears and fore bodings, or whether it was an imagination ac cidentally fuggefted by the aftonifhment which the firft fight of a new race of men occafioned, it is impoffible to determine. But as the Mexicans were more prone to fuperftition than any people in the New World, they were more deeply af- C 2 *dted ao HISTORY OF AMERICA. BOOK fedted with the appearance of the Spaniards, whom v- their credulity inftantly reprefented as the inftru- ^^T^ ments deftined to bring about that fatal revolution 1519- which they dreaded. Under thofe circumftances, it ceafes to be incredible, that a handful of advent hirers fhould alarm the monarch of a great em pire and all his fubjeets *. w°n«goctate. Notwithstanding the influence of this im- preffion, when the meffenger arrived from the Spa- nifh camp with an account, that Cortes, • adhering to his original demand, refufed to obey the order enjoining him to leave the country, Montezuma affumed fome degree of refolution, and in a tranf- port of rage, natural to a fierce prince unaccuf- tomed to meet with any oppofition to his will, h^ threatened to facrifice thofe prefumptuous ftrangers to his gods. But his doubts and fears quickly returned, and inftead of ifluing orders to carry his threats into execution, he again called his minifters to confer and Offer their advice. Feeble and tera- porifing meafures will always be the refult, when men aflemble to deliberate in a fituation where they ought to act. The Mexican council took no effectual meafure for expelling fuch troublcfome intruders, and were fatisfied with ilTuing a more pofitive injunction, requiring them to leave the country ; but this they prepofteroufly accompanied with a prefent of fuch value, as proved a frefh in ducement to remain there. ^ehen™1 "Mean while, the Spaniards were not without fionsofthe folicitude or a variety of fentiments, in deli- spaniards. berating concerning their own future conduct From what they had already feen, many of them formed fuch extravagant ideas concerning the opulence * Cortes Relatione Secunda, ap Ramuf. iii. 2*4 2J«. Herrera, dec. 2. lib. iii. c. 1. lib. v. c. 11. lib. vii. c. 6? Go- mara Cron. c. 66. 92. 144. ' """- HISTORY OF AMERICA. 21 opulence of the country, that defpifing danger or j$ o O K hardfhips when they had in view treafures which V. appeared to be inexhauftible, they were eager to v-nr»' attempt the conqueft. Others eftimating the power I5I9- of the Mexican empire by its wealth, and enume rating the various proofs which had occurred of its being under a well-regulated adminiftration, con tended that it would be an act of the wild eft frenzy to attack fuch a ftate, with a fmall body of men, in want of provifions, unconnected with any ally, and already enfeebled by the difeafes peculiar to the climate, and the lofs of feveral of their num ber f. Cortes fecretly applauded the advocates for bold meafures, and cherifhed their romantic hopes, as fuch ideas correfponded with his own, and favoured the execution of the fchemes which he had formed. From the time that the fufpicions Schemes of of Velafquez broke out with open violence in his attempt to deprive him of the authority which he had conferred, he faw the neceflity of diffolving a connection, which would obftrudt and embarrafs all his operations, and watched for a proper opportu nity of coming to a final rupture with him. Having this in view, he had laboured, by every art, to fecure the efteem and affection of his foldiers. With his abilities for command, it was eafy to gain their efteem ; and his followers were quickly fatisfied "that they might rely, with perfect confi dence, on the conduct and courage of their leader. Nor was it more difficult to acquire their affection. Among adventurers, nearly of the fame rank, and ferving at their own expence, the dignity of command did not elevate a general above mingling with thofe who acted under him. Cortes availed himfelf of this freedom of intercourfe, to infi- nuate himfelf into their favour, and by his affable manners, f B. Diaz, c 40. 22 HISTORY OF AMERICA. BOOK manners, by well-timed acts of liberality to fome, v< by infpiring all with vaft hopes, and by allowing v-r~r'*-/ them to trade privately with the natives*, heat* IS19- tached the greater part of his foldiers fo firmly to himfelf, that they almoft forgot that the armament had been fitted out by the authority, and at the ex- pence of another, Hisaddrefs During thofe intrigues, Teutile arrived with %m7ly the prefent from Montezuma, and, together with it, delivered the ultimate order of that monarch to depart inftantly out of his dominions ; and when Cortes, inftead of complying, renewed his requeft of an audience, the Mexican turned from him; ab ruptly, and quitted the camp with looks, and geftures which ftrongly eXpreffed his furprife and refent- ment. Next morning none of the natives, who ufed to frequent the camp in great numbers, in- order to barter with the foldiers, and bring in rjrovifions, appeared. All friendly correfpondence feemed now to be at an end, audit was expected every moment that hoftilities would commence, This, though ah event that might have been fore- feen, occafioned a fudden confternation among the Spaniards, which emboldened the adherents of Velafquez, not only to murmur and cabal agafeft their general, -but to appoint one of their rrumber to remoriftrate openly againft his imprudence in, attempting the eonqueft of a mighty empire with fuch inadequate force, and to urge the neceffity of returning to Cuba, in order to refit the fleet and augment the army, Diego de Ordaz, one of hi* principal officers'. Whom- the malcontents charged with this commiffion, delivered it with a foldierly freedom and bluntiiefs, affiiring him that he fpoke the fentiments of the whole army. Cortes liftened tQ him without any appearance of emotion; and as * See NOTE VII. HISTORY OF AMERICA. 23 as he well knew the temper and wifhes of his fol- BOOK. diers, and forefaw how they would receive a pro- V. pofition, fatal at once to all the fplendid hopes and -~^ir**' ichcmes which they had been forming with fuch z5'9- complacency, he carried his difiimulation fo far as to feem to relinquifh his own meafures in com pliance with the requeu of Ordaz, and iffued or ders that the army fhould be in readinefs next day to embark for Cuba. As foon as this was known, the difappointed adventurers exclaimed and threat ened ; the emiffaries of Cortes mingling with them, inflamed their rage ; the ferment became general ; the whole camp was almoft in open mu tiny ; all demanding with eagernefs to fee their commander. Cortes was not flow in appearing ; when, with one voice, they expreffed their afto- nifhnient and indignation at the orders which they had received. It was unworthy, they cried, of the Caftilian courage to be daunted at the firft afpedt of danger, and infamous to fly before any enemy appeared. For their parts, they were determined not to relinquifh an enterprife, that had hitherto been fuccefsful, and which tended fo vifibly to fpread the knowledge of true religion, and to ad vance the glory and intereft of their country. Hap py under his command, they would follow him with alacrity through every danger, in queft of thofe fettlements and treafurcs which he had fo long held out to their view ; but if he chofe rather to return to Cuba, and tamely give up all his hopes of diftinction and opulence to an envious rival, they would inftantly chufe another general to con duct them in that path of glory which lie had not fpirit to enter. Cortes, delighted with their ardour, took no offence at the boldnefs with which it was uttered. The fentiments were what he himfelf had infpired, and the warmth of expreffion fatisfied him that his 24- HISTORY OF AMERICA. BOOK his foldiers had imbibed them thoroughly. He V. affected, however to be furprifedat what he heard, <-nr*s declaring that his orders to prepare for embarking I519- were iffued from a perfuafion that this was agree able to his troops ; that, from deference to what he had been informed was their inclination, he had facrificed his own private opinion, which was firmly bent on eftablifhing immediately a fettle- ment on the fea-coaft, and then on endeavouring to penetrate into the interior part of the country ; that now he was convinced of his error ; and as he perceived that they were1 animated with the generous fpirit which breathed in every true Spaniard, he would refume, with frefh ardour, his original plan of operation, and doubted not to conduct them, in the career of victory, to fuch independent fortunes as their valour merited. Upon this declaration, fhouts of applaufe teftified • the excefs of their joy. The meafure feemed to be taken with unanimous confent ; fuch as fecretly condemned it, being obliged to join in the ac clamations, partly to conceal their difaffection from the general, and partly to avoid the im putation of cowardice from their fellow-foldiers *, Eftabiifhesa Without allowing his men time to cool or g°ovTrn.civil to reflect, Cortes fet about carrying his defign ment. in-to execution. In order to give a beginning to a colony, he affembled the principal perfons in his army, and by their fuffrages elected a council and magiftrates, in whom the government was to be veiled. As men naturally tranfplant the infti- tutions and forms of the mother-country into their new fettlements, this was framed upon the model of a Spanifh corporation. The magiftrates were diftinguifhed' by the fame names and enfigns of office, * B. Diaz. c. 40, 41, 42. Herrera, dec. 2. lib. v. c. 6, 7, HISTORY OF AMERICA. 2j office, and were to exercife a fimilar jurifdidtion. BOOK All the perfons chofen were moft firmly devoted v- to Cortes, and the inftrument of their election was ^-T"^ framed in the king's name, without any mention 1519' of their dependence on Velafquez. The two prin ciples of avarice and enthufiafm, which prompted the Spaniards to all their enterprifes in the New World, feemed to have concurred in fuggefting the name which Cortes bellowed on his intended fettlement. He called it, Villa rica de la 'vera Crug, that is, The rich town oj the true Crofs. The firft meeting of the new council was dif- Refigns his tinguifhed by a tranfaction of great moment. As commifl»,»' foon as it affembled, Cortes applied for leave to enter ; and approaching with many marks of profound refpect, which added dignity to the tiibunal, and fet an example of reverence for its authority, he began a long harangue, in which, with much art, and in terms extremely flattering to perfons juft entering upon their new function, he oblerved, that as the fupreme jurifdidtion over the colony which they had planted was now vefted in this court, he confidered them as clothed with the authority and reprefenting the perfon of their fovereign ; that accordingly he would com municate to them what he deemed effential to the public fafety, with the fame dutiful fidelity as if he, were addreffing his royal mafter; that the fecu- rity of a colony fettled in a great empire, whofe fovereign had already difcovered his hoftile inten tions, depended upon arms, and the efficacy of thefe upon the fubordination and discipline pre- ferved among the troops ; that his right to com mand was derived from a commiffion granted by the governor of Cuba ; and as that had been long fince revoked, the lawfulnefs of his jurifdidtion might well be queftioned ; that he feemed to act upon a defective, or even a dubious title ; nor could ag HISTORY OF AMERICA. BOOK could they truft an army which might difpute v- the powers of its general, at a juncture when it ""¦T^ ought implicitly to obey his orders ; that, moved *5l9- by thefe confiderations, he now refigned all his authority to them, that they, having both right to chufe, and power to confer full jurifdidtion, might appoint one, in the king's name, to command the army in its future operations ; and as for his own part, fuch was his zeal for the fervice in which they were engaged, that he would moft cheerfully take up a pike with the fame hand that laid down the general's truncheon, and convince his fellow fol diers, that though accuftomed to command, he had not forgotten how to obey. Having finifhed this difcourfe, he laid the commiffion from Velaf quez upon the table, and, after kifling his trun cheon, delivered it to the chief magiftrate, and withdrew. And is cho- The deliberations of the council were not long, tfceandcaV as C°rtes had concerted this important meafure *ain general. with his confidents, and had prepared the other members with great addrefs, for the part which he wifhed them to take. His refignation was ac cepted ; and as the uninterrupted tenour of their profperity under his conduct afforded the moff fatisfyin'g evidence of his abilities for command, they, by their unanimous fuffrage, elected him chief juftice of the colony, and captain-general of its army, and appointed his commiffion to be made out m the king's name, with moft ample powers, which were to continue in force until the royal pleafure fhould be farther known. That this deed might not be deemed the machination of a junto, the council called together the troops, and acquainted them with what had been refolved. The foldiers, with eager applaufe, ratified theif choice j the air refounded with the name of Cortes, and HISTORY OF AMERICA. 27 and all vowed to fhed their blood in fupport of his b O O K authority. V. Cortes, having now brought his intrigues to ^-t^-' the defired iffue, and fhaken off his mortifying i5x9- dependence on the governor of Cuba, accepted Afferts his of the commiffion, which vefted in him fupreme au.tu0"ty .r,.o- • •, Tl -i- 1 withvigour, junldidtion, civil as well as military, over the co lony, with many profeffions of refpect to the council, and gratitude to the army. Together with his new command, he affirmed greater dig nity, and began to exercife more extenfive powers. Formerly he had felt himfelf to be only the de puty of a fubject ; now he acted as the reprefen- tative of his fovereign. The adherents of Ve lafquez, fully aware of what would he the effect of this change in his fituation, could no longer con tinue filent and paffive fpectators of his actions. They exclaimed openly againft the proceedings of the council as illegal, and againft thofe of the army as mutinous. Cortes, inftantly perceiving the neceffity of giving a timely check to fuch Sedi tious difcourfe by fome vigorous meafure, arretted Ordaz, Efcudero, and Velafquez de Leon, the ringleaders of this faction, and fent them prifoners aboard the fleet, loaded with chains. Their de pendants, aftonifhed and overawed, remained quiet ; and Cortes, more defirous to reclaim than to punifh his prifoners, who were officers of great merit, courted their friendfhip with fuch afliduity and addrefs, that the reconciliation was perfectly cordial ; and, on the moft trying occafions, nei ther connection with the governor of Cuba, nor the memory of the indignity with which they had been treated, tempted them to fwerve from an inviolable attachment to his intereft *. In this, as well * B. Diaz. c. 4J, 43. GomaraCron. 0. 30, 31. Herrera, dec. 2. lib. v. c. 7. aS HISTORY OF AMERICA. BOOK we^ as his other negociations at this critical Con* V. juncture, which decided with refpect to his future s-t^" fame and fortune, Cortes owed much of his fuo 1519- -cefs to the Mexican gold, which he diftributed with a liberal hand both among his friends and his opponents f. hu friend- Cortes, having thus rendered the union be- by riie°zem- tween himfelf and his army indiffoluble by thofe poaiians. common acts of difobedience, thought he might now venture to quit the camp in which he had hitherto remained, and advanced into the country. To this he was encouraged by an event no lefs fortunate than feafonable. Some Indians, having approached his camp in a myfterious manner, were introduced into his prefence. He found that they were fent with a proffer of friendfhip from the cazique of Zemppalla, a considerable town at no great diftance ; and from their anfwers to a Variety of queftions which he put to them, accord ing to his ufual practice in every interview with the people of the country, he gathered, that their mafter, though fubject to the Mexican empire; was impatient of the yoke, and filled with fuch dread and hatred of Montezuma, that nothing could be more acceptable to him than any profpedt of deliverance from the oppreffion under which he groaned. On hearing this, a ray of light and; hope broke in upon the mind of Cortes. He faw that the great empire, which he intended to attack, was pot united, nor its fovereign beloved. He concluded, that the caufes of difaffection could not be confined to one province, but that in other corners there muft be malcontents, fo weary of fubjedtion, or fo defirous of change, as to be ready to follow the ftandard of any protedtor, Full of thofe ideas, on which he began to form a fcheme f B. Diaz. c. 44.' HISTORY OF AMERICA. 29 fcherae, that time, and more perfect information BOOK concerning the ftate of the country, enabled him V. to mature, he gave a moft gracious reception to *— nr^*' the Zempoallans, and promifed foon to vifit their 15l9- cazique*. In order to perform this promife, it was not ne- Marches to ceffary to vary the route which he had already Zemp0lUa' fixed for his march. Some officers, whom he had employed to furvcy the coaft, having discovered a village named Qujabiflan, about forty miles to the northward, which, both on account of the fertility of the foil, and commodioufnefs of the harbour, feemed to be a more proper ftation for a fettlement than that where he was encamped, Cortes determined to remove thither. Zempo- alla lay in his way, where the cazique received him in the manner which he had reafon to expect'; with gifts and careffes, like a man folicitous to gain his good will ; with refpect approaching al- moft to adoration, like one who looked up to him as a deliverer. From him he learned many par ticulars with refpect to the character of Monte zuma, and the circumftances which rendered his dominion odious. He was a tyiant, as the cazique told him with tears, haughty, cruel, and fufpicious ; who treated his own fubjeets with arrogance, ruined the conquered provinces by exceflive ex actions, and often tore their fons and daughters from them by violence ; the former, to be offered as victims to his gods ; the latter, to be referved as concubines for himfelf or favourites. Cortes, in reply to him, artfully infinuated, that one great object of the Spaniards, in vifiting a country fo re mote from their own, was to redrefs grievances, and to relieve the oppreffed ; and having encou raged him to hope for this interpofition in due time, he continued his march to Qjiiabiflan. Thb * B. Diaz. c. 41. Gomara Cron. c. 28. HISTORY OF AMERICA* The fpot which his officers had recommended as a proper fituation, appeared to him to be fo well chofen, that he immediately marked out 1519- ground for a town, The houfes to be erected were Builds a only huts 5 but thefe were to be furrounded with fort* fortifications, of fufficient ftrength to refill the affaults of an Indian army. As the finifhing of thofe fortifications was efTential to the exiftence of a colony, and of no lefs importance in profe7 cuting the defigns which the leader and his fok lowers meditated, both in order to fecure a place of retreat, and to preferve their communication with the fea, every man in the army^ officers a$ well as foldiers, put his hand to the work, Cortes himfelf fetting them an example of activity and perfeverence in labour. The Indians of Zempojhj "and Oujabiflan lent their aid ; and this petty fta- tion, the parent of fo many mighty fettlements, Was foon in a ftate of defence f. formaum-3 While engaged in this neceffary work, Cortes ancewith had feveral interviews with the caziques of Zem- ztauef. °a" Poa^a and Qujabiflan ; and, availing himfelf of their wonder and aftonifhment at the new objects which they daily beheld, he gradually infpired them with fuch an high opinion of the Spaniards, as beings of a fuperior order, and irrefiftible in arms, that, relying on their protection, they ven tured to infult the Mexican power, at the very name of which they were accuftomed to tremble. Some of Montezuma's officers having appeared to levy the ufual tribute, and to demand a certaija number of human victims, as an expiation fof their guilt, in prefuming to hold intercourfe witji thofe ftrangers whom the emperor had commanded to leave his dominions, inftead of obeying the order, they made them prifoners, treated them with . ,t B.Diaz, c. 45, 46, 48. Gomara Cron. c. 32, 33, 37. Hen-era, dec. 2. lib. v. c. 8, 9. HISTORY OF AMERICA. 3t with great indignity, and, as their fuperftition BOOK was no lefs barbarous than that of the Mexicans, V. they threatened to facrifice them to their gods. s— -jf*-' From this laft danger they were delivered by the I5I9* interpofition of Cortes, who manifefted the ut- moft horror at the mention of fuch a deed. The two caziques having now been pufhed to an act of fuch open rebellion, as left them no hope of fafety but in attaching themfelves inviolably to the Spaniards, they foon completed their union with them, by formally acknowledging themfelves to be vaffals of the fame monarch. Their exam ple was followed by the Totonaques, a fierce peo ple who inhabited the mountainous part of the country. They willingly fubjected themfelves to the crown of Caftile, and offered to accompany Cortes, with all their forces, in his march towards Mexico *. Cortes had now been above three months inH''sm«- New Spain ; and though this period had not been""^™" diftinguifhed by martial enterprifes, every moment firmation of had been employed in operations, which, though ruyby'the lefs fplendid, were more important. By his ad-kins- drefs in conducting his intrigues with his own army, as well as his fagacity in carrying on his negociations with the natives, he had already laid the foundations of his future fuccefs. But what ever confidence he might place in the plan which he had formed, he could not but perceive, that as his title to command was derived from a doubt ful authority, he held it by a precarions tenure. The injuries which Velafquez, had received, were fuch as would naturally prompt him to apply for redrefs to their common fovereign ; and fuch a re- prefentation might be given of his conduct, that he had reafon to apprehend, not only that he might be degraded from his prefent rank, but fub jected * B. Diaz. c. 47. Gomara Cron. 35, 36. Herrera, dec. 2. lib. v. c. 0, to. 11. 31 HISTORY OF AMERICA. BOOK jedted to punifliment. Before he began his mar ch, V. it was neceffary to take the moft effedtual pre- ^nr^ cautions againft this impending danger. With $519. this view, he perfuaded the magiftrates of his colony to addrefs a letter to the king, containing k long- account of their own fervices ; a pompous defcription of the country which they had difco- vered; its riches, the number of its inhabitants, their civilization and arts; a view of the progrefs which they had already made, in annexing feve ral extenfive provinces of it to the crown of Caf< tile, and of the fchemes which they had formed, as well as the hopes which they entertained, of reducing the whole to fubjection ; and, laft of all, they gave a minute detail of the motives, which had induced them to renounce all connection with Velafquez, to fettle a colony dependant upon the crown alone, and to veft the fupreme ' power, civil, as well as military, in the hands of Cortes ; humbly requefting their fovereign to ratify what they had done by his royal authority. Cortes himfelf wrote in a fimilar ftrain ; and as he knew that the Spanifh court accuftomed to the aggravated reprefentations of every new country by its difed- verer, would give little credit to their fplendid ac* counts of New Spain, if they were not accompa nied with fuch a fpecimen of what it contained, as would excite an high idea of its opulence, he folicited his foldiers to relinquifh what they might claim as their part of the treafures which had hi therto been collected, in order that the whole might be fent to the king. Such was the afcendarif which he had acquired over their minds, and fuch their own romantic expectations of future wealth, that an array of indigent and rapacious adventurer^ was capable of this generous effort, and offered to their fovereign the richeft prefent that had hitherto been tranfmitted from the New World *. Portocarrero" * See NOTE VIII. HISTORY OF AMERICA. 33 Portocarrero and Montejo, the chief magif- B O O K trates of the colony, were appointed to carry this v- prelcnt toCaftile, with exprefs orders not to touch v-tt-»^ at Cuba in their paffage thither *. I5I9- While a veffel was preparing for their depar-AconliPir*- ture, an unexpected event occafioned a general cortes! alarm. Some foldiers and failors, fecretly attached to Velafquez, or intimidated at the profpect of the dangers unavoidable in attempting to penetrate into the heart of a great empire with fuch unequal force, formed the defign of feizing one of the bri- gantines, and making their efcape to Cuba, in order to give the governor fuch intelligence as might enable him to intercept the fliip which was to carry the treafure and difpatches to Spain. This confpiracy, though formed by perfons of low rank, was conducted with, profound fecrecy ; but at the moment when every thing was ready for execution, they were betrayed by one of their af- fociatcs. Though the good fortune of Cortes interpofed *?e deftroys fo feafonably on this occafion, the detection of this h" flcet' confpiracy filled his mind with moft difquieting apprehenfions, and prompted him to execute a fcheme which he had long revolved. He per ceived that the fpirit of disaffection ftill lurked among his troops ; that though hitherto checked by the uniform fuccefs of his fchemes, or kept down by the hand of authority, various events might occur which would encourage and call it forth. He obferved, that many of his men, weary of the fatigue of fervice, longed to revifit their fettlements in Cuba ; and that upon any appear ance of extraordinary danger, or any reverfe of fortune, it would be impoffible to reftrain them from returning thither. He was fenfibJe that his Vol. II. D forces * B. Diaz. c. 54. Gomara Cron. c. 40. 34 HISTORY OF AMERICA. BOO K already too feeble, could bear no diminution, and V. that a very fmall defection of his followers would s^~8~"*-' oblige him to abandon the enterprife. After ru- /5J9- minating, often, and with much folicitude, upon thofe particulars, he faw no hope of fuccefs, but in cutting off all poffibility of retreat, and reduc ing his men to the neceffity of adopting the fame refolution with which he himfelf was animated, either to conqueror to perifh. With this view, he determined to deftroy his fleet ; but as he durft not venture to execute fuch a bold refolution by his fingle authority, he laboured to bring his fol diers to adopt his ideas with refpect to the pro priety of this meafure. His addrefs in accom- plifhing this was not inferior to the arduous occa- fion in which it was employed. He perfuaded fome, that the fhips had fuffered fo much by having been long at fea, as to be altogether unfit for fer vice ; to others he pointed out what a feafonable reinforcement of ftrength they would derive from the junction of an hundred men, now unprofitably employed as failors : and to all he reprefented the peceflity of fixing their eyes and wifhes upon what was before them, without allowing the idea of a retreat once to enter their thoughts. With uni verfal confent the fhips were drawn afhore, and after ftripping them of their fails, rigging, iron works, and whatever elfe might be of ufe, thdy were broke in pieces. Thus, from an effort of magnanimity, to which there is nothing parallel in hiftory, five hundred men voluntarily confenttd to be fhut up in a hoftile country, filled with powerful and unknown nations; and having pre cluded every means of efcape, left themfelves with out any refource but their own valour and perfe- verance *. Nothing * Relat. di Cortes. Ramuf. iii. 225. B. Diaz. c. 57, ?8. Herrera, dec. 2. lib. v. c. 14. HISTORY OF AMERICA, 33 Nothing now retarded Cortes; the alacrityBOOK of his troops, and the difpofition of his allies, were V. equally favourable. All the advantages, however, '^tt*-' derived from the latter, though procured by much 1*I9- affiduity and addrefs, were well-nigh loft in a mo ment by an indifcreet fally of religious zeal, which, on many occafions, precipitated Cortes into actions inconfiftent with the prudence that diftinguifhes his charadter. Though hitherto he had neither time nor opportunity to explain to the natives the errors of their own fuperftition, or to inftruct them in the principles of the chriftian faith, he com manded his foldiers to overturn the altars and to deftroy the idols in the chief temple of Zempoalla, and in their place to erect a crucifix and an image of the Virgin Mary. The people beheld this with aftonifhment and horror ; the priefts excited them to arms; but fuch was the authority of Cortes, and fo great the afcendant which the Spaniards had acquired, that the commotion was appeafed without bloodfhed, and concord perfectly re-efta- blifhed *. Cortes began his march from Zempoalla on.^dvances the fixteenth of Auguft, with five hundred men, 'country. fifteen horfe, and fix field-pieces. The reft of his troops, confifting chiefly of fuch as from age or infirmity were lefs fit for active fervice, he left as a garrifon in Villa Rica, under the command of Efcalante, an officer of merit, and warmly at tached to his intereft. The cazique of Zempoalla fupplied him with provifions, and with two hun dred of thofe Indians called Tamemes, whofe office, in a country where tame animals w.ere unknown, was to carry burdens, and perform all fervile la bour. They were a great relief to the Spanifh fol diers, who hitherto had been obliged, not only fo D 2 carry * B. Diaz, c, 41, 42. KUrrera, dec. 2. Kb. v. c. 3, 4. $6 HISTORY OF AMERICA. BOO Kcarry their own baggage, but to drag along the V. artillery by main force. He offered likewife a ' — ir^ considerable body of his troops, but Cortes was *Sf9- fatisfied with four hundred ; taking care, however, to chufe perfons of fuch note as might prove hofta- ges for the fidelity Of their mafter. Nothing me morable happened in his progrefs, until he arrived on the confines of Tlafcala. , The inhabitants of that province, a warlike people, were implacable enemies of the Mexicans, and had been united in an ancient alliance with the caziques of Zempoalla. Though lefs civilized than the fubjeets of Moil* tezuma, they were advanced in improvement far beyond the rude nations of America, Whofe man ners we have defcribed. They had , made confi- derable progrefs in agriculture ; they dwelt in large towns ; they were not ftrangers to fome fpe- cies of commerce ; and in the imperfect accounts of their inftitutions and laws,' tranfmitted to us by the early Spanifh writers, we difcern traces both of diftributive juftice and of criminal jurifdidtion, in their interior police. But ftill, as the degree of their civilization was incomplete, and as they de pended for fubfi'ftence not on agriculture alone, but trufted for it, in a great meafure, to hunting, they retained many of the qualities natural to men in this ftate. Like them, they were fierce and re vengeful ; like them too, they were high-fpirited and independent. In corifequence of the former, they were involved in perpetual hoftilities, and had but aflender and occasional intercourfe with neigh bouring ftates. The latter infpired them with fuch deteftation of fervitude, that they not only refufed to ftoop to a foreign yoke, and maintained an ob- ftinate and fuccefsful conteft in defence of their liberty againft the fuperior power of the Mexican empire, but they guarded with equal folicitude againft domeftic tyranny ; and difdaining to ac knowledge HISTORY OF AMERICA. 37 knowledge any matter, they lived under the mild BOOK and limited jurifdidtion of a council elected by v- their feveral tribes. w-„^w< Cortes, though he had received information r,1*!,9' • 1 "11 r\ ft* 1 *"*1S war concerning the martial character of this people, with the flattered himfelf, that his profeffions of delivering TlafcUans- the opprefied from the tyranny of Montezuma, their enmity to the Mexicans, and the example of their ancient allies the Zempoallans, might induce them to grant him a friendly reception. In order to difpofe them to this, four Zempoallans of great eminence were fent ambaffadors, to requeft, in his name and in that of their cazique, that they would permit the Spaniards to pais through the territories of Tlafcala in their way to Mexico, But inftead of the favourable anfwer which was expected, the Tlafcalans feized the ambaffadors, and, with out any regard to their public character, made preparations for faerificing them to their gods. At the fame time they affembled their troops, in order to oppofe thofe unknown invaders, if they fhould attempt to make their paflage good by force of arms. Various motives concurred in pre cipitating the Tlafcalans into this refolution. A fierce people, fhut up within its own narrow pre cincts, and little accuftomed to any intercourfe with foreigners, is apt to confider every ftranger as an enemy, and is eafily excited to arms. They concluded from Cortes's propofal of vifiting Mon tezuma in his capital, that, notwithftanding all his profeffions, he courted the friendfhip of a monarch whom they both hated and feared. The impru dent zeal of Cortes, in violating the temples in Zempoalla, filled the Tlafcalans with horror ; and as they were no lefs attached to their fuperftition than the other nations of New Spain, they were impatient to avenge their injured gods, and to ac quire the merit of offering up to them as victims thofe 38 HISTORY OF AMERICA. BOOK thofe impious men, who had dared to profane their V. altars ; the Spaniards from the fmallnefs of their *— t>^ number, were objects of their contempt ; they 15 19- had not yet meafured their own ftrength with theirs, and had no idea of the fuperiority which they de rived from their arms and discipline. . Cortes, after waiting fome days in- vain, for Aug. 30. the return of his ambaffadors^ advanced into the Succehofit, Tlafcalan territories. As the refolutions of people who delight in war are executed with no lefs promptitude than they are formed, he found troops in the field ready to oppofe him- They attacked him with great intrepidity, and in the firft encoun ter wounded fome of the Spaniards, and killed two horfes ; a lofs in their fituation of great mo ment, becaufe it was irreparable, From this fpe- cimeri of the courage of his new enemies, Cortes faw fhe neceffity of proceeding with caution. His army marched in clofe order ; he chofe the ftations where he halted with attention, and fortified every camp with extraordinary care. During fourteen days he was expofed- to almoft uninterrupted af- faults ; the Tlafcalans advancing with numerous armies, arid renewing the attack in various forms, with a degree of valour and perfeverance to which the Spaniards had feen nothing parallel in the New World. The Spanifh hiftorians defcribe thofe fucceffive battles' with great pbrrip, and enter into a minute detail of particulars, rnirigling many ex^ a'ggerated and incredible circumftances * with thofe Which are real and marvellous. But no power of words can render the recital of a combat intereft- ihg, where there is no equality of danger; and when the narrative clofes with an account of thou- fandsflain ori the" one fide, while not a fihgle'per- : (on, •* See NOTE IX. HISTORY OF AMERICA. 39 fon falls on the other, the moft laboured defcfip- BOOK tions of the previous difpofition of the troops, or v- of the various viciffitudes in the engagement, com- x—nr"*«/ mand no attention. I5'9, There are fome circumftances, however, in fome finsu- , . l-i it 1 • . ' lar cirum- tnis war, which are memorable and merit notice, ftances in it, as they throw light upon the character both of the people of New Spain, and of their conquerors. Though the Tlafcalans brought into the field fuch vaft armies as appear fufficient to have overwhelmed the Spaniards, they were never able to make any impreffion upon their fmall battalion. Singular as this may feem, it is not inexplicable. The Tlafcalans, though addicted to war, were, like all unpolifhed nations, ftrangers to military order and difcipline, and loft all the advantage which they might have derived from their numbers, and the impetuofity of their attack, by their conftant folicitude to carry off the dead and wounded. This point of honour, founded on a fentiment of tendernefs natural to the human mind, and ftrengthened by anxiety to preferve the bodies of their countrymen from being devoured by their enemies, was univerfal among the people of New Spain, Attention to this pious office occupied them, even during the heat of combat *, broke their union, and diminifhed the force of the im# preflion which they might have made by a joint effort. Not only was their fuperiority in number of little avail, but the imperfection .of their military weapons rendered their valour in a great meafure inoffenfive, After three battles, and many fkir- mifhes and affaults, not one Spaniard was killed in the field* Arrows and fpears, headed with flint or the bones of fifties, flakes hardened in the fire, and * B. Diaz. c. 6s- 40 HISTORY OF AMERICA, BOOK and wooden fwords, though deftrudtive weapons v- among naked Indians, were eafily turned afide by ^-nr^*-' the Spanifh bucklers, and could hardly penetrate l5I9- the efcaupiles, or quilted jackets which the foldiers wore. The Tlafcalans advanced boldly to the charge, and often fought hand to hand. Many of the Spaniards were wounded, though allflightly, which cannot be imputed to any want of courage in their enemies, but to the defect of the arms with which they affailed them. Notwithstanding the fury with which the Tlafcalans attacked the Spaniards, they feem to have conducted their hoftilities with fome degree of barbarous generofity. They gave the Spaniards warning of their hoftile intentions, and as they knew that they wanted provifions, and imagined, perhaps, like the other Americans, that they had left their own country becaufe it did not afford them fubfiftence, they fent to their camp a large fupply of poultry and maize, defiring them to eat plentifully, becaufe they fcorned to attack an ene-r my enfeebled by hunger, and it would be an af front to their gods to offer them famifhed victims, as well as difagreeable to themfelves to feed on fuch emaciated prey * . Whe-n they were taught, by the firft encounter •fwith their new enemies, that it was not eafy to ex ecute this threat; when they perceived, in the fubi fequent engagements, that notwithftanding all the efforts of their own valour, of which they had a very high opinion, not one of the Spaniards was flain or taken, they began to conceive them to be a fuperior order of beings, againft whom human power could not avail. In this extremity, they had recourfe to their priefts, requiring thein to reveal * Herrera, dec. z. lib. vi. c. 6. Gomara Crpn. c. 47. HISTORY OF AMERICA. 41 reveal the myfterious caufes of fuch extraordinary BOOK events, and to declare what new means they fhould v- employ in order to repulfe thofe formidable in^ v^T>*i/ vaders. The priefts, after many facrifices and lSl9' incantations, delivered this refponfe : That thefe ftrangers were the offspring of the fun, pro created by his animating energy in the regions of the eaft ; that, by day, while cherifhed with the influence of his parental beams, they were invincible ; but by night, when his reviving heat was withdrawn, their vigour declined and faded like the herbs in the field, and they dwin dled down into mortal men*. Theories lefs plau- fible have gained credit with more enlightened nations, and have influenced their conduct. In confequence of this, the Tlafcalans, with the im plicit confidence of men who fancy themfelves to be under the guidance of Heaven, acted in contradiction to one of their moft eftablifhed maxims in war, and ventured to attack the enemy in the night? time, in hopes of deftroying them when enfeebled and furprifed. But Cortes had more vigilance and difcernment than to be de ceived by the rude ftratagems of an Indian army. The centinels at his out-pofts, obferving fome extraordinary movement among the Tlafcalans, gave the alarm. In a moment the troops were un der arms, and fallying out, difperfed the party with great flaughter, without allowing them to ap proach the camp. Convinced, by fad experience, that their priefts had deluded them, and fatisfied that they attempted in vain, either to deceive, or to vanquifh their enemies, the fiercenefs of the Tlafcalans abated, and they began to incline feri- oufly to peace. They were at a lofs however, in what manner to addrefs the ftrangers, what idea to form of their * B. Diaz. c. 66. 42 HISTORY OF AMERICA, BOOK tneir charader, and whether to confider them as V. beings of a gentle or of a malevolent nature, ¦ — ^ There were circumftances in their conduct which 15 1 9. feemed to favour each opinion. On the one hand, iln'dTftfed as fPe Spaniards conftantly difmiffed the prifoners wpeaX' whom, they took, not only without injury, but often with prefents of European toys, and re newed their offers of peace after every vidory ; this lenity amazed people accuftomed to- the ex terminating fyftem of war known in America; and who iacrificed and devoured without mercy all the captives taken in battle, and difpofed them to entertain favourable fentiments of their hu* rhanity, But, on the other hand, as Cortes had feized fifty of their countrymen who brought pro, vifions to his camp, and fuppofing them to be fpies, had cut off their heads * ; this bloody fpec- tacle, added to the terror occafioned by the fire arms and horfes, filled them, with dreadful im- preffions of their ferocity f. Accordingly this uncertainty was apparent in their mode of addref- fing the Spaniards. " If, faid they, yon are di vinities of a cruel and favage nature, we prefent , to you five flaves, that you may drink their blood and eat their fleih. If you are mild deities, accept an offering of incenfe and variegated plumes. If you are men here is meat, bread and fruit,' to nourifh you J," The peace, which both parties now defired with equal ardour, was foon con- Conciuded. eluded. The Tlafcalans yielded themfelves as vaffals to the crown of Caftile, and engaged to affift Cortes in all his future operations. He took the republic under his protection, and promifed to defend their perfons and pofTeffions frorh inju ry or violence. This * Cortes Relat. Rarauf. iii. 228. C. Gomara Cron. c. 48. f See NOTE X. J B. Diaz. c. 70. Gomara Cron. c. 47. Herrera, dec. 2. lib. vi. c. 7, HISTORY OF AMERICA, 43 This treaty was concluded at a feafonable June- ture for the Spaniards. The fatigue of fervice v ^ among a fmall body of men, furrounded by fuch ^,^1^ a multitude of enemies, was incredible. Half the jog. army was on duty every night, and even they whofe turn it was to reft, flept always upon their 'arms, 0f ittothe that they might be ready to run to their pofts on a Spaniards. moment's warning. Many of them were wounded, a good number, and among thefe Cortes himfelf, laboured under the diftemper peculiar to the climate, and feveral had died fince they fet out from Vera Cruz. Notwithftanding the fupplies which they received from the Tlafcalans, they were often in want of provifions, and fo deftitute of the neceffa- ries moft requifite in dangerous fervice ; that they had no falve to drefs their wounds, but what was compofed with the fat of the Indians whom they had flain *. Worn out with fuch intolerable toil and hardfhips, many of the foldiers began to mur mur, and when they reflected on the multitude and boldnefs of their enemies, more were ready to defpair. It required the utmoft exertion of Cortes's authority and addrefs to check this fpirit of defpondency in its progrefs, and to reanimate his followers with their wonted fenfe of their owri fuperiority over the enemies with whom they had to contend t. The fubmiffion of the Tlafcalans, and their own triumphant entry into the capital city, where they were received with the reverence paid to beings of a fuperior order, banifhed, at once, from the minds of the Spaniards all memory of paft fufferings, difpelled every anxious thought with refpect to their future operations, and fully fatisfied them that there was not now any power in America able to withftand their arms J, Cortes * B. Diaz. c. 6a. 65. f Cortes Relat. Ram. iii. 229. B. Diaz. c. 69. Gomara Cron. c. 5 1 . % Cortes Relat. Ramuf. iii. 230. B, Diaz. c. 72. 44BOOK 1519. Cortes foli- citious to gain their confidence. Which ha had almoft loft by his ra(h zeal. HISTORY OF AMERICA. Cortes remained twenty days in Tlafcala, in, order to allow his troops a fhort interval of re* pofe after fuch a hard fervice. During that time, he was employed in tranfactions and inquiries of great moment with refpect to his future fchemes, In his' daily conferences with the Tlafcalan chiefs, he received information concerning every particu lar relative to the ftate of the Mexican empire, or to the qualities of its fovereign, which coujd be of ufe in regulating his conduct, whether he fhould be obliged to act as a friend or as an enemy, As he found that the antipathy of his new allies to the Mexican nation was no lefs implacable than had been reprefented, and perceived what benefit he might derive from the aid of fuch powerful confederates, he employed all his powers of in- finuation in ofder to gain their confidence. Nor was any extraordinary exertion of thefe neceffary,' The Tlafcalans, with the levity of mind natural to unpolifhed men, were, of their own accord, difpofed to run from the extreme of hatred tp that of fondnefs. Every thing in the appearance and conduct of their guefts, was to them matter of wonder*, They gazed at whatever the Spaniards' did with admiration, and fancying them to be of heavenly origin, were eager not only to comply with their demands, but to anticipate their wifhes,' They offered, accordingly, to accompany Cortes in his march to Mexico, with all the forces of the republic, under the command of their mof| experienced captains. But, after beftowing fo much pains on cement ing this union, all the beneficial fruits of it were on the point of being loft, by a new effufion of that intemperate zeal with which Cortes was ani- moted, no lefs than the other adveturers of the age, * See NOTE XI. HISTORY OF AMERICA, 4-5 age. They all confidered themfelves as inftru- BOOK ments employed by Heaven to propagate the v- Chriftian faith ; and the lefs they were qualified s-or>~/ either by their knowledge or morals for fuch a lSl9- function, they were more eager to difcharge it. The profound veneration of the Tlafcalans for the Spaniards having encouraged Cortes to explain to fome of their chiefs the doctrines of the Chrif tian religion, and to infift that they fhould abandon their own fuperftitions, and embrace the faith of their new friends, they, according to an idea univerfal among barbarous nations, readily ac knowledged the truth and excellence) of what he thought ; but contended, that the Teules of Tlaf cala were divinities no lefs than the God in whom the Spaniards believed ; and as that being was in- titled to their homage, fo they were bound to re vere the fame powers which their anceftors had worfhipped. Cortes continued, neverthelefs, to urge his demand in a tone of authority, mingling threats with his arguments, until the Tlafcalans could bear it no longer, and conjured him never to mention this again, left the gods fhould avenge on their heads the guilt of having liftened to fuch a propofition. Cortes, aftonifhed and enraged at their obftinacy, prepared to execute by force what he could not accomplifh by perfuafion, and was going to overturn their altars, and call down their idols with the fame violent hands as at Zempoalla, if father Bartholomew de Olmedo, chaplain to the expedition, had not checked his inconfiderate im- petuofity. He reprefented the imprudence of fuch an attempt in a large city newly reconciled, and filled with people no lefs fuperftitious than war like ; he declared that the .proceedings at Zempo alla had always appeared to him precipitate and unjuft ; that religion was not to be propagated by the fword, or infidels to be converted by vio lence ; 46 HISTORY OF AMERICA.- BOOKlehce; that other weapons were to be employed V. in this miniftry, patient inftruction muft enlighten <-nr^ the underftanding, and pious example captivate I5I9- the heart, before men could be induced to aban don error, and embrace the truth ** Amidff. fcenesy where a narrow-minded bigotry appears in fuch elofe union with oppreffion and cruelty, fenti ments fo liberal and humane footh the mind with unexpected pleafure ; and at a time, when the rights of confcience Were little underftood in the Chriftian world, and the idea of toleration un known, one is aftonifhed to find a Spanifh monk of the fixteenth century among the firft advocates againft perfecution, and in behalf of religious li berty. The remonftrances of an ecclefiaftic, no lefs refpedtable for wifdom than virtue, had their proper weight with Cortes. He left the Tlafcalans in the undifturbed exercife of their own rites, requiring only that they fhould defift from their horrid practice of offering human victims in fa- crifice. Advances to Cortes, as foon as his troops were fit for fer vice, refolved to continue his march towards Mexico, notwithftanding the earneft difluafives of the Tlafcalans, who reprefented his deftructioa, as unavoidable, if he put himfelf in the power of a prince fo faithlefs and cruel as Montezuma. As he was accompanied by fix thoufand Tlafca lans, he had now the command of forces which oa. i3. refembled a regular army. They directed their courfe towards Cholula ; Montezuma, who had at length confented to admit the Spaniards into his prefence, having informed Cortes, that he had given orders for his friendly reception there- Cholula was a confiderable town, and though only five leagues diftant from Tlafcala, was formerly an independent ftate, but had been lately fubjected to * P. Diaz. c. 77. p. 54. c 83. p. 61. HISTORY OF AMERICA. 47 to the Mexican empire. This was confidered by B O O K all the people of New Spain as a holy place, the v- fanctuary and chief feat of their gods, to which V-T^*' pilgrims reforted from every province, and a lS19- greater- number of human victims were offered in its principal temple than even in that of Mexico*. Montezuma feems to have invited the Spaniards thither, either from fome luperftitious hope that the gods would not fuffer this facred manfion to be defiled, without pouring down their wrath upon thofe impious ftrangers, who ventured to infult their power in the place of its peculiar refidence, or from a belief that he himfelf might there attempt to cut them off with more certain fuccefs, under the immediate protection of his divinities. Cortes had been warned by. the Tlafcalans, The feverity before he fet out on his march, to keep a watchful f1^^™"" eye over the Cholulans. He himfelf, though re ceived into the town with much feeming refpect and cordiality, obferved feveral circumftances in their conduct which excited fufpicion. Two of the Tlafcalans, who were encamped atfomediftance from the town, as the Cholulans refufed to admit their ancient enemies within its precincts, having found means to enter in difguife, acquainted Cor tes, that they obferved the women and children of the principal citizens retiring in great hurry every night; and that fix children had been facrificed in the chief temple, a rite which indicated the execu tion of fome warlike enterprife to be approaching. At the fame time Marina the interpreter received information from an Indian woman of diftindtion, whofe confidence fhe had gained, that the destruc tion of her friends was concerted ; that a body of Mexican troops lay concealed near the town ; that * Torquemada Monar. Ind. i. 281, 282. ii. 291. Gomara Cron. c. 61. Herrera, dec. 2. lib. vii. c. 2. 4g HISTORY OF AMERICA; BOOkthatfome of the ftreets were barricaded, and in v- others pits or deep trenches were dug, and flightly v- nr~*-/ covered over, as traps into which the horfe might '5'9- fall j that ftones and miffive Weapons were col lected on the tops of the temples, with which to overwhelm the infantry ; that the fatal hour was now at hand; and their'ruin unavoidable. Cortes alarmed at this concurring evidence, fecretly ar retted three of the chief priefts, and extorted from them a confeffion that confirmed the intelligence which he had received. As not a moment was to be loft, he inftaritly refolved to prevent his ene mies, and to inflict on them fuch dreadful :ven- geance as might ftrike Montezuma and his fubjeets with terror, For this purpofe, the Spaniards and Zempoallans were drawn up in a large court, which had been allotted for their quarters near the centre of the town; the Tlafcalans had orders to ad vance ; the magiftrates, and feveral of the chief citizens, were fent for under various pretexts, and feized. On a fignal given, the troops rufhed out, and fell upon the multitude, deftitute of leaders, aud fo much aftonifhed, that the weapons dropped from their hands, and they flood motionlefs, and incapable of defence; While the Spaniards pref- fed them in front, the TlafcalanS- attacked them in the rear. The ftreets were filled with bloodfhed and death. The temples, which afforded a retreat to the priefts and fome of the leading men, were fet on fire, and they perifhed in the flames. This fcene of horror continued two days ; during which the wretched inhabitants fuffered all that the de- ftrudlive rage of the Spaniards, or the implacable. revenge of their Indian allies, could inflia. At length -the carnage ceafed, after the flaughter of fix thoufand Cholulans, without the lofs of a fingle Spa niard. Cortes' then releafedthe magiftrates, and re proaching HISTORY OF AMERICA. 49 them bitterly for their intended treachery, declared, BOOR that as juftiee was now appeafed, he forgave the V. offence, but required them to recall the citizens v-nr>*< who had fled, and re-eftablifh order in the town. 1SI9- Such was the afcendant which the Spaniards had acquired over this fuperftitious race of men, and fo deeply were they impreffed with an opinion of their fuperior difcernment, as well as power, that in obedience to this command, the city was in a few days filled again with the people, who, amidft the ruins of their facred buildings, yielded re- fpectful ferviee to men whole hands were ftained with the blood of their relations and fellow-ci tizens*. From Cholula CorteS advanced directly to- oa. *9. wards Mexico, which was only twenty leagues ^1™? diftant. In every place through which he patted, Mexico. he was received as a perfon poffeffed of fufficient power to deliver the empire from the oppreffion under which it groaned ; and the caziques or go vernors, with the unreferved confidence repofed in fuperior beings, communicated to him all the grievances which they felt under the tyrannical government of Montezuma. When Cortes firft obferved the feeds of difcontent in the remote pro vinces of the empire, a ray of fiope broke in upon his mind ; but when he difcovered fuch fymptoms of alienation from their monarch near the feat of government, he concluded that the vital parts of the conftitution were affected, and conceived the moft fanguine expectations of overturning a ftate wbo'e natural ftrengtti was thus divided and im^ paired. While thofe reflections encouraged the general to perfift in his arduous undertaking, the foldiers were no lefs animated by obfervations Vol. II. E more * Cortes Relat. Ramuf. iii. 231. B. Diaz. c. 83. Go mara Crot). c. 64. Herrera, dec. 2. lib. vii. c. 1. 2. See NOTE XII. & HISTORY OF AMERICA.' .'5 '9- Firft view of it. BOOK more obvious to their capacity. In descending v- from the mountains of Chalco, acrofs which the road lay, the vaft plain of Mexico opened gradu-' ally to their view. . When they firft beheld this profpect, one of the moft ftriking and beautiful on the face of the earth ; when they obferved fer-; tile and cultivated fields, ftretching farther than the eye could reach ; when they faw a lake re-! fembling the fea in extent, eneompaffed with large towns, and difcovered the capital eity riling upon an- ifland in the middle, adorned with its temples and turrets ; the fcene fo far exceeded their imagination, that- fome believed the fanciful defcriptions of romance were realized, arid that its- enchanted palaces and gilded domes were pre fented to their fight ; others could hardly perfuade themfelves that this- wonderful fpcctack was any thing more than a dream*. As they advanced, their doubts were removed, but their amazement' increafed. They were now fully fatisfied that the country was rich beyond any conception which they had formed of it, and flattered themfelves; that at length they fhould obtain an ample recom-' pence for all their fervices- and fufferings. No enemy had yet appeared to oppofe thejr progrefs, though feveral circumftances occurred which led them to fufpect that fome defign was formed to furprife and cut them off. Many mef' fengers arrived fucceffively from Montezuma, per mitting them one day to advance, requiring them on the next to retire, as his hopes or fears al ternately prevailed ; and fo wonderful was this in fatuation, which feems to be unaccountable on any fuppofition but that of a fuperftitious dread of the Spaniards, as being of a fuperior nature, that Cortes was almoft at the gates of the capital* before the monarch had determined whether to receive him as a friend, or to oppofe him as an enemy But * See NOTE XIII. The irrefo lutionof Monte zuma. HISTORY OF AMERICA. 5I But as no fign of open hoftility appeared, the BO O K Spaniards, without regarding the fluctuations of V. Montezuma's fentiments, continued their march <-^-r^ along the caufcway which led to Mexico through I519- the lake, with great circumfpection and the ftridteft difcipline, though without feeming to fuf- pedt the prince whom they were about to vifit. When they drew near the city, about a thou- His firft in- fand perfons, who appeared to be of diftindlion, t'™ewwith came forth to meet them, adorned with plumes, Wards.*" and clad iii mantles of firie cotton. Each of thefe in his order, palled by Cortes, and faluted him according to the mode deemed moft refpectful and fubmiflive iri their country. They announced the approach of Montezuma himfelf, and foon after his harbingers came in fight. There appeared firft two hundred perfons in an uniform drefs, with large plumes of feathers, alike in fafhion, marching two and two, in deep filence, barefooted with their eyes fixed on the ground. Thefe were followed by a company Of higher rank, in their moft ftiowy apparel, in the midft of whom was Montezuma, in a chair or litter richly, ornamented with gold, and feathers of various colours. Four of his principal favourites carried him on their lhoulders, others fupported a canopy of curious workmanfhip over his head. Before him marched three officers with rods of gold in their hands, which they lifted up on high at certain intervals, and at that fig'nal all the people bowed their heads, and hid their faces, as unworthy to look on fo great a monarch. When he drew near, Cortes difmounted, advancing towards him with officious hafte, and in a refpectful pofture. At the fame time Montezuma alighted from his chair, and lean ing on the arms of two of his near relations, ap proached with a flow and ftately pace, his atten dants covering the flrect with cotton cloths, that E 2 . he 5^ HISTORY OF AMERICA. ErOO K-he, might pot touch the ground. Cortes accoflecf V. him with profound reverence, after the European v<"«~>-' fafhiop. He returned the falutation, according 1519- tQ the mode of his country, by touching the earth with his hand, and then kifling it. This cere mony, the cuftomary exprefiion of reverence from inferiors towards thofe who were above them in rank, appeared fuch amazing condefcenfion. in a proud monarch, who fcarcely deigned to confider the reft of mankind as of the fame fpe- eies. With himfelf, that aU his fubjeets firmly be lieved thofe perfons, before whom he humbled himfelf in this manner, to be fomething more than- human. Accordingly, a§ they marched through the crowd, She Spaniards frequently,' and with much fatisfadtion, heard, themfelves denominated', Teules, or divinities. Nothing' material pafled in this firft interview. Montezuma conducted Cortes; to the quarters which he had prepared for his re ception, and immediately tqok leave of him, with a politenefs not unworthy of a court more refined," " You are, now," fays he,' " with your brother^ in your own. houfe ; refrefh yourfelves after your fa tigue, and be happy until I return *." The place; allotted to the Spaniards for their lodging was a houfe built by the father of Montezuma.' It was furrounded by a ftone wall, with towers at proper diftanees;, which ferved for defence as well as for ornament, and its apartments and court* were fo large as to accommodate both the Spaniards and their Indian allies. The firft care of Cortes was to take precautions for his fecurity, by plant ing the artillery fo as to command the different avqpucs which led to it, by appointing a large di- vifion of his troops to be always oil guard, and by polling ceptinels at proper ftations, with injunc tions * Cortes Relat. Ram. iii. 232—235. B. Diaz. c. 85.-88. Gomara Cron. c. 64, 65. Herrera, dec. 2. lib. vii. c. 3, 4,5. HISTORY OF AMERICA. 53 tions to obferve the fame vigilant difcipline as if B O O £ they were within. fight of an enemy's c&riip. ^- In the evening Montezuma returned to vifit hiss-nr*> guefts with the fame pomp as in their firft inter- p^'fof view, and brought prefents of fuch value," not only the sPa- to Cortes and to his officers, but even to the private mard5" men, as proved the liberality of the monarch to be fuitable to the opulence of his kingdom. A long conference enfued, in which Cortes learned what was the opinion of Montezuma with refpect to the Spaniards. It was an eftablifhed tradition, he told him, among the Mexicans, that their an- ceftors came originally from a remote region, and conquered the provinces now fubjedt to his do minion ; that after they were fettled there, the great captain who conducted this colony returned to his own country, promifing, that at fome future period his defendants fhould vifit them, affiime the government, and reform their cOnftitution and laws ; that, from what he had heard and feen of Cortes and his followers, he was convinced that they were the very perfons whofe appearance their tradition and prophecies taught them to expect ; that accordingly he had received them, not as ftrangers., but as relations of the farne blood and parentage, and defired that they might confider themfelves as mafters in his dominions ; for both himfelf and his fubjeets fhould be ready to com ply with their will, and even to prevent their wifhes. Cortes made a reply in his ufual ftile, with refpect to the dignity and power of his fo vereign, and his intention in fending him into that country ; artfully endeavouring fo to frame his difcourfe, that it might coincide as milch as poffible with the idea which Montezuma had formed con cerning the origin of the Spaniards. Next morn ing, Cortes and fome of his principal attendants were admitted to a public audience of the emperor. The three fubfequent days were emDkn'ed in view- 54 HISTORY OF AMERICA. BOOK log the city; the appearance of which, fo far fur v- perior in the order of its buildings, and the numr Vr"-' ber of its inhabitants, to any place the Spaniards IST?' 'had beheld in America, and yet fo little refembling the ftructure of an European cjty, filled them with furprife and admiration. ' Mexico, Tenuchtitlan, as it was anciently calle'cj by the natives, is fituated in a large plain, envi roned by mountains of fuch height, that though withiri the torrid zone, the temperature of its cli mate is mild and healthful. AH the moifture which defcends from the high grounds is collected in feveral lakes, the two largeft of which, of about ninety miles in circuit, communicate with each other. The waters of the one are frefh, thofe of the others brackifh. Qn the banks of the latter, and on fome fmall iflands adjoining to them, the capital of Montezuma's empire was built. The. accefs to the city was by artificial caufeways or ftreets, formed of ftories and earth, about thirty feet in breadth. As the water? of the lake, during the rainy feafon, overflowed the flat country, thefe caufeways were °f considerable length. That of Tacuba pnthe weft a mile and a half ; that of Te: zeuco on the nerthweft three miles ; that of Cuoy- acan towards the fouth fix miles. On the eaft there was no caufeway, and the city could be approached only by canoes*. In each of thefe caufeway* were openings, at proper intervals, through which the waters flowed ; and over thefe beams of timber Were laid, which being covered with earth, the caufeway prftreet had every where an uniform ap- peararice. As the approaches to the city were An gular, its conftrudtion was remarkable. Not only the temple of their gods, but the houfes belonging to the monarch, and to perfons of diftinction, were pf fuch dimenfions, that, in comparifon with any other buildings which had been difcovered in Ame rica, * F. TorriWo MS. HISTORY OF AMERICA. 55 rica, they might be termed magnificent. The ha- BOOK bitations of the common people were mean, re- v- fembling the huts of other Indians. But they were v*rTT»' all placed in a regular manner, on thebankspfthe *5l9' canals which palled through the city, in fome of its diflricts, or on the fides of the ftreets which in ter fected it in other quarters. In feveral places were large openings or fquares, one of which, al lotted for the great market, is laid to have been fp fpacious, that forty or fifty thoufand perfons car ried on traffic there. In this city, the pride of the New World, and the nobleft monument of the in- duftry and art of man, while unacquainted with the ufe of iron, and deftitute of aid from any do- meftic animal, the Spaniards, who are moft mode rate in their computations, reckon that there were at leaft fixty thoufand inhabitants *. But how much foever the novelty pf thofe obr The;rdan- jedts might amuie or aftonifh the Spaniards, tbeys^ousfitua- felt the utmoft folicitude with refpect to their own tl0n' fituation. From a concurrence of circumftances no lefs unexpected than favourable to their pro grefs, they had been allowed to penetrate into the heart of a powerful kingdom, and were now lodged in its capital, without having once met with open oppofition from its monarch. The Tlafcalans, however, had earneftly diffuaded them from plac ing fuch confidence in Montezuma as to enter a city of fuch a peculiar fituation as Mexico, where that prince would have them at mercy, fhut up as it were in a fnare, from which it was impoffible to Cfcape. They affured him that the Mexican priefts had, in the name of the gods, counfelled their fo vereign to admit the Spaniards into their capital, that * Cortes Relat. Ram. iii. 239. D. Relat. della gran citta de Mexico, parun Gentelhuomo del Cortefe. Ram. ibid. 3Q4. E, Iierrera, dec. 2. lib. vii. c. 14, &c. 56 HISTORY OF AMERICA, BOOK that he might cut them off there at one blow with V. perfed fecurity *. They now perceived, too plainly, T'-' that the apprehenfions of their allies were not def- *5I9- titute of foundation ; that, by breaking the bridges, placed at certain intervals on the caufeways, or by deftroying part of the caufeways themfelves, their retreat would be rendered impracticable, and they muft remain cooped up in the centre of a hoftile city, furrounded by multitudes fufficient to over whelm them, and without a poffibility of receiving aid from their allies. Montezuma had, indeed, received them with diftinguifhed refpedi But ought they to reckon upon this as real, or to con, fider it as feigned ? Even if it were fincere, coulq they promife on its continuance ? Their fafety der pended upon the will of a monarch, in whole at tachment they had no reafon to confide ; and an order flowing from his caprice, or a word uttered by him in apaffio'h, might decide irrevocably con-,- cerning their fate \. Solicitude These refledtions, fo obvious as to occur to th'^i ftydofco!tes". nieaneft foldier, did not efcape the vigilant fagacity of their general. Before he fet out from Cholula, Cortes had received advice from Villa Rica f, that Oualpopoca, one of the Mexican generals on the frontiers, having affembled an army iri order to at? tack fome of the people whom the Spaniards had encouraged to throw of the Mexican yoke, EfcaV laiite had marched out with part of the gar ri fori to. fupport his allies ; that ah engagement had enfued, in which, though the Spaniards were victorious, Efcalante, with feven of his men, had been rn'of- tally wounded, his horfe killed, and one Spaniard had been furrounded by the enemy and taken alive; that the head of this unfortunate captive, after be-i-ing- * B.jDiaz. c. 85, 86. % Ibid, c, 94. f Cortes Relat, Ram. iii. 235. C. HISTORY OF AMERICA. 57 iflg carried in triumph to different cities, in order BOOR to convince the people that their invaders were v- pot immortal, had been fent to Mexico*. Cortes "-TH""/ though alarmed with this intelligence, as an indi- '5l9- cation of Montezuma's hoftile intentions, had conT tinucd his march. But as foon as he entered Mexico, he became fcnfibic, that, from a^n excefs of confidence in the fuperior valour and difcipline, of his troops, as well as from the difadvantage of having nothing to guide him in an unknown coun try, but the defective intelligence which he re ceived from people with whom his mode of com munication was very imperfect, he had pufhed for ward into a fituation, where it was difficult to con tinue, and from which it was dangerous to retire. Difgrace, and perhaps ruin, was the certain con- fequerice of attempting the latter. The fuccefs pf his entefprife depended upon fupporting the high opinion which the people of New Spain had formed with refpect to the irrefiftible power of his arms. Upon the firft fyfiiptp'm of tihiidity on his part, their veneration would ceafe, and Monte zuma, whom fear alorie reftrained at prefent, would let lopfe upon him the whole force of his empire. At the fariie time he knew, that the coun tenance of his own fovereign was to be obtained only by a fefies of victories, and that nothing but the merit of extraordinary fuccefs could fcreen his conduct from the ceiifure of irregularity. From all thefe confideratioriS, it was neceffary to main tain his ftatiori, and to extricate himfelf put of the difficulties in which one bold ftep had involved him, by venturing upon another ftill bolder. The fituation was trying, but his mind was equal to it ; and after revolving the matter with deep attention, he fixed upon a plan no lefs extraordinary than daring. He determined to feize Montezuma in his * B. Diaz. c. 03, 0, viii. c. 1. gt HISTORY OF AMERICA. BOOK his palace, and to carry him as a prifpnep v- to the Spanifh quarters. From the fuperftitious ^t-^ veneration of the Mexicans for the perfon of RerSo their monarch, as well as their implicit fyb- feizeMon. miffion to his will, he hoped, by having Monte, tezuma. zuma in his power, to acquire the fupreme direc tion of their affairs : or at leaft, with fuch a facred pledge in his hands, he made no doubt of bcinj* fecure from any effort of their violence. His manner This he immediately propofed to his officers, tMsXecutl"s The timid ftartled at a meafure fo audacious, and raifed objedtions. The more intelligent and, re- folute, confcious that it was the only refource in. which there appeared any profpedt of fafety, warmly approved of it, and brought over their cornT ' panions fo cordially to the fame opinion, that it was agreed inftantly to make the attempt. At his ufual hour of vifiting Montezuma, Cortes. went. tq the palace, accompanied by Alvarado, Saudoval, Lugo, Velafquez, de Leon, and Davila, five of his, principal officers, and as many trufty foldiers, Thirty chofen men followed not in regular order, but fauntering at fome diftance, as if they had no pbjedt but curiofity ; fmall parties were polled at proper intervals, in all the ftreets leading frofn the Spanifh quarters to the court ; and the remainder pf his troops, with the Tlafcalan alftes, were un der arms, ready to fally out oi} the firft alarm. Cortes and his attendants were admitted without fufpiciori ; the Mexicans retiring, as ufual, out of refpedt. He addreffed the monarch iri a tone very different from that which he had employed in for mer conferences, reproaching him bitterly as the author pf the violent affault made upon the Spa-, riiards by one of his officers, and demanded pub lic reparation for the lofs which he had fuftained by the death of fome of his companions, as well HISTORY OF AMERICA. 5g ?,s for the infult offered to the great prince whofe BOOK lervants they were. Montezuma, confounded at v- this unexpected accufation, and changing colour >-'~ir*-/ either from the confcioufnefs of guilt, or from •5I9- feeling the indignity with which he was treated, affcrted his own innocence with great carnelfnefs, and, as a proof of it, gave orders inftantly to bring Qualpopoca and his accomplices prifoners to Mexico. Cortes replied, with feeming complai- fance, that a declaration fo refpedtable left no doubt remaining in his own mind, but that fome- thing more was requifite to fatisfy his followers, who would never be convinced that Montezuma did not harbour hoftile intentions againft them, unlefs, as an evidence of his confidence and at tachment, he removed from his own palace, and took up his refidence in the Spanifh quarters, where he fhould be ferved and honoured as became a great monarch. The firft mention of fo ftrangc a propofal bereaved Montezuma of fpeech, and al- riioft of motion. At length, indignation gave him utterance, and he haughtily anfwered, " That per fons of his rank were not accuftomed voluntarily to give up themfelves as prifoners, and were he mean enough to do fo, his fubjeets would not per mit fuch an affront to be offered to their fove reign." Cortes, unwilling to employ force, endea voured alternately to foothe and intimidate him. The altercation became warm, and having conti nued above three hours, Velafquez de Leon, an impetuous and gallant young man, exclaimed with impatience, " Why wafte more time in vain ? Let us either feize him inftantly, or ftab him to the heart." The threatening voice and fierce geftures with which thefe words were uttered, ftruck Mon tezuma. The Spaniards, he was fenfible, had now proceeded fo far, as left him no hope that they 6o HISTORY OF AMERICA, $ O O K they would recede. His own danger was imminent, v- the neceffity unavoidable. He faw both, and abanT v""~ir^ doning himfelf to his fate, complied with their carriedto Hi s officers were called. He communicated to Ji>rura5nim them his? refolution. Though aftonifhed and af> flicted, they prefumed not to queftion the will of their mafter, but carried him in filent pomp, all bathed in tears, to the Spanifh quarters. When it was known that the ftrangers were conveying away the emperor, the people broke out into the wildeft tranfports of grief and rage, threatening the Spa- niards with immediate deftrudtipn, as the punifli ment juftly due to their impious audacity. But as foon as Montezuma appeared with a feeming gaiety pf countenance, and waved his hand, the tumult was hufhed ; and upon his declaring it to be of his, pwn choice that he went to refide for fome time among his new friends, the multitude, taught to revere every imitation pf their fovereign's pleating quietly difperfed *. Thus was a powerful prince feizcd by a few ftrangers, in the midft of his capital, at noon-day, and carried off as a prifoner without opposition or bloodfhed. Hiftory contains nothing parallel tq this event, either with refpedt to the temerity of the attempt, or the fuccefs of the execution ; and were not all the circumftances of this extraordir nary tranfaction authenticated by the moft unquef- tionable evidence, they would appear fo wild and extravagant, as to go far beyond the bounds of that verifimilitude which muft be preferved even in fictitious narrations, • Montezuma * B. Diaz. c. 95. Gomara Cron. c. 83. Cortes -Re lat. Ram. iii. p. 235, 236. Herrera, dec. 2. lib. viii, 9- 2,3- HISTORY OF AMERICA. 6t Montezuma was received in the Spanifh quar- BOOK tcrs with all the ceremonious refpect which Cortes V. had promifed. He was attended by his own do- '**nr^/ meftics, and ferved with his ufual ftate. His R 'J^j principal officers had free accefs to him, and he with aPPa- carried on all the functions of government as if he rem refPL'a- had been at perfect liberty. The Spaniards, how ever, watched him with all the fcrupulous vigi lance natural in guarding fuch an important prize *, endeavouring, at the fame time, to footh and re concile him to his fituation, by every external de- monftration of regard and attachment. But from captive princes the hour of humiliation and fuffer- ing is never far diftant. Qualpopoea, his fon, and subjected to five of the principal officers who ferved under him, cruel indis- were brought prifoners to the capital, in confe- ni Dec. 4. quence of the orders which Montezuma had iffued. The emperor gave them up to Cortes, that he might inquire into the nature of their crime, and deter mine their punifliment. They were formally tried by a Spanifh court-martial ; and though they had acted no other part than what became loyal fubjeets and brave men, in obeying the orders of their law ful fovereign, and in oppofing the invaders of their country, they were condemned to be burnt alive. The execution of fuch atrocious deeds is feldom long fufpended. The unhappy victims were in ftantly led forth. The pile on which they were laid, was compofed of the weapons collected in the royal magazine for the public defence. An in numerable multitude of Mexicans beheld, in filent aftonifhment, the double infult offered to the ma- jefty of their empire ; an officer of diftindtion com mitted to the flames by the authority of ftrangers, for having done what he owed in duty to his na tural, fovereign; and the arms provided by the forefight See NOTE XIV. 62 HISTORY OF AMEilCA.- ^OOK forefight of their anceftors for avenging fucri , v- wrongs, confumed before their eyes. V"*""V^ But thefe were not the moft fhocking indig- I-yi9' nities which they had to bear. Cortes, convinced that Qjjalpopoca would not have ventured to at tack Efcalante without orders from his mafter, was not fatisfied with inflicting vengeance on the, inftrument employed in committing that crime, while the author of it efcaped with irripunity. Juft before Qualpopoca was led* out to fuffer, Cortes entered the apartment of Montezuma, fol lowed by fome of his officers, arid a foldier car rying a pair of fetters ; "and approaching the mo narch with a ftern countenance, told him, that as the perfons who were now to undergo the punifh- ment which they merited, had charged him as the caufe of the outrage committed, it was necefiary that he likewife fhould make atonement for thai guilt ; then turnirig away abruptly, without wait ing for a reply, commanded the foldiers to clap the fetters on his legs. The orders were inftantly executed; The difconfolate monarch, trained up with an idea that his perfon was facred and in violable, and confidering this profanation of it as the prelude of immediate death, broke out into loud lamentation's and complaints. His attendants, fpeechlefs with horror, fell at his feet, bathing them with tears; and bearing up the fetters': in their hands, endeavoured with officious tenderriefs. to lighten their preffure. Nor did their grief and defpondency abate, until Cortes returned from the execution with a cheerful countenance, and ordered the fetters to be taken off. As Montezuma's fpn-its had funk with unmanly dejeaion, they now rofe into indecent joy, and, with an unbe coming tranfition, he paffed at once from the anguifh of defpair to tranfports of gratitude and tondnefs towards his deliverers. In HISTORY OF AMERICA. 63 In thofe tranfadtions, as reprefented by the BOOK Spanifh hiftorians, we fearch in vain for the qua- V. lities which diftinguifh other parts of Cortes's *«¦» nf-' condudl. To ufurp a jurifdidtion which could I5I9- not belong to a ftranger, who affirmed no higher cortes"! be- charadter than that of an ambaffador from ahaviour- foreign prince, and, under colour of it, to in flict a capital punifliment on men whofe condudt entitled them to efteem, appears an act of bar barous cruelty. To put the monarch of a great kingdom in irons, and, after fuch ignominious treatment, fuddenly to releafe him, feems to be a difplay of power no lefs inconfiderate than wanton. According to their reprefentation, no account can be given either of the one action or the other, but that Cortes, intoxicated with fuccefs, and prefuming on the afcendant which he had acquired over the minds of the Mexi cans, thought nothing too bold for him to un dertake, or too dangerous to execute. But, in one view, thefe proceedings, however repugnant to juftiee and humanity, may have flowed from that artful policy which regulated every part of Cortes's behaviour. The Mexicans had con ceived the Spaniards to be an order of beings fu perior to men. It was of the utmoft confequence to cherifh this illufion, and to keep up the ve neration it infpired. Cortes wifhed that fhed- ding the blood of a Spaniard fhould be deemed the moft heinous of all crimes ; and nothing ap peared better calculated to eftablifh this opinion, than to condemn the firft Mexicans who had ven tured to commit it, to a cruel death, and to oblige their monarch himfelf to fubmit to a mortifying indignity, as an expiation for being acceffary to their guilt, t The f See NOTE XV. HISTORY OF AMERICA. The rigour with which Cortes punilhed the un^ happy perfons who firft prefumed to lay violent bands upon his followers, feems accordingly to I5I9- have made all the impreffion that he had defired. whichcor- The fpirit of Montezuma was not only overawed, tes acquired, but fubdued. During fix mojuhs that Cortes re mained in Mexico, the mpnareh continued in the Spanifh quarters, with an appearance of as entire fatisfaition and trauquillity, as if he had refided there not from conftraint, but through choice. His nVurifters and officers attended him as ufual. He tppk cognizance pf all affairs ; eyery order was iffued in his name. The external afpedt pf go vernment appearing the fame, and all its ancient fprms being fprupuloiifly obferved, the people Were fp little fenfible of any change, that they obeyed the mandates pf their mpnarcfi with the fame fubmiffive reverence as ever. Such was the dread which both Montezuma; and his fubjedjs had of the Spaniard^, or fueh the veneration in whicli they held tfienj, that ho attempt was made tp deliver their fovereign frpin ponfinement ; and thpugji Cortes, relying on this afcendant which he had acquired over their minds, permitted hjnj not pnly to vifit his temples, but to make hqntjng excurfipns beyond the lakp, a guard of a fff' Spaniards carried with, it fuch terrpr as t.o inti midate tfie multitude, a#d fecure thp captive men narch * . Thus, by the fPrtunate tenjprity of Cortes in, feizmg Montpzuma, the Spaniards at pnpp fecured ip themfelves mpre cxtenfive authority in the Mex- ¦ican empire than it was ppffible to have apquired in a long courfe Of time by open force < anoj tfiey exerpifed more abfolute fway in the name of ano^ ther than they could have done in their own. The, arts Cortes Relat. p. 236. E. B. piaz. c. 97, 98, 99. HISTORY OF AMERICA. 65 arts of polifhed nations in fubjedling fuch as are BOOK lefs improved, have been nearly the fame in every V. period. The fyftem of fcreening a foreign ufurpa- ^rv tion, under the fandtion of authority derived from 1S2°- the natural rulers of a country, the device of em ploying the magiftrates and forms already efta- blilhed as inftruments to introduce a new domi nion, of which we are apt to boaft as fublime re finements in policy peculiar to the prefent age, were inventions of a more early period, and had been tried with fuccefs in the Weft, long before they were pradlifed in the Eaft. Cortes availed himfelf fo the utmoft of the ure which power which he poffeffed by this means. He fent .*» makes of fome Spaniards, whom he judged beft qualified11' for fuch commifiions, into different parts of the empire, accompanied by perfons of diftinction, whom Montezuma appointed to attend them both as guides and protectors. They vifited moft of the provinces, viewed their foil and productions, fur- veyed with particular care the diftricts which yielded gold or filver, pitched upon feveral places as proper ftations for future colonies, and endea voured to prepare the minds of the people for fub- mitting to the Spanifh yoke. While they were thus employed, Cortes, in the name and by the au thority of Montezuma; degraded fome of the prin cipal officers in the empire, whole abilities or in dependent fpirit excited his jealoufy, and fubfti- tuted in their place perfons lefs capable or more obfcquious. One thing ftillv/as wanting to complete his fe- curity. He wifhcd to have fuch command of the lake as might enfure a retreat, if, either from levity or difguft, the Mexicans fhould take arms againft him, and break down the bridges or caufeways. This too, his own addrefs, and the facility of Mon tezuma, enabled him to accomplifli. Having frc- Vol. II. F quentlv 66 HISTORY OF AMERICA. BOO Kquently entertained his prifoner with pompousac* v- counts- of the European marine and art of naviga- *-T-^ tion, he awakened his curiofity to fee thofe moving t^°- palaces that made their way through the water Without oars. Under pretext of gratifying his defire, Cortes perfuaded him to appoint fome of his fubjeets to fetch part of the naval ftores depo- fited at Vera Cruz to Mexico, and to employ others in cutting down and preparing timber. With their afliftance the Spanifh carpenters foon com pleted two brigantines, which afforded a frivolous amufement to the monarch, and were confidered by Cortes as a certain refource, if he fhould be obliged to retire. Montezuma Encouraged by fo many inftances of the mo- udgesTim- narch's tame fubmiffion to his will, Cortes ven- feifavaflai £Qred to put it to a proof ftill more trying. He 0 pam' urged Montezuma to acknowledge himfelf a vaffal of the king of Caftile, to hold his crown of him as fuperior, and, to fubjedt his dominions to the payment of an annual tribute. With this requifi- tion, the laft and, moft humbling that can be made to one poffeffed of fovereign authority, Montezuma was fo obfequious as to comply. He called toge ther the chief men of his empire, and in a folemn harangue, reminded them of the traditions and prophecies which led them to expect the arrival of a people fprung from the fame ftock with them felves, in order to take polTeffion of the fupreme power, he declared his belief that the Spaniards were this promifed race ; that therefore he recog nized the right of their monarch to govern the Mexican empire, would lay his crown at his feet, and obey him as a tributary. While uttering thefe words, Montezuma discovered how deeply he was affedted in making fuch a facrifice. Tears and groans frequently interrupted his difcourfe. Over awed and broken as his fpirit was, it ftill retained fuch HISTORY OF AMERICA. 67 Inch a fenfeof dignity, as to feel that pang which B O O K pierces the heart of princes when conftrained to v- refign independent power. The firft mention of v—nr-*^ fuch a refolution ftmck the affembly dumb with l$20' aftonifhment. This was followed by a fullen mur mur of forrow mingled with indignation, which indicated fome violent eruption of rage to be near at hand. This Cortes forel'aw, and feafonably in- terpofed to prevent it, by declaring that his mafter had no intention to deprive Montezuma of the royal dignity, or to make any innovation upon the conftitution and laws of the Mexican empire. This aflurance, added to their dread of the Spanifh power, and to the authority of their monarch's example, extorted a reluctant con fent from the affembly*. The act of fubmiffion and homage was executed with all the formalities which the Spaniards were pleafedto prefcribef. Montezuma, at the defire of Cortes, accom- Jfh"mount panied this profeffion of fealty and homage with rures coi- " a magnificent prefent to his new fovereign ; and,'sc,fte^the after his example, his fubjeets brought in very li beral contributions. The Spaniards now collected all the treafure which had been either voluntarily beftowed upon them at different times by Monte zuma, or had been extorted from his people under various pretexts ; and having melted the gold and filver, the value of thefe, without including jewels and ornaments of various kinds, which were pre- ferved on account of their curious workmanihip, amounted to fix hundred thoufand pe/os. Thepivifionof. foldiers were impatient to have it divided, and£,-ca°^t * Cortes complied with their defire. A fifth of theoocaiior.sj. whole was fet apart as the tax due to the king. Another fifth was allotted to Cortes, as com- F z mander * See NOTE XVI. + Cortes Relat. 238. D. B. Diaz. «.. 101. Gom.'.ra Cron. c. 92- Herrera, die. 2. Lib. x. c. 4. 68 HISTORY OF AMERICA. BOOK mander in chief. The fums advanced by Velaf- v- quez, by Cortes, and by fome of the officers, to-' ,-T"^/ wards defraying the cxpence of fitting out the ar- 152°' mament, were then deducted.- The remainder was divided among the army, including the garrifon of Vera Cruz, in proportion to their different ranks. After fo many defalcations, the fhare of a private man did not exceed a hundred pefos. This fum fell fo far below their fanguine expectations* that fome foldiers rejected it with fcorn, and others' murmured fo loudly at this cruel disappointment of their hopes, that it required all the addrefs of Cor tes, and nO fmall exertion of his liberality, to ap- peafe them. The complaints of the army were not altogether deftitute of foundation. As the crown had contributed nothing towards the equip ment or fuccefs of the armament, it was not without regret that the foldiers beheld it fweep away fo great a proportion of'the treafrire purchafed by their blood and toil. What fell to the fhare of .their general appeared, according to the ideas of wealth' in the fixteenth century, an enormous fum. Some. of Cortes's favourites had fecretly appropriated to their^own ufe feveral ornaments of gold, which neither paid the royal fifth, nor were brought into account as part of the common flock. It was* however, fo manifeftly the intereft of Cortes at this period to make a large remittance to the kiag, that it is highly probable thofe concealments were not of great confequence. Reafons The total fum amaffed by the Spaniards bears waKd n.° ProPorti°n to the ideas which might be formed infuchfmaii either by reflecting on the defcriptions given by quantity, hiftorians of the ancient fplendour of Mexico, or by confidering the produ&ions of its mines in mo dern times. But, among the ancient Mexicans, gold arid filver Were not the ftandard s by which the worth of other commodities was eftimated ; and HISTORY OF AMERICA. 69 and deftitute of the artificial value derived from BOOK this circumftance, were no farther in requeft than V. as they furnifhed materials for ornaments and -—nr^ trinkets. Thefe were either confecrated to the 1520. gods in their temples, or were worn as marks of diftindtion by their princes and fome of their moft eminent chiefs. As the confumption ofthe. preci ous metals was inconfiderable, the demand for them was not fuch as to put either the ingenuity or induftry ofthe Mexicans on the ftretch, in order to augment their ftore, They were altogether unac quainted with the art of working the rich mines with which the country abounded. What gold they had was gathered in the beds of rivers, na tive, and ripened into a pure metallic ftate* The Utmoft effort of their labour in fearch of it was to wafh the earth carried down by torrents from the mountains, and to pick out the grains of gold which fubfided ; and even this fitnple operation, according to the report of the perfons whom Cortes appointed to furvey the provinces where there was a profpedt of finding mines, they performed very unfkilfully f. From all thofe caufes, the whole mafs of gold in poffeffion of the Mexicans was not fo great. As filver is rarely found pure, and their art was too rude to conduct the procefs for refining it in a proper manner, the quantity of this metal was ftill lefs confiderable \. Thus, though the Spaniards had exerted all the power which they poffeffed in Mexico, and often with in decent rapacity, in order to gratify their predomi nant paffion, and though Montezuma had fondly exhaufted his ftores, in hopes of fatiating their thirft for gold, the product of both, which probably in cluded a great part ofthe bullion in the empire, did not rife in value above what has been mentioned §. But * Cortes Relat. p. 236. F. B. Diaz. c. 102, 103. Gomara Cron. c. 90. f B. Diaz. c. 103. J Herrera, dec. 2. lib. ix. 7o HISTORY OF AMERICA. BOOK But however pliant Montezuma might be '.in, V. other matters, with refpect to one point he was in- ' — it**' flexible. Though Cortes often urged him, with i52°- the impormnate zeal of a miffionary, to renounce iST his falfe gods, and to embrace the chriftian faith, with refpea he alwayS rejected the propofition with horror, to rehgion. Superftition, among the Mexicans, was formed into fuch a regular and complete fyftem, that its inftitutions naturally took faft hold of the mind ; and while the rude tribes in other partsof America were eafily induced to relinquifh a few notions and rites, fo loofe and arbitrary as hardly to merit the name of a public religion, the Mexicans adhered tenacioufly to their mode of worfhip, which, hqwT ever barbarous, was accompanied with fuch order and folemnity as to render it the object of venerar tion. Cortes, finding all his attempts ineffectual to fhake the conftancy of Montezuma, was fo much enraged at his obftinacy, that in a traufport of zeal he led out his foldiers to throw down the idols in the. great temple by force. But the priefts taking arms in defence of their altars, and the peo ple crowding with great ardour to fupport them, Cortes's prudence overruled his zeal, and induced him to defift from his rafh attempt, after diflodging the idols from one of the fhrines, and placing JU their ftead an image ofthe Virgin Mary*, schemesof From that moment the Mexicans, wpo had per- canittTde- mined the imprisonment of their fovereign, and ftroy the fuffered the exactions of ftrangers without a ftrug- pamar s. ^j^ kegan to meditate how they might expel or deftroy the Spaniards, and thought themfelves called upon to avenge their in fuited deities. The priefts and leading men held frequent cpnfultations with Montezuma for this purpofe. But as it might prove fatal to the captive monarch to attempt either th$ * See NOTE XVIII. HISTORY OF AMERICA. 71 the one or the other by violence, he was willingBOOK to try more gentle means. Having called Cortes V. into his prefence, he obferved that now, as all "^np^ the purpofes of his embaffy were fully accom- 1520- plifhed, the gods had declared their will, and the people fignified their defire, that he and his fol lowers fhould inftantly depart out of the empire. With this he required them to comply, or unavoid able deftrudtion would fall fuddenly on their heads. The tenor of this uuexpedled requifition, as well as the determined tone in which it was uttered," left Cortes no room to doubt that it was the refult of fome deep fchcme concerted between Mon tezuma and his fubjeets. He quickly perceived that he might derive more advantage from a feem- ing compliance with the monarch's inclination, than frpm an ill-timed attempt to change or to oppofe it, and replied, with great compofure, that he had already begun to prepare for returning to his own country ; but as he had deftroyed the yeffels in which he arrived, fome time was requi site for building other fhips. This appeared rea- fonable. A number pf Mexicans were fent to Vera Cruz to cut down timber, and fome Spanifh carpenters were appointed to fuperintend the work. Cortes flattered himfelf that, during this interval, he might either find means to avert the threatened danger, or receive fuch reinforcements as would enable him to defpife it. Almost nine months were elapfed fince Por- Anxiety and tocarrero and Montejo had failed with his dif-corfe". ° patches to Spain ; and he daily expected their re turn with a confirmation of his authority from the king. Without this, his condition was infecure and precarious, and after all the great things which he had done, it might be his doom to bear the name and fuffer the punifliment of a traitor. Ra pid 72 HISTORY OF AMERICA, BOO K pid and extenfive as his progrefs had been, he could V. not hope to complete the reduction of a great em- v-nr^' pire with fo fmall a body of men, which by this, JS2°- time the difeafes of the climate had confiderably thinned ; nor could he apply for recruits to the Spanifh fettlements in the iflands until he received the royal approbation of his proceedings. Tire arrival While he remained in this cruel fituation, or a new , .. ., , armament, anxious about what was part, uncertain witn re, fpedt to the future, and, by the late declaration of Montezuma, oppreffed with a new addition of cares, a Mexican courier arrived with an account of fome fhips having appeared on the coaft. Cortes, with fond credulity, imagining that his meffen-, gers were returned from Spain, and that the com pletion of all his wifhes and hopes was at hand, imparted the glad tidings to his companions, who received them, with tranfports of mutual gratula-, tion. Their joy was not of long continuance. A Courier from Sandoval, whom Cortes had ap, pointed to fucceed Efcalante in command at Vera Cruz, brought certain information that the arma ment was fitted out by Velafquez, governor of Cuba, and, inftead of bringing the aid which they expected, threatened them with immediate de- ftruction, . fittedoutby The motives which prompted Velafquez to this eaquez" violent meafure are obvious, From the circum ftances of Cortes's departure, it was impoffible not to fufpect his intention of throwingoff all depend-. ence upon him. His negledting to tranfmit any account of his operations to Cuba ftrengtheneq this fufpicion, which was at laft. confirmed, beyond doubt, by the indifcretion of the officers whom, Cortes fent to Spain. They from fome motive, which is not clearly explained by the contemporary hifc torians, touched at the ifland of Cuba, contrary to HISTORY OF AMERICA. 73 to the peremptory orders of their general*. BygQOK this means Velafquez not only learned that Cortes V. and his followers, after formally renouncing all <-»-5-«^ connection with him, had eftablifhed an independr 1520. cnt colony in New Spain, and were foliciting the king to confirm their proceedings by his authority ; but he obtained particular information concerning the opulence of the country, the valuable prefents which Cortes had received, and the inviting prof- peels of fuccefs that opened to his view. Every paffion which can agitate an ambitious mind ; fhamc, at having been fo grafsly over-reached ; in dignation at being betrayed by the man whom he had fclcdtcd as the object of hia favour and con fidence ; grief, for having wafted his fortune to aggrandize ap enemy ; and defpair of recovering fo fair an opportunity of cftablifhing his fame, and extending iris power, now raged in the bofom of Velafquez. All thefe, with united force, excited him to make an extraordinary effort in order to be avenged on the author of his wrongs, and to reft from him his ufurped authority and conquefts. Nor did he want the appearance of a good title to juftify fuch an attempt. The agent whom he fent to Spain with an account of Grijalva's voyage had met with a moft favourable reception ; and from the fpecimens which he produced, fuch high expecta tions were formed concerningthe opulence of New Spain, that Velafquez was authorifed to profecute the difcovcry of the country, and appointed go vernor of it during life, with more cxtenfive power and privileges than had been granted to any adven turer from the time of Columbus f . Elated by this diftinguifhing mark of favour, and warranted to confider Cortes not only as intruding upon his jurifdidtion, but as difobedient to'the royal man date, * B. Diaz. c. 54, 55. Herrera, dec. 2. lib. v. c. 14. Go mara Cron. c. 96. f Herrera, dec. 2. lib. iii. e. 11. u HISTORY OF AMERICA, POO Rdate, ne determined to vindicate his own right?, V. and the honour of bis fovereign, by force qf ^-nr— ' arms *. His ardour in carrying on his prepara- I520- tions was fuch as might have been expected from " mmand 0f thP violence pf the paffions with whiph he wa§ ani- Narvaez, ' mated ; and in a fhort time an armament was com pleted, confuting of eighteen fhips, which had on board fourfcore horfemcn, eight hundred foot fol- diers, of which eighty were mufketeers, and a hundred and twenty crofs-bow men, together with a train of twelve pieces of cannon. As Velaff quez's experience of the fatal confequenc'e of com-, mitting to another what he ought to have executed, himfelf, had nof rendered him more enterprifing, he vefted the command of this formidable body, which, ip the infancy of the Spanifh power in America, merits the appellation of an army, in Pamphilo de Narvaez, . with inftrudtions to feizp Cortes and his principal officers,, to fend them prifoners to him, and then to complete the difcovery and conqueft of the country in hi§ name. After a profperous voyage, Narvaez landed his men without oppofition near St. Juan de Ullua, Three foldiers, whom Cortes had fent to fearch for mines in that diftridt, immediately joined him. By this accident, he not oply received informa tion concerning the progrefs and fituation of Cortes, but as thefe foldiers had made fome progrefs, in the knowledge of the Mexican language, he ac quired interpreters, by whofe means, he was ena bled to hold fome intercourfe with the people of the country. But, according to the low cunning of deferters, they framed their intelligence with more attention to what they thought would be agreeable, than to what they knew to be true; and,' The pro ceedings of Narvaez. April. ' f See NOTE XIX. HISTORY OP AMERICA. 7$ and reprefented the fituation of Cortes to be fo B O O K defperate, and the difaffedlion of his followers to V. be fo general, as increafed the natural prefumption >¦*-«"'"•' and confidence of Narvaez. His firft operation, l52°- however, might have taught him not to rely on their partial accounts. Having fent to fummon the governor of Vera Cruz to furrender Guevara, a prieft whom he employed in that fervice, made the requifition with fuch infolence, that Sandoval, an officer of high fpirit, and zealoufly attached to Cortes, inftead of complying with his demands, feized him and his attendants, and fent them in chains to Mexico. Co r tils received them not like enemies, but as cartesdeep- friends, and condemning thefeverity of Sandoval, ly*11™1^ fet them immediately at liberty. By this well- timed clemency, feconded by carafles and prefents, he gained their confidence, and drew from them fuch particulars concerning the force and intentions of Narvaez, as gave him a view of the impending danger in its full extent. He had not to contend now with half-naked Indians, no match for him in war, and ftill more inferior in the arts of po licy, but to take the field againft an army in number far fuperior, acting under the fandtion of royal authority, and commanded by an officer of known bravery. He was informed that Nar vaez, more folicitous to gratify the refentment of Velafquez, than attentive to the honour or intereft of his country, had begun his intercourfe with the natives, by reprefenting him and his followers as fugitives and outlaws, guilty of rebellion againft their own fovereign, and of injuftice in invading fhe Mexican empire, and had declared to them that his fole objedt in vifiting the country was to punifh the Spaniards, and to refcue them from op- prcflion. He foon perceived, that the fame unfa vourable -g HISTORY OF AMERICA. BOOKvourab^e reprefentations had been conveyed to V. Montezuma, and that Narvaez had found means »—-Trw to allure him, that as the conduct of thofe who 1520. kept him under reftraint was highly difplcafiug to the king hi-s mafter, he had it in charge not only to refcue an injured monarch from confific- ment, but to reiuftate him in the poffeflion of his antient power and independence. • Animated with this profpect of being fet free from fubjedtion tq 'ftrangers, the provinces began openly to revolt from Cortes, and to regard Narvaez as a deliverer no lefs able than willing to fave them. Monte zuma himfelf kept up a fecret intercourfe with the new commander, and feemed to court him as a perfon fuperior in power and dignity to thofe Spaniards whopi he had hitherto revered as thefirf^ of men *. jrndeiibe- Such were the various afpedts of danger and, ratipnscon- difficulty which prefented themfelves to the view p"n"con-S pf Cortes. No fituation- can be conceived more jjudt. trying to the capacity and firmnefs of a general, ' or where the choice of a plan which ought to be adopted was more difficult. If he fhould wait the approach of Narvaez in Mexico, deftrudtion feemed to be unavoidable ; for while the Spaniard? preffed him from without, the inhabitants, whofe turbulent fpirit he could hardly reftraip with all his authority and attention, would eagerly lay hold on fuch a favourable opportunity of avenging all their wrongs. If he -fhould abandon the capital, fet the captive monarch at liberty, and march out to meet the enemy, he muft at once forego the fruits of -all his toils and victories, and relinquifh advantages which could not be recovered without ' extraordinary efforts, and infinite danger. If, in ftead of employing force, he fhould have recourfe * See NOTE XX. HISTORY OF AMERICA. 77 to conciliating meafures, and attempt an accom- b o O K modation with Narvaez ; the natural haughtinefs V. of that officer, augmented by confcioufnefs of •*^-y^j his prefent fuperiority, forbad him to cherifh any 1520. fanguine hopes of fuccefs. After revolving every fcheme with deep attention, Cortes fixed upon that which, in execution was moft hazardous, but, if fuccefsful, would prove moft beneficial to his country ; and with the dccifive intrepidity, fuited to defperate fituations, determined to make one bold effort for victory, under every difadvantage, rather than facrifice his own conquefts, and the Spanifh intereft in Mexico. But though he forefaw that the conteft muft H.is nesoc£- be terminated finally by arms, it would have been the followers not only indecent, but criminal, to have marched of Narvacz- againft his countrymen, without attempting to ad- juft matters by an amicable negociation. In this fervice he employed Olmedo, his chaplain, to whofe character the function was well fuited, and who poffeffed, befides, fuch prudence and addrefs as qualified him to carry on the fecret intrigues in which Cortes placed his chief confidence. Nar vaez rejected, with fcorn, every fcheme of accom modation that Olmedo propofed, and was with difficulty restrained from laying violent hands on him and his attendants. He met however with a more favourable reception among his followers, to many of whom he delivered letters, either from Cortes or his officers, their ancient friends and companions. Cortes artfully accompanied thefe with prefents of rings, chains of gold, and other trinkets of value, which infpired thofe needy ad venturers with high ideas of the wealth that he had required, and with envy of their good for tune who were engaged in his fervice. Some, from hopes of becoming fharers in thofe rich fpoils, de clared for an immediate accommodation with * Cortes. 78 HISTORY OF AMERICA. BOOK Cortes. Others, from public fpirit, laboured to V. prevent a civil war, which, whatever party fliould «-^pw prevail, muft fhake, and perhaps fubvert the Spa- 1520* nifh power, in a country where it was fo imper fectly eftablifhed. Narvaez difregarded both, and by a public proclamation denounced Cortes; and his adherents, rebels and enemies to their country; Cortes, it is probable, was not much furprifed at the untradtable arrogance of NarVaez ; and, after having given fuch a proof of his own pacific difpoj fition as might juftify his reeourfe to other means, he determined to advance towards an enemy whom he had laboured in vain to appeafe. Marches He left an hundred and fifty men in the capital, againfthim. un(ler xhe command of Pedro de Alvarado, an officer of diftinguifhed courage, for whom the Mexicans had conceived a lingular degree of re fpect. To the cuftody of this flender garrifon he committed a great city, with all the wealth he had amalTed, and, what was ftill of greater impor tance, the perfon of the imprifoned monarch. His utmoft art was employed in concealing from Montezuma the real caufes of his march. He la boured to perfuade him, that the ftrangers who had lately arrived were his friends and fellow-fub- jedts ; and that, after a fhort interview with them* they would depart together, and return to their own country. The captive prince, unable to com prehend the defigns of the Spaniards, or to recon cile what he now heard with the declarations of Narvaez, and afraid to difcover any fymptom of fufpicion or diftruft of Cortes, promifed to remain cjuietly in the Spanifh quarters, and to cultivate the fame friend fhip with Alvarado, which he had uniformly maintained with him. Cortes, with feeming confidence in this promife, but relying principally upon the injunctions which he had . given HISTORY Of" AMERICA. 79 given Alvarado to guard his prifoner with the 3 o O K mod fcrupulous vigilance, fet out from Mexico. ^^-g-^/ Hisftrength, even after it was reinforced by 1520. the junction of Sandoval, and the garrifon of Vera Number of Cruz, did not exceed two hundred and fifty men. 'str0Of,s' As he hoped for fuccefs chiefly from the rapidity of his motions, his troops were not encumbered either with baggage or artillery. But as he dreaded extremely the impreffion which the enemy might make with their cavalry, he had provided againft this danger with the forefight and fagacity which diftinguiih a great commander. Having obferved that the Indians in the province of Chinantla ufed ipears of extraordinary length and force, he armed his foldiers with thefe, and accuftomed them to that deep and compact arrangement, which the ufe of this formidable weapon, the beft perhaps that ever was invented for defence, enabled them to affume. With this fmall but firm battalion Cortes ad- continues to vanced towards Zempoalla, of which Narvaez "^°ciaadte had taken poffeflion. During his march he made vanced. repeated attempts towards fome accommodation with his opponent. But Narvaez requiring that Cortes and his followers fhould inftantly recog nize his title to be governor of New Spain, in virtue of the powers which he derived from Ve lafquez, and Cortes refufing to fubmit to any authority, which was not founded on a commiffion from the emperor himfelf, under whofe immediate protection he and his adherents had placed their infant colony, all thefe attempts proved fruitlefs. The intercourfe however, which this occafioned between the two parties, proved of no fmall ad vantage to Cortes, as it afforded him an oppor tunity of gaining fome of Narvaez's officers by liberal prefents, of foftening others by a femblance of moderation, and of dazzling all by the ap pearance So HISTORY OF AMERICA* BOOK pearance of wealth among his troops, moft of V. his foldiers having converted their fhare of the ^^nr*^ Mexican gold into chains, bracelets, and other 1520. ornaments, which they difplayed with military oflentation, Narvaez, and a little junto of his creatures excepted, all the army leaned towards an accommodation with their countrymen. This difcovery of their inclination irritated his violent temper almoft to madnefs. In a tranfport of rage he fet a price upon the head of Cortes, and of his principal officers ; and having learned, that hes was now advanced within a league of Zempoalla with his fmall body of men, he confidered this as an infult which merited immediate chaftifemerit, ahd marched out with all his troops to offer him battle. Attacks But Cortes was a leader of greater abilities and Narvaez in exPerience than to fight an enemy fo far fuperior the night. . r , i r 11 ¦ 1 m number, and io much better appointed, on • equal ground. Having taken his ftation on the oppofite bank of the river de Canoas, where he knew that he could not be attacked, he beheld the approach of the enemy without concern, and difrcgarded this vain bravade. It was then the beginning of the wet feafon *, and the rain had poured down, during a great part of the day, with the violence peculiar to the torrid zone. The fol lowers of Narvaez, unaccuftomed to the hardfhipS of. military fervice, murmured fo much at being thus fruitlefsly expofed* that from their unfoldier- like impatience, as well as his own contempt of his adverfary, their general permitted them to re tire to Zempoalla. The very circumftance which induced them to quit the field, engaged Cortes to form a fcheme, by which he hoped at once to ter minate the war. He obferved, that his hardy ve terans, * Hackluyt, vol. iii. 467. De Lact Defer. Ind. Occid. 221. HISTORY OF AMERICA. 81 though ftanding under the torrents, which con- BOOK tinued to fall, without a fingle tent or any fhelter. v- whatfoever to cover them, were fo far from re- ^-T^ pining at hardfhips that were become familiar to l520' them, that they were ftill frefh and alert for fer vice. He forelaw that the enemy would naturally give themfelves up to repofe after their fatigue, and that, judging of the conduct of others by their own effeminacy, they would deem them felves perfectly fecure at a feafonfo unfit for action. He refolvcd therefore to fall upon them in the dead of night, when the furprife and terror of this unexpected attack might more than compenfate the inferiority of his numbers. His foldiers, fen- fible that no refource remained but in fome def perate effort of courage, approved of the mealure with fuch warmth, that Cortes, in a military ora tion which he addreffed to them before they began their. march, was more folicitousto temper than to inflame their ardour. He divided them into three parties. At the head ofthe firft he placed Sandoval ; entrufting this gallant officer with the moft dange rous and important fervice, that of feiziiag the enemy's artillery, which was planted before the principal . tower of the temple, where Narvaez had fixed his head-quarters. Chriftoval de Olid commanded the fecond, with orders to affault the tower, and lay hold on the general. Cortes him felf conducted the third and . fmalleft divifion, , which was to act as a body'of referve, and to fup port the other two as there fhould be occafion. Having paffed the river de Canoas, which was much 1 welled with the rain, not without difficulty, the water reaching almoft to their chins, they ad vanced in profound filence, without beat of drum, or found of any warlike inftrument ; each man armed with his (word, his dagger, and his Chinant- lan fpear. Narvaez, remifs in proportion to hi« fecurity, had pofted only two centinels to watch Vnr. TT O the g2 HIStORY OE AMERICA. BOO K the motions of an enemy whom he had fuch good V. caufc to dread. One of thefe was feized by the ^-nf*-' advanced guard of Cortes's troops, the other made i$2o. his efcape, and hurrying to the town with all the precipitation of fear and zeal, gave fuch timely notice of the enemy's approach, that there was full leifure to have prepared for their reception. But, through the arrogance and infatuation of Narvaez, this important interval was loft. He imputed this alarm to the cowardice ofthe centinel, and treated with derifion the idea of being attacked by forces fo unequal to his own. The fhouts of Cortes's foldiers, ruining on to the affault, con vinced him at laft, that the danger which he dc- fpifed was real. The rapidity with which they ad vanced was fuch, that only one cannon could be fired, before Sandoval's party clofcd with' the enemy, drove them from their guns, and began fo force their way up the fteps of the tower. Nar vaez, no lefs brave iri action than prefumptuous in conduct, armed himfelf in hafte, and by his voice and example animated his men to the combat. Olid advanced to fuftain his companions; and Cortes himfelf, rufhing to the front, conducted and over- and added new vigour to the attack. The com- comes him. pa# order in which this fmall body preffed on, and the impenetrable front which they prefented with their long fpears, bore down all oppofition before it. They had now reached the gate, and were ftruggling to burft it open, when a foldier having fet fire to the reeds with which the tower was covered, compelled Narvaez to fally out. In the firft encounter he was wounded in the eye with a fpear, and falling to the ground, was drag ged down the fteps, and in a moment clapt in fet ters. The cry of victory refounded among the troops of Cortes. Thofe who had fallied out with their leader now maintained the conflict feebly or began to furrender. Among the remainder of his HISTORY OF AMERICA. 83 his foldiers, ftationed in two fmaller towers of b O O K the temple, terror and confufion prevailed. The V. darknefs was fo great that they could not diftiu- l-nr*' guifh between their friends and foes. Their own ISao- artillery was pointed againft them. Wherever they turned their eyes, they beheld lights gleam ing through the obfeurity of night, which, though proceeding only from a variety of fhining infects, that abound in moift and fultry climates, their af frighted imaginations reprefented as numerous bands of mufketeers advancing with kindled matches to the attack. After a fhort refiftance, the foldiers compelled their officers to capitulate, and before morning all laid down their arms, and fub- mitted quietly to their conquerors. This complete victory proved more acceptable, Theeffe«s as it was gained almoft without bloodfhed-, only of^hisv'c- two foldiers being killed on the fide of Cortes, and two officers with fifteen private men of the adverfe faction. Cortes treated the vanquifhed not like enemies, but as countrymen and friends, and offered either to fend them back directly to Cuba, or to take them into his fervice, as partners in his fortune, on equal terms with his own foldiers. This latter proposition, feconded by a feafonable distribution of fome prefents from Cortes, and liberal promifes of more, opened profpedts fo agreeable to the romantic expectations which had induced them to engage in this fervice, that all, a few partizans of Narvaez excepted, clofed with it, and vied with each other in profeffions of fidelity and attachment to a general whofe recent fuccefs had given them fuch a proof of his abilities for command. Thus, by a feries of events no lefs for tunate than uncommon, Cortes net only efcaped from perdition which feemed inevitable, but, when he had lead reafon to expect it, was placed at the head of a thoufand Spaniards, ready to follow wherever he fhould lead them. Whoever' reflects r\ - upon 84 HISTORY, OF AMERICA: B O.O'K upon the facility with which this victory was ob-' v'' tained, or confiders with what fudden. and unani- x-"~ir'w/ mous tranfitiori the followers of Narvaez ranged, lS20- themfelves under the ftandard of his ritfal, will be apt to afcribe both events as much to the intrigues, as to the arms of Cortes, and cannot but fufpect that the ruin of Narvaez was occafioned, no lefs by the treachery of his own followers, than by the valour of his enemy *". TheMexi- But, in one point, the prudent conduct and arms againft good fortune of Cortes were equally confpicuqus., the spani- i£ \>y the rapidity of his operations after he be gan his march, he had nOt brought matters to fueh* a fpeedy ifliie, even this decifive vidtory would have come too late to have faved his companions whom he left in Mexico. A few days after the. difcomfiture of Narvaez, a courier arrived with an account that the Mexicans had taken arms, and, having feized and deftroyed the two brigan tines,; which he had built in order to fepure the com- inand of the lake, had attacked the Spaniards in, their quarters, had killed feveral of them, and wounded more, bad reduced to afhes their maga zine of provifions, and carried on hoftilities with fuch fury, that, though Alvarado and his men de fended themfelves with undaunted refolution, they muft either be foon cut off by famine, or fink un der the multitude of their enemies. This. revolt. was excited by motives which rendered it ftill more alarming. On the departure of Cortes for Zempoalla, the Mexicans flattered themfelves, that the long expected opportunity of reftoring their fovereign to liberty, and of vindicating their coun- try.from the odious dominion of ftrangers, was at length arrived ; that while the forces of their op- preflbrs were divided, arid the arms of one party turned * Cortes Relat. 242. D. B. Diaz. c. no.--i2£. Herrera, dec. 2. lib. ix. c.18, &c. Gomara Cron. c. 97, &c. HISTORY OF AMERICA. 8s turned againft the other, they might triumph with BOOK greater facility over both. Confultations were v- held, and fchemes formed with this intention. v- T""-/ The Spaniards in Mexico, confcious of their own 1S2°- feeblenefs, fufpected and dreaded thofe machina tions. Alvarado, though a gallant officer, pof- felTed neither that extent of capacity, nor dignity of manners, by which Cortes had acquired fuch. an afcendant over the minds of the Mexicans, as never allowed them to form a juft eftimate of his weakncfsor of their own ftrength. Alvarado knew no mode of fupporting his authority but force. In ftead of employing addrefs to difconcert the plans or to footh the fpirits of the Mexicans, he waited the return of one of their folemn feftivals, when the principal perfons in the empire were dancing, according to cuftom, in the court of the great temple ; he feized all the avenues which led to it, and, allured partly by the rich ornaments which they wore in honour of their gods, and partly by the facility of cutting off at once the authors of that confpiracy which he dreaded, he fell upon them, unarmed and unfiifpicious of any danger, and maf- facred a great nnmber, none efcaping but fuch as made their way over the battlements of the temple. An action fo cruel and treacherous filled not only the city, but the whole empire with indignation and rage. All called aloud for vengeance ; and regardlefs of the fafety of their monarch, whofe life was at the mercy of the Spaniards, or of their own danger in aflaulting an enemy who had been fo long the object of their terror, they committed all thofe adts of violence of which Cortes received an account. To him the danger appeared fo imminent, as to He marches admit neither of deliberation nor delay. He fet ^^. the out inftantly with all his forces, and returned from Zempoalla with no lefs rapidity than he bad ad vanced 86 HISTORY OF AMERICA. BOOK vanced thither. At Tlafcala he was joined by two v- thoufand chofcn warriors. On entering the Mex- v*,nr"«-/ ican territories, he found that difaffection to the l52°" Spaniards was not confined to the capital. The principal inhabitants ' bad deferted the towns through which he pafTed;no perfon of note ap pearing to meet him with the ufual refpect ; no provifion was made for the fubfiftence of his troops; and though he was permitted to advance, without oppofition, the folitude and filence which reigned in every place, and the horror with which the people avoided 'all interpourfe with him, dif- covered a deep rooted antipathy, that excited the rnoft juft alarm. But, implacable as the enniity of the Mexicans was,' they were fo unacquainted with the fcience of war, that they knew hot how to take, the proper meafures, either for their own fafety, or the dcftruction of the Spaniards. Phinftrudted by their former error in admitting a formidable ene my into their capita], inftead of breaking down the caufeways and bridges, by which they might have inclofed Alvarado and his party, and haveef- fectually ftopt the career of Cortes, they again fuf June »4. fered him to march into the city without raolefta* tiori, and to fake quiet poiTeffion of his ancient ftation. -.'¦¦' improper The tranfports of joy with which Alvarado and, eondnaof his foldiers received their companions cannot he vortes. -rri'-Tii* - r t i 11 exprelled. Both parties were fo much elated, the one with their feafonable deliverance, and the other; With the great exploits which they had atchieved, that this intoxication of fuccefs feems to have fo far reached Cortes himfelf, that fie behaved on this bccafion neither with his ufual fagacity nor at tention. He not only negledted to vifit Montexu- ma, but imbittered the infult by expreffions full of contempt for that unfortunate prince and his people. The forces of which he had now the cpm.- ' • mand[ HISTORY OF AMERICA. 87 mand appeared to him fo irrefiftible, that he might BOOK alTume an higher tone, and lay afide the mafk of V. moderation, under which he had hitherto con- **•* np*^ cealed his defigns. Some Mexicans, who under- J52o. flood the Spanifh language, heard the contemptu ous words which Cortes uttered, and reporting them to their countrymen, kindled their rage anew. They were now convinced, that the intentions of the general were equally bloody with thofe of Al varado, and that his original purpofe in yifiting their country, had not been, as he pretended, to court the alliance of their fovereign, but to attempt the conqueft of his dominions. " They refumed The violent their arms with the additional fury which this dif- ^j^f covery infpired, attacked a confiderable body of can*. Spaniards who were marching towards the great fquare in which the public market was held, and compelled them to retire with fome lofs. Em boldened by this fuccefs, and delighted to find that their oppreflbrs were not invincible, they ad vanced next day with extraordinary martial pomp to affault the Spaniards in their quarters. Their number was formidable, and their undaunted courage ftill more fo. Though the artillery pointed againft their numerous battalions, croudcd together in narrow ftreets, fwept off multitudes at every dif- charge ; though eyery blow of the Spanifh wea pons fell with mortal effect upon their naked bo dies, the impetuofity of the affault did not abate. Frefh men ruftied forward to occupy the places of the flain, and meeting with the fame fate, were fuccceded by others no lefs intrepid and eager on vengeance. The utmoft efforts of Cortes's abilities and experience, feconded by the difciplined vaT lour of his troops, were hardly fufficient to de fend their fortifications, into which the enemy yriic more than once on the point of forcing their way. Cob,t&6 88 HISTORY OI AMERICA. BOOK Cortes beheld with wonder the implacable v- ferocity of a people, who feemed at firft' to fubmit v-^!r^*"/ tamely to the yoke, and had continued fo long paf- DiftrefS°of nve un'der it. The foldiers of Narvaez, who fondly the spani. imagined that they followed Cortes to fhare iri the ards* fpoils of ^a conquered empire, were aftoriifhed to find that they were involved in a dangerous war, with an enemy whofe vigour was ftill unbroken, and loudly execrated their own weaknefs, in giv ing fuch eafy credit to the delufive promifes of their new leader *. But furprife and complaints were of no avail. Some immediate and extraordinary effort was requifite to extricate themfelves out of their prefent fituation. As foon as the approach of evening induced the Mexicans to retire, in com pliance with their national cuftom of ceafing from • hoftilities with the fetting fun, Cortes began to prepare for a fally, with fuch a confiderable force, as might either drive the enemy out of the city, or compel them to liften to terms of accommo dation. Cortes at. He condudted, in perfon, the troops deftined tacks them for this important fervice. Every invention known without 1UC- • 1 T7 ' " r 11 cefs. ni the European art of war, as well as vevery pre caution, fuggefted by his long acquaintance with- the Indian mode of fighting, were employed to enfure fuccefs. • But he found an enemy prepared arid determined to oppofe him. The force of the Mexicans was greatly augmented by frefh troops, which poured in continually from the country,) and their animofity was in no degree abated. They were led by their nobles, inflamed by the' exhorta tions of their priefts, and fought in defence of their- temples and families, under the eye of their gods, and in prefence of their wives and children. Not- withftandina * B- Diaz. e. 126. HISTORY OF AMERICA. 89 withftanding their numbers, and enthufiaftic con- BOOK tempt of danger and death, wherever the Spaniards V. could clofe with them, the fuperiority of their dif- ^- nr^-' cipline and arms obliged them to give way. But i520- in narrow ftreets, and where many of the bridges of communication were broken down, they could ¦feldom come to a fair rencounter, and the Spa niards, as they advanced, were expofed to fhowers ofarrows and ftones from the tops of the houfes. After a day of inceflant exertion, though vaft num bers of the Mexicans fell, and part of the city was burnt, the Spaniards, weary with the flaughter, and haraffed by multitudes which fucceffively re lieved each other, were obliged at length to retire, with the mortification of having accomplifhed no thing fo decifive as to compenfate the unufual cala mity of twelve foldiers killed, and above fixty wounded. Another fally, made with greater force, was not more effectual, and in it the general himfelf was wounded in the hand. Cortes now perceived, too late, the fatal Montezuma error into which he had been betrayed by his flain' own contempt of the Mexicans, and was fatis fied that he could neither maintain his prefent ftation in the centre of an hoftile city, nor re tire from it without the moft imminent danger. One refource ftill remained, to try what effect the interpofition of Montezuma might have to footh or overawe his fubjeets. When the Mex icans approached next morning to renew the affault, that unfortunate prince, at the mercy of the Spaniards, and reduced to the fad ne- ceffity of becoming the inftrument of his own difgrace, and of the flavery of his people*, ad vanced to the battlements in his royal robes, and with all the pomp in which he ufed to ap pear * See NOTE XXI. 9o HISTORY OF AMERICA; BOOK pear on folemn occafions. At fight of their fo- v- vereign, whom they had long been accuftomed to v- Hr"" honour, and almofl to revere as a god, the wea- l$20- pons dropped from their hands, every tongue was filent, all bowed their heads, and many proftrated themfelves on the ground. Montezuma addreffed them with every argument that could mitigate their rage, or perfuade them to ceafe from hofti- lities. When he ended his difcourfe, a fullen murmur of difapprobation run through the crowd ; to this fuccceded reproaches and threats ; and their fury riling in a moment above every reftraint of decency or refpect, flights of arrows arid volleys of ftones poured in fo violently upon the ramparts, that before the Spanifh foldiers, appointed to, cover Montezuma with their bucklers, had time to lift them in his defence, two arrows wounded the un happy monarch, and the blow of a ftone on his temple ftruck him to the ground. On feeing him fall, the Mexicans were lb much aftonifhed, that, with a tranfition not uncommon in popular tumults, they paffed in a moment from one extreme to the other, remorfe fucceeded to infult, and they fled with horror, as if the vengeance of Heaven were purfuing the crime which they had committed. The Spaniards without moleftation carried Mon tezuma to his apartments, and Cortes hafteped thither to confole him under his misfortune. But the unhappy monarch now perceived how low he was funk ; and the haughty fpirit which feemed to have been fo long extinct, returning, he fcorned to furvive this laft humiliation, and to protract aa ignominious life, not only as the prifoner and tool of his enemies, but as the object of contempt pr deteflation among his fubjedts. In a tranfport of rage he tore the bandages from his wounds, and refufed, with fuch obftinacy, to take any nouT rifhment. HISTORY OF AMERICA, 9I rifhment, that he foon ended his wretched days, BOOK rejedting with difdain all the Iblicitations of the V. Spaniards to embrace the Chriftian faith. V-T"»-' Upon the death of Montezuma, Cortes, having J52°- loft all hope of bringing the Mexicans to any ac- fuas. c° commodation, faw no profpect of fafety but in at- tempting a retreat, and began to prepare for it. But a fudden motion of the Mexicans engaged him in new conflicts. They took poffeflion of a high tower in the grea: temple, which overlooked the Spanifh quarters, and placing there a garrifon of their principal warriors, not a Spaniard could ftir Without being expofed to their miffile weapons. From this poft it was neceflary to diflodge them at any rifk ; and Juan de Efcobar, with a nume rous detachment of chofen foldiers, was ordered to make the attack. But Efcobar, though a gal lant officer, and at the head of troops accuftomed to conquer, and whp how fought under the eyes of their countrymen, was thrice rcpulfed. Cortes, fenfible that not only the reputation but the fafety of his army depended on the fuccefs of this affault, ordered a buckler to be tied to his arm, as he could not manage it with his wounded hand, and rufhed with his drawn fword into the thickeft of the copibatants. Encouraged by the prefence of their general, the Spaniards returned to the charge with fuch vigour, that they gradually forced their way up the fteps, and drove the Mexicans to the plat form at the top of the tower. There a dreadful carnage began, when two young Mexicans of high rank, obferving Cortes as he animated his foldiers , by his voice and example, refolved to facrifice their own lives in order to cut off the author of all the calamities which defolated their country.' They approached him in a fupplicant pofture, as if they had intended to lay down their arms, and feizing him 92 HISTORY OF AMERICA.- BOO Khim in a moment, hurried him towards the bat- v- tlements, over which they threw themfelves hcad- * — Watched all their motions with attention, but had^„;M'v" made proper difpofitions for a moft formidable at tack. While the Spaniards were intent upon plac ing their bridges in the breach, and occupied in conducting their horfes and artillery along it, thev were fuddenly alarmed with the tremendous found of warlike instruments, and a general fhout from an innumerable multitude of enemies ; the lake was covered with canoes ; flights of arrows, and fhowers of ftones poured in upon them from even- quarter ; the Mexicans rufhing forward to the charge with fearlcfs impetuofity, as if they hoped in that moment to be avenged for all their wrongs. Unfortunately the wooden bridge, by the weight of the artillery, was wedged fo faft into the ftones and mud, that it was impoffible to remove it. Dis mayed at this accident, the Spaniards advanced with precipitation towards the fecoud breach. The Mexicans hemmed them in on every fide, and though they defended themfelves with their ufual courage, yet crouded as they were on a nar row caufeway, their difcipline and military fkill were of little avail, nor did the oblcurity of the night permit them to derive great advantage from their fire arms, or the fuperiorky oi their other weapons. ters H HISTORY OF AMERICA. BOOK weapons. All Mexico was now in arms ; and fo V. eager were the people on the deftruction of their *—-ir-*-' oppreffors, that they who were not near enough to 1520. annoy them in perfon, impatient of the delay, preffed forward with fuch ardour, as drove on their countrymen in front with irrefiftible violences Frefh warriors inftantly filled the place of fuch as fell. The Spaniards, weary with flaughter, and unable to fuftain the weight of the torrent that poured in upon them, began to give way. In a moment the confufion was univerfal ; horfe and foot, officers and foldiers, friends and enemies, were mingled together ; and while all fought, and many fell, they could hardly diftinguifh from -what hand the blow came. Their di&f- Cortes, with about a hundred foot foldiers and a few horfe, forced his way over the two re maining breaches in the caufeway, the bodies of the dead ferving to fill up the chafms, and reached the main land. Having formed them as foon as they arrived, he returned with fuch as were yet capable of fervice, to aflift his friends in their re treat, and to encourage them, by his prefence and example, to perfevere in the efforts requifite to ef fect it. He met with part of his foldiers, who had broke through the enemy, but found many more overwhelmed by the multitude of their aggreffors, or perifhing in the lake ; and heard the piteous la mentations of others, whom the Mexicans, having taken alive, were carrying off in triumph to be fa- crificed to the god of war. Before day, all who had efcaped affembled at Tacuba. But when the morning dawned, and difcovered to the view of Cortes his fhattered battalion, reduced to lefs than half its number, the furvivors dejected, and moft of them covered with wounds, the thoughts of what they had fuffered, and the remembrance of fo many faithful friends and gallant followers, who had HISTORY OF AMERICA. 95 fallen in that night of forrow *, pierced his foulB O O K with fuch anguifh, that while he was forming their v- ranks, and iifuing fome neceffary orders, his fol- N-^v^-/ diers obferved the tears trickling from his eyes, l$2C" and remarked, with much fatisfadtion, that while attentive to the duties of a general, he was not in- fenfible to the feelings of a man. In this fatal retreat many officers of diffraction anciiofs. perifhedf, and among thefe Velafquez de Leon, who having forfaken the party of his kinfman, the governor of Cuba, to follow the fortune of his com panions, was, on that account, as well as for his fuperior merit, refpedted by them as the fecond perfon in the army. All the artillery, ammuni tion, and baggage, were loft ; the greater part of the horfes, and above two thoufand Tlafcalans, Were killed, and only a very fmall portion of the treafure which they bad amaffed was faved. This, which had been always their chief object, proved now a great caufe of their calamity ; for many of the foldiers, having fo overloaded themfelves with bars of gold as rendered them unfit for action, and .retarded their flight, fell ignominioufly, the vic tims of their own inconfiderate avarice. Amidft fo many difafters, it was fome confolation to find that Aguilar and Marina, whofe function as inr- terpreters was of fuch efTential importance, had made their efcape ||. The firft care of Cortes was to find fome fhelter for Difficult ™- his wearied troops ; foras the Mexicans infefted them £e* £]^ on every fide, and the people of Tacuba began to ta k e arms, he could not continue in his prefent ftation. He * Noche Trifle is the name by which it is ftill diftinguifhed in New Spain. -\ See NOTE XXII. || Cortes Relat. p. 24.8. B. Diaz. c. 128. Gomara Cron. e. 109. Henera, dec. 2. lib. x. c. 11,12. 96 HISTORY OF AMERICA] B O O K He diredtedtiis march towards the rifing ground^. v- and having fortunately difcovered a temple, fitu-' v-nr>*^ ated on an eminence, took poffeffion of it. 152c There he found not only the fhelter for which' he wifhed, but, v what was no lefs wanted, fome provifions to refrefh his men ; and though the- enemy did not intermit their attacks through--. . out the day, they were with little difficulty pre vented from making any impreffion. During this' time Cortes was engaged in deep confultation with' his officers, concerning the route which they> ought to take in their retreat. They were now on: the weft fide of the lake. Tlafcala, the only place: where they could hope for a friendly reception, . lay about fixty-four miles to the eaft of Mexico* ; . fo that they were obliged to go round the north ¦ end ofthe lake before they could fall into the road . which led thither. A Tlafcalan foldier under-' took to be their guide, and conducted them' through a country in fome places marfhy, in others mountainous, in all ill-cultivated and thinly peo pled. They marched for fix days with little/re- fpite, and under continual alarms, numerous bo dies ofthe Mexicans hovering around them, forne- ; times haraffing them at a diftance with their miffile weapons, and fometimes attacking them clofely iff front, in rear, in flank, with great boldnefs, as they now knew that they were not invincible; Nor were the fatigue and danger of thofe inceffant conflicts the worft evils to which they were ex- pofed. As the barren country through which they palled afforded hardly any provifions, they were reduced to feed on berries, roots, and the ftalks of green maize ; and at the very time that famine was deprefling their fpirits and wafting their. ftrength, their fituation required the moft vi gorous and unremitting exertions of courage and activity. Amidft thofe complicated diftreffes, one * Villa Sesnor TTeatro Aw^ricatin ]ih. ii. r. it. HISTORY OF AMERICA. 97- one circumftance fupported and animated the Spa- BOOK niards. Their commander fuftained this fad re- V. verfe of fortune with un fhaken magnanimity. "^nPw/ His prefence of mind never forfook him ; his fa- I^20' gacity fore law every event, and his vigilance pro vided for it. He was fore moft in every danger, and endured every hardfhip with cheerfuln:fs. The difficulties with which he was furrounded feemed to call forth new talents; and his foldiers though defpairing themfelves, continued to follow him with increafing confidence in his abilities. On the fixth day they reached Gtumba, not Battle of far from the road between Mexico and Tlafcala. °:umba- Early next morning they began to advance towards it, flying parties ofthe enemy ftill hanging on their rear, and amidft the intuits with which they ac companied their hoftilities, Marina remarked, that they often exclaimed with exultation, " Go on robbers ; go to the place where you (hall quickly meet the Vengeance due to your crimes." The meaning of this threat the Spaniards did not com- ^ prehend, until they reached the fummit of an emi nence before them. There a fpacious valley opened to their view, covered with a vaft army, extending as jfar as the eye could reach. The Mexicans, while with one body of their troops they haraffed the Spaniards in their retreat, had aflembled their principal force on the other fide of the lake, and marching along the road which led directly to Tlafcala, pofted it in the plain of Otumba, through which they knew Cortes muft pafs. At the fight of this incredible multitude, which they could furvey at once from the rifing ground, the Spaniards were aftoniihed, and even, the boldeft began to defpair. But Cortes, without allowing leifure for their fears to acquire ftrcngth by reflection, after warning them briefly that no alternative now remained but to conquer or to die, Vol. II. H led 98 HISTORY OF AMERICA* B O O K led them inftantly to the charge. The Mexicans V. waited their approach with unufual fortitude. S-T>-/ Such, however, was the fuperiority ofthe Spanifh l520- difcipliue and arms, ithat the impreffion of this fmall body was irrefiftible ; and whichever way its force was directed, it penetrated and difperfed the moft numerous battalions. But while thefe gave way in one quarter, new combatants advanced from another, and the Spaniards, though fuccefs- ful in every attack, were ready to fink under thofe repeated efforts, without feeing any end to their toil, or any hope of victory. At that time Cortes obferved the great ftandard of the empire, which was carried before the Mexican general, advanc ing ; and fortunately recollecting to have heard, that on the fate of it depended the event of every battle, he affembled a few of 'his braveft officers, whofe horfes were ftill capable of fervice, and placing himfelf at their head, pufhed forward to wards the ftandard with an impetuofity which bore down every thing before it. A chofen body of nobles, who guarded the ftandard, made fome re- fiftance, but were foon broken. Cortes, with a ftroke of his lance, wounded the Mexican general, and threw him to the ground. One of his fol lowers alighting, put an end to his life, and laid hold of the imperial ftandard. The moment that their leader fell, and the ftandard, towards which all directed their eyes, difappeared, an univerfal panic ftruck the Mexicans, and, as if the bond which held them together had been diflblved, eve-ry enfign was lowered, each foldier threw away his weapons, and fled with precipitation to the mountains. The Spaniards, unable to purfue them far, returned to collect the fpoils of the field, which were fo valuable as to be fome compenfatipn for the wealth which they had loft in Mexico ; for in the enemy's army were moft of their principal-:' warriors, dreffed out in their richeft ornaments, a* HISTORY OF AMERICA. 99 as if they had been marching to affured vidtory. BOOK Next day, to their great joy they entered the Tlaf- V. calan territories*- *-"-ir— ' But, amidft their fatisfaction in having got be- x52°- yond the precincts of an hoftile country, they Ration could not look forward without folicitude, as they ofthe sPa- were ftill uncertain v/hat rcceptiPn they might meet "'ufcaia! with from allies, to whom they returned in a con dition very different from that in which they had lately fet out from their dominions. Happily for them, the enmity of the Tlafcalans to the Mexican name was fo inveterate, their defire to avenge the death of their countrymen fo vehement, and the afcendant which Cortes had acquired over the chiefs ofthe republic fo complete, that, far from entertaining a thought of taking any advantage of the diftreffed fituation in which they beheld the Spaniards, they received them with a tendernefs and cordiality which quickly difiipated all their fufpicions. Some interval of tranquillity and indulgence was Newdeiibe- now abfolutcly neceflary ; not only that the Spa- ™tr't°"s of niards might give attention to the cure of their wounds, which had been too long ncgledted, but in order to recruit their ftrength, exhausted by fuch a long fucceffion of fatigue and hardships. Duringthis, Cortes learned that he and his companions were not the only Spaniards who had felt the effects of the Mexican enmity. A considerable detachment, which was marching from Zempoalla towards the capital, had been cut off by the people of Tepeaca. A fmaller party, returning from Tlafcala to Vera Cruz, with the fhare of the Mexican gold allotted to the garrifon, had been furprifed and deftroyed H 2 in * Cortes Relat. p. 219. B. Diaz. c. 128. Gomara Cron- c. 120. Herrera, dec. 2. lib. x. c. 12, 1^. ioo HISTORY OF AMERICA, B O O K in the mountains. At a jundture when the life v- of every Spaniard was of importance, fuch loffesr v""""ff~^'/ were deeply felt. The fchemcs which Cortes 1520- Was meditating rendered them peculiarly afflic tive to him. While his enemies, and even many of his own followers, confidered the difafters which had befallen him as fatal to the progrefs of 'his arms, and imagined that nothing, now remained but'fpeedily to abandon a country which he had invaded with unequal force, his mind, as eminent for perfeverance as for enterprife, was ftill bent on accomplifhing his original purpofe, of fubjecting the Mexican empire to the crown of Caftile. Severe and unexpected as the check was which he had received, it did not appear to him fufficient reafon for relinquifhing the con: quefts which he had already made, or againft re- fuming his operations with better hopes of fuccefs* The colony at Vera Cruz was not only fafe, but had remained unmolefted. The people of Zem poalla and the adjacent diftridts had difcovered no fymptoms of defection. The Tlafcalans continued faithful to their alliance. On their martial fpirit, eafily roufed to arms, and inflamed with implaca ble hatred ofthe Mexicans, he depended for pow erful aid. He had ftill the command of a body of Spaniards, equal in number to that with which he had opened his way into the centre of the em pire, and had taken pofTeffion of the capital ; fo that with the benefit of greater experience, as well as more perfect knowledge of the country,, he did not delpair of quickly recovering all that he had been deprived of by untoward events. frresiT3* -^u^ °^ ^s i^ea, ^e courted the Tlafcalan takes. chiefs with fuch attention, and diftributed among them fo liberally the rich fpoils of Otumba, that he was fecure of obtaining whatever he fhould require HISTORY. OF AMERICA. 101 require of the republic. He drew a fmall fupplyB 0 0 K of ammunition, and two or three field pieces, v- from his ftores at Vera Cruz, tie difpatched >-*nr~'-/ an officer of confidence with four fhips of Nar- v I520- vaez's fleet to Hifpaniola and Jamaica, to en gage adventurers, and to purchafe * horfes, gun powder, and other military ftores. As he knew that it would be vain to attempt the reduction of Mexico, unlefs he could fecure the com mand of the lake, he gave orders to prepare in the mountains of Tlafcala materials for building twelve brigantines, fo as they might be carried thither in pieces ready to be put together, and launched when he flood in need of their fer vice*. But while, with provident attention, he was Mutinous taking thofe neceffary fteps towards the execution fPiritofhis of his meafures, an obftacle arofe in a quarter '°°ps' where it was leaft fufpedted, but moft formidable. The fpirit of difcontent and mutiny broke out in his own army. Many of Narvaez's followers were planters rather than foldiers, and had accompa nied him to New Spain with fanguine hopes of obtaining fettlements, and little inclination to en gage in the hardfhips and dangers of war. As the fame motives had induced them to enter into their new engagements with Cortes, they no fooner be came acquainted with the nature of the fervice, than they bitterly repented of their choice. Such of them as had the good fortune to furvive the pe rilous adventures in which their own imprudence had involved them, happy in having made their efcape, trembled at the thoughts of being expofed a fecond time to fimilar calamities. As foon as they difcovered the intention of Cortes, they began fecretlv * Cortes Relat. p. 253, E. Gomara Cron. c. 117. I01 HISTORY OF AMERICA. fecretly to murmur and cabal, and waxing gra-?- dually more audacious, they, in a body, offered, aremonftrance to their general againft the impru- . 1520. dence of attacking a powerful empire with his fhattered forces, and formally required him to lead them back directly to Cuba. Though Cortes, long practifed in the arts of command, employed arguments, entreaties, and prefents, to convince or to fbqth them ; though his own foldiers, ani mated with the fpirit of their leader, warmly fe- . conded his endeavours ; he found their fears too violent and deep-rooted to be removed, and the utmoft he couldeffedt was to prevail with them to defer their departure for fome time, on a promife that he would, at a more proper juncture, diffnifs fuch as fhould defire it. Means he That the malcontents might have no leifure to reTvethe'ir brood over the caufes of their difaffection, he re- confidence, folved inftantly to call forth his troops into action. He propofed to chaftife the people of Tepeaca for the outrage which they had committed ; and as the detachment which they had cut off happened to be compofed moftly of fold iers who had ferved upder Narvaez, their companions, from the defire of vengeance, engaged more willingly in this war. Auguft. He took the command in perfon, accompanied by a numerous body of Tlafcalans, and in the, fpace of a few weeks, after various encounters, with great flapghter of the Tepeacans, reduced , that province to fubjection. During feveral months While he waited for the fupplies of men and amu- nition which he expected, and was carrying on his preparations for conftrupiing the brigantines, he kept his troops conftantly employed in various ex peditions againft the adjacent provinces, all of ,; which were conducted with an uniform tenour of fuccefs. By thefe, his men became again accuf tomed to vidtory, and refumed their wonted fenfe ' ' '¦'•" of HISTORY OF AMERICA. 'i«3 of fuperiority ; the Mexican power was weak- BOOK ened ; the Tlafcalan warriors acquired the habit v- of acting in conjunction with the Spaniards ; and v-^>/ chiefs of the republic delighted to fee their country 1520- enriched with the fpoils of all the people around them, and aftoniihed every day with frefh difco- veries of the irrefiftible prowefs of their allies, declined no effort requifite to fupport them. All thofe preparatory arrangements, however, strengthen- though the moft prudent and efficacious which ed. bJ feveral reinforce the fituation of Cortes allowed him to make,ments. would have been of little avail, without a rein forcement of Spanifh foldiers. Of this he was fo deeply fenfible, that it was the chief object of his thoughts and wifhes ; and yet his only profpect of obtaining it, from the return of the officer whom he had fent to the ifles to folicit aid, was both diftant and uncertain. But what neither his own fagacity nor power could have procured, he owed to a feries of fortunate and unforefeen incidents. The governor of Cuba, to whom the fuccefs of Narvaez appeared an event of infallible certainty, having fent two fmall fhips after him with new inftrudtions and a fupply of men and military ftores, the officer whom Cortes had appointed to command on the coaft, artfully decoyed them into the har bour of Vera Cruz, feized the veffels, and eafily perfuaded the foldiers to follow the ftandard of a more able leader than him whom they were deftined to join *. Soon after, three fhips of more confiderable force came into the harbour fe- parately. Thefe belonged to an armament fitted out by Francifco de Gary, governor of Jamaica, who being poffeffed with the rage of difcovery and conqueft which animated every Spaniard fet tled * B, Diaz. c. 131. 104 HISTORY OF AMERICA. JBOOKtled in America, had long aimed at intruding v- into fome diftrict of New Spain, and dividing w~7~»~' with Cortes the glory and gain of annexing that 1520. empire to the crown of Caftile. They unad- -i-ifedly made their attempt on the northern pro vinces, where the country was poor, and the peo ple fierce and warlike; and,- after a cruel fuceeffion of difaftprs, famine compelled them to venture into October -8. Vera Cruz and caft themfelves upon the mercy of their countrymen. Their fidelity v/as not proof againft the fplendid hopes and promifes which had feduced other adventurers, and, as if the fpirit of revolt had been contagious in New Spain, they likewife abandoned the mafter whom they were bound to ferve, and enlifted under Cortes*. Nor was it America alone that furnifhed fuch un expected aid. A fhip arrived from Spain, freighted by fome private merchants with military ftores,' in hopes of a profitable market in a country, the fame of whofe opulence began to fpread over , Europe. Cortes eagerly purchafed a cargo which. to him was invaluable, and the crew, following the general example joined him at Tlafcala f. From thofe various quarters, the army of Cortes was augmented with an hundred and eighty men, and twenty horfes, a reinforcement too inconfi- derable to produce any confequence which would intitle it to have been mentioned in the hiftoryof other parts of the globe. But in that of America, where great revolutions were brought about by caufes which feem to bear no proportion -to their effects, fuch fmall events rife into importance, be caufe they were fufficient to decide with refpect to the fate of kingdoms. Nor is it the leaft re markable inftance of the lingular felicity confpi- cuous in any paffages of Cortes's ftory, that the two f Cortes Relat. 252, F. B. Diaz. o. 133. f Ibid. c. 136. HISTORY OF AMERICA. 105 two perfons chiefly inftrumental in furnifhing him BOOK with thofe feafonable fupplies fhould be an avowed V. enemy who aimed at his deftrudtion, and an en- '—hp*^ vious rival who wiftied to fupplant him. J520- The firft effedt of the junction with his new Number of followers was to enable him to difmifs fuch of hisforces- Narvaez's foldiers as remained in reluctance in his fervice. After their departure, he ftill muf- tered five hundred and fifty infantry, of which fourfcore were armed with niufkets or, crofs-bows, forty horfemcn, and a train of nine field pieces*. At the head of thefe, accompanied by ten thou fand Tlafcalans and other friendly Indians, Cortes began his march towards Mexico, on the twenty- eighth of December, fix months after his fatal re treat from that city f. Nor did he advance to attack an enemy unpre- Preparat;ons pared to receive him. Upon the death of Mon- of the Mex- tezuma, the Mexican chiefs, in whom the right [heMe" of electing the emperor was veiled, had inftantly fence. railed his brother Quetlavaca to the throne. His avowed and inveterate enmity to the Spaniards, would have been fufficient to gain their fuffrages, although he had been lefs diftinguifhed for cou rage and capacity. He had an immediate oppor tunity of fhewing that he was worthy of their choice, by conducting in perfon, thofe fierce at tacks which compelled the Spaniards to abandon his capital ; and as foon as their retreat afforded him any refpite from action, he took meafures for preventing their return to Mexico, with prudence equal to the fpirit which he had difplayed in driv-t ing them out of it. As from the vicinity of Tlaf cala he could not be acquainted with the motions and intentions of Cortes, he obferved the ftorm that * Cortes Relat. 255, E. f Relat. 256, A. B. Diaz. c. 137. *S6 HISTORY OF AMERICA. BOOK that was gathering, and began early to provide v- againft it. He repaired what the Spaniards had ^-"V^- ruined in the city, and ftrengthened it with fuch J520- new fortifications as the fkill of his fubjeets was capable of eredting. Befide filling his magazines with the ufual weapons of war, he gave directions to make long fpears, headed with the fwords and daggers taken from the Spaniards, in order to annoy the cavalry. He fummoned the people in every province of the empire to take arms againft their oppreffors; as an encouragement to exert themfelves with vigour, he promifed them exemp tion from all the taxes which his predeceffors had impofed *. But what he laboured with the greateft earneftnefs was, to deprive the Spaniards of the advantages which they derived from the friend- fhip of the Tlafcalans, by endeavouring to per- fuade that people to renounce all connedtion with men who were not only avowed enemies ofthe gods whom they worfhipped, but who would not fail to fubjedt them at laft to the fame yoke, which they were now inconfiderably lending their aid to impofe upon others. Thefe reprefentations, no lefs ftriking than well-founded, were urged/ fo forcibly by his ambaffadors, that it required all the addrefs of Cortes to prevent their making a dangerous impreffion f. But while Quetlavaca was arranging his plan of defence, with a degree of forefight uncommon in an American, his days were cut fhort by the fmall-pox. This diftemper which raged at that time in New Spain with fatal malignity," was un known in that quarter of the globe, until it was introduced by the Europeans, and may be rec-- koned, * Cortes Relat. p. 253. E, 254, A. B. Diaz. c. 140. ¦J- B. Diaz. c. 129. Herrera, dec. 2. lib. x. d. 14, 19, HISTORY OF AMERICA. I0? koned among the greateft calamities brought upon BOOK them by their invaders. In his ftead the Mexicans V. raifed to the throne Gautimozin, nephew and fon- v-nr^/ in-law of Montezuma, a young man of fuch high 1S2°- reputation for abilities and valour, that in this dangerous crifis, his countrymen with one voice, called him to the fupreme command*. As foon as Cortes entered the enemy's territo- ,e2I. ries, he difcovered various preparations to ob- Co,tesad- ftruct his progrefs. But his troops forced their wa^Mex- way with little difficulty, and took poffeffion of ico- Tezeuco, the fecond city of the empire, fituated on the banks of the lake, about twenty miles from Mexico f. Here he determined to eftablifh his . head-quarters, as the moft proper ftation for launching his brigantines, as well as for making his approaches to the capital. In order to render his.refidence there more fecure, he depofed the cazique or chief, who was at the head of that com munity, under pretext of fome defect in his title, and fubfiituted in his place a perfon whom a fac tion of the nobles pointed out as the right heir of that dignity. Attached to him by this benefit, the new cazique and his adherents ferved the Spa niards with inviolable fidelity \. As the conftrudtion of the brigantines advanced Hisoperati- flowly under the unfkilful hands of foldiers and ^Z™* Indians, whpm Cortes was obliged to employ in affifting three or four carpenters who happened fortunately to be in his fervice, and as he had not yet received the reinforcement which he expected from Hifpaniola, he was not in a condition to turn his arms directly againft the capital. To have attacked * B. Diaz. c. 130. f Villa SenorTheatro Americano, I 156. t Cortes Relat. 256, &c. B. Diaz. c. 137. Go mara Cron. c. 121. Herrera, dec. 3. c. 1. icS HISTORY OF AMERICA. BOOK attacked a city fo populous, fo well prepared for V- defence, and in a- fituation of fuch peculiar ^n^-' ftrength, muft have expofed his troops to' inevi- *521- table deftrudtion. Three months elapfed before the materials for conftrudting the brigantines were finifhed, and before he heard any thing with re fpect to the fuccefs of his negociation in Hifpa, niola. This, however, was not a feafon of in action to Cortes. He attacked fucceffively feveral of the towns fituated around the lake ; and though all the Mexican power was exerted to obftruct his operations, he either compelled them to fuhrnit to the Spanifh crown, or reduced them to ruins, Other towns he endeavoured to conciliate by more gentle means ; and though be' could not hold ally intercourfe with the inhabitants but by the inter vention of interpreters, yet, under all the difad vantage of that tedious and imperfect mode ,of communication, he had acquired fuch' thorough knowledge of the flare of the country, as well as ofthe difpofitions ofthe people, that he conducted his negociations and intrigues with aftonifhi-ng dexterity and fuccefs. Moft of the cities adjacent to Mexico were originally the capitals of fmall in dependent ftates ; and fome of them having been but lately annexed to the Mexican empire, ftill retained the remembrance of their ancient liberty, and bore with impatience the rigorous yoke ot their new matters. Cortes having early obferved fymptoms of their difaffedlion, availed himfelf of this knowledge to gain their confidence and friend- fhip. By offering, with confidence, to deliver them from the odious dominion of the Mexicans, and by liberal promifes of more indulgent treat ment, if they would unite with him againft t-heif oppreffors, he prevailed on the people of feveral ponfiderable diftridts not only to acknowledge the king of Caftile as their fovereign, but to fuppfy the. HISTORY OF AMERICA. iq9 the Spanifh camp with provifions, and to ftrengthen BOOK his army with auxiliary troops. Guatimozin, on V. the firft appearance of deTedtion among his fubjedts, '^rv exerted himfelf with vigour to prevent or punifh '5:I- their revolt ; but in fpight of his efforts the fpirit continued to fpread. The Spaniards gradually acquired new allies ; and with deep concern he beheld Cortes arming againft his empire thofe very hands which ought to have been active in its de fence, and ready to advance againft the capital at the head of a numerous body of his own fub- jeas*. While, by thofe various methods, Cortes was gradually circumfcribing the Mexican power within. fuch narrow limits that his profpedlof overturning it feemed neither to be uncertain nor remote, all his fchemes were well nigh defeated, by a confpi racy no lefs unexpedted than dangerous. The foldiers of Narvaez had never united perfectly with the original companions of Cortes, nor did they enter into his meafures with the fame cordial zeal. Upon every occafion that required any ex traordinary effort of courage or of patience, their fpirits were apt to fink ; and now, on a near view of what they had to encounter, in attempting to reduce a city fo inacceflible as Mexico, and de fended by a numerous army, the refolution even of thofe among them who had adhered to Cortes, when he was deferted by their affociates, began to fail. Their fears led them to prefumptuous and unfoldier-likedifcuffions concerning the propriety of their general's meafures, and the improbability of their fuccefs. From thefe they proceeded to cenfure and invectives, and at laft began to deli berate how they might provide for their own fafety, of * Cortes Relat. 256 — 260. B. Diaz. t. 137 — 140. Go- iiiar.i Cron. c. 122, 123. Herrera dec. 3. lib. i. c. 1, 2. no HISTORY OF AMERICA. B O O K of which they deemed their commander to be to- V. tally negligent. Antonio Villefagna, a private "— nr**-' foldier, but bold, intriguing, and ftrongly attached' ^S21- to Velafquez, artfully fomented this growing fpirit of difaffedlion. His quarters became the rendez vous of the malcontents, where, after many con- fultations, they could difcover no method of checking Cortes in his career, but by affaffinating him and his moft considerable officers, and con ferring the command upon fome perfon who would relinquifh his wild plans, and adopt meafures more confident with the general fecurity. Defpair in-, fpired them with courage. The hour for perpe trating the crime, the perfons whom they deftined as victims, the officers to fucceed them in command, were all named ; and the confpirators figned an affociation, by which they bound themfelves with moft folemn oaths to mutual fidelity. But on the evening before the appointed day, one of Cortes's ancient followers, who had been feduced into the confpiracy, touched with compunction at the im minent danger of a man whom he had long been accuftomed to revere, or ftruck with horror at his own treachery, went privately to his general, and revealed to him all that he knew. Cortes, though deeply alarmed, difcerned at once what condu$ was proper in a fituation fo critical. He repaired inftantly to Villefagna's quarters, accompanied by fome of his moft trufty officers. The aftonifhment and confufion of the man, at this unexpected, vifit anticipated the confeffion of his guilt. While his attendants feized him. Cortes fnatched from his bofom a paper containing the affociation, figned by the confpirators. Impatient to know how far the defection extended, he retired to read it, and found there names which filled him with furprife and forrow. But aware how dangerous a flrict fcrutiny might prove at fuch a juncture, he confined HISTORY OF AMERICA. in hi-s judicial inquiries to Villefagna alone. As the BOOK proofs of his guilt were manifeft, he was condemned V. after a fhort trial, and next morning he was feen ^nr*-' hanging before the door of the houlc in which he i5ZI- had lodged. Cortes called his troops together, and having explained to them the atrocious purpofe of the confpirators, as well as the juftiee of the punifliment inflicted on Villefagna, he added, with an appearance of fatisfaction, that he was intirely ignorant with refpect to all the circumftances of this dark uanfadtion, as the traitor, when arrefted, had fuddenly torn and fwallowed a paper, which probably contained an account of it, and under the fevereft tortures poffeffed fuch conftancy as to conceal the names of his accomplices. This artful declaration reftored tranquillity to many a brcaft that was throbbing, while he fpoke, with confci oufnefs of guilt and dread of detection ; and by this prudent moderation, Cortes had the advantage of having difcovered and of being able to obferve fuch of his followers as were difaffected ; while they, flattering themfelves that their paft crime was unknown, endeavoured to avert any fufpicion of it, by redoubling their activity and zeal in his fervice *. Cortes did not allow them leifure to ruminate h;s fin-ihr on what had happened; and as the moft effectual f™^^ means of preventing the return of a mutinous fpi- brigan^e:.* rit, he determined to call forth his troops imme diately to action. Fortunately, a proper occafion for this occurred without his feeming to court it. He received intelligence, that the materials for building the brigantines were at length completely finifhed, and waited only for a body of Spaniards to conduct them to Tezeuco. The command of this convoy, confifting of two hundred foot fot- diero, * Cortes Relat. 283, C. B. Di.iz. c 146. Herrera. dec. 3. lib. i. c. 1. ri2 HISTORY OF- AMERICA. BOOK diers, fifteen horfemen, and two field pieces, he V. gave to Sandoval, who, by the vigilance, and acti- *—nr^s vity, and courage, which he manifefted on every l521- occasion, was growing daily in his confidence, and in the eftimation of his fellow-foldiers. The fer vice was no lefs lingular than important ; the beams, the planks, the malts, the cordage, the fails, the iron- work, and all the infinite variety of articles requifite for thecouftructiou of thirteen brigantines, were to be carried fixty miles over land, through a mountainous country, by people who were unac quainted with the miniftry of domeflic animals, or the aid of machines to facilitate any work of labour. The Tlafcalans furnifhed eight thoufand Tamens, an inferior order of men deftined for fer- vile tafks, to carry the materials on their fhoulders, and appointed fifteen thoufand warriors to accom pany and defend them. Sandoval made the dif pofition for their progrefs with great propriety, placing the Tamens in the centre, one body of warriors in the front, another in the rear, with confiderable parties to cover the flanks. To each of thefe he joined forne Spaniards, not only toaf- ; fift them in danger, but to accuftom them to regu/ larity and fubordination. A body fo numerous, and fo much encumbered, advanced leifurely, but in excellent order ; and in fome places, where it was confined by the woods or mountains, the line of march extended above fix miles. Parties of Mexicans frequently appeared hovering around them on the high grounds ; but perceiving no pro- fpedt of fuccefs in attacking an enemy continually on his guard, and prepared to receive them, they did not venture to moleft him ; and Sandoval had the glory of conducting fafely to Tezeuco a con voy on which all the future operations of his coun trymen depended *. This * Cortes Relat. 260. C. E. B. Diaz. c. 140. HISTORY OF AMERICA. 113 This was followed by another event of no lefs BOOK moment. Four fhips arrived at Vera Cruz from v- Hifpaniola, with two hundred foldiers, eighty '-T'*' horl'es, two battering cannon, and a confiderable Re^es'a fupply of ammunition and arms*. Elevated with new rein- obferving that all his preparatory fchemes, either forcement' fer recruiting his own army, or impairing the force of the enemy, had now produced their full effect, Cortes, impatient to begin the fiege inform, > haftened the launching of the brigantines. To facilitate this, he had employed a vaft number of Indians, for two months, in deepening the fmall rivulet which runs by Tezeuco into the lake, and in forming it into a canal near two miles in length f ; and though the Mexicans, aware of his intentions, as well as of the danger which threat ened them, endeavoured frequently to interrupt the labourers, or to burn the brigantines, the work was at laft completed §. On the 28th of April, The br!san- all the Spanifh troops, together with auxiliary In-ed." dians, were drawn up on the banks of the canal ; and with extraordinary military pomp, heightened and rendered more folemn by the celebration of the moft facred rights of religion, the brigantines were launched. As they fell down the canal in order, Father Olmedo bleffed them, and gave each its name. Every eye followed them with wonder and hope, until they entered the lake, when they hoifted their fails, and bore away before the wind. A general fhout of joy was raifed ; all admiring that bold inventive genius, which by means fo ex traordinary that their fuccefs almoft exceeded be lief, had acquired the command of a fleet, without the aid of which Mexico would have continued Vol. II. I to * Cortes Relat. 259, F. 262, D. Gomara Cron. c. 129. f See NOTE XXIII, § B. Diaz. c. 140. ii4 HISTORY OF AMERICA. BO OK to fet the Spanifh power and arms at defi- v- ance*. ^•T^ Cortes determined to attack the city from Dif Prions t^iree different quarters ; from Teuzeco on the eaft for the fiege. fide of the lake, from Tacuba on the weft, and from Cuyocan towards the fouth. Thofe towns were fituated on the principal caufeways which led to the capital, and intended for their defence. He appointed Sandoval to command in the firft, Pedro de Alvarado in the fecond, and Chriftoval de Olid in the third ; allotting to each a numerous body of Indian auxiliaries, together with an equal divifion of Spaniards, who, by the junction of the troops from Hifpaniola, amounted now to eighty- fix horfemen, and eight hundred and eighteen foot -foldiers; of whom a hundred and eighteen were armed with raufkets or crofs-bows. Their train of artillery confifted of three battering cannon, and fifteen field -pieces f. Hereferved for himfelf, as the ftation of greateft importance and danger, the condudt of the brigantines, each armed with one of his fmall cannon, and manned with twenty- five Spaniards. May 10. As Alvarado and Olid proceeded towards the pofts afligned them, they broke down the aque ducts which the ingenuity of the Mexicans had erected for conveying water into the capital, and by the diftrefs to which this reduced the inhabi tants, gave a beginning to the calamities which they were deftined to fuffer j. Alvarado and Olid found the towns, of which they were ordered to take poffeffion, deferted by their inhabitants, who had fled for fafety to the capital, where Guatimo zin * Cortes Relat. 266, C. Herrera, dec. 3. lib. 1. c. 5. Go mara Cron. c. 129. f Cortes Relat. 266, C. J Cortes Relat. 267, B. B. Diaz. c. 150. Herrera, dec. 3. lib. i. c. 13. HISTORY OF AMERICA. 115 zin had collected the chief force of his empire, BOOK as there alone he could hope to make a fuccefsful v- (land againft the formidable enemies who were ap- v-^^r,~' proaching to affault him. I521" The firft effort ofthe Mexicans was to deftroy Mexicans the fleet of brigantines, the fatal effects of whofe ""^^s operations they forefaw and dreaded. Though the brigantines, after all the labour and merit of Cortes in forming them, were of inconfiderable bulk, rudely conftrudted, and manned chiefly with landmen, hardly poffeffed of fkill enough to con duct them, they muft have been objects of terror to a people unacquainted with any navigation but that of their lake, and poffeffed of no veffel larger than a canoe. Neceffity, however, urged Gua timozin to hazard the attack ; and hoping to fupply by numbers what he wanted in force, he aflem- bled fuch a multitude of canoes as covered the face of the lake. They rowed on boldly to the charge, while the brigantines, retarded by a dead calm, could fcarcely advance to meet them. But as the enemy drew near, a breeze fuddenly fprung Re uIfcd up ; in a moment the fails were fpread, and the brigantines with irrefiftible impetuofity broke through their feeble opponents, overfet many ca noes, and diffipated the whole armament with fuch flaughter, as convinced the Mexicans, that the progrefs of the Europeans in knowledge and arts rendered their fuperiority greater on this new element than they had hitherto found it by land *. From that time Cortes remained mafter of the singular lake; and the brigantines not only preferved aPla"ofc°n" '.. ,6 i_e • J • i_- during the communication between the Spaniards in their fiege. different flattens, though at confiderable diftance I 2 from * Cortes Relat. 267, C. B. Diaz. c. 150. Gomara Cron. c. 131. Herrera, dec. 3. lib. i. <.. 17. t/6 HISTORY OF AMERICA. ^OOt froth each other, but were employed to cover the V. caufeways on each fide, and keep off the canoes, *— nr^-' when they attempted to annoy the troops as. they '521- advanced towards the city. He formed the bri gantines in three divifions, allotting one to each ftatiori, with orders to fecond the operations of the officer who commanded there. From all the three ftations he pufhed on the attack againft the city Avith equal vigour; but in a manner fo very dif ferent from that whereby fieges are conducted in regular war, that he himfelf feems afraid that it would appear no lefs improper than Angular, to 'perfons unacquainted with his fituation*. Each morning his troops affaulted the barricades which the enemy had erected pn the caufeways, forced their way over the treriches which they had dug, and through the canals where the bridges were broken down, and endeavoured to penetrate into the heart of the city, in hopes of obtaining fome decifive advantage, which might force the enemy to furrender, and terminate the war at once ; but when the obftinate valour of the Mexicans ren dered the efforts ofthe day ineffectual, the Spani ards retired in the evening to their former quarters. Thus their toil and danger were, in fome meajge, continually renewed ; the Mexicans repairing in the night what the Spaniards had deftroyed through the day, and rPcovering the pofts from which they had driven them. But neceffity prefcribed this flow and untoward mode of operation. The num ber of his troops was fo fmall, that Cortes durft not, with a handful of men, attempt to make a lodgment in a city where he might be furrounded and annoyed by fuch a multitude of enemies. The remembrance of what he had already fuffered by the ill-judged confidence with which he had ventured * Cortes Relat. 270, F. HISTORY OF AMERICA. ivj ventured into fuch a dangerous fituation, was ftill B Q O K. frefh in his mind. The Spaniards, exhaufted with v- fatigue, were unable to guard the various pofts —T^'' which they daily gained ; and though their camp 1$21' was filled with Indian auxiliaries, they durft not devolve this charge upon them, beqaufe they were fo little accuftomed to difcipline, that no confi dence could be placed in their vigilance. Befides this, Cortes was extremely felicitous to preferve the city as much as poffible from being deftroyed, bot.h as he deftined it to be the capital of his con- quefts, and wifhed that it might remain as a mo nument of his glory. From all thefe cpnfiderations, he adhered obftinately, for a month after the fiege, was opened, to the fyftem which he had adopted. The Mexicans, in their own defe/ice, difplayed valour which was hardly inferior to that with which the Spaniards attacked them. On land, on water, by night and by day, one furious conflict fuc- ceeded to another. Several Spaniards were killed, more wounded, and all were ready to fink under the toils of unintermitting fervice, which were rendered more intolerable by the injuries of the feafon, the periodical rains being now fet in with their ufual violence*. Astonished and difconcerted with- the length Endeavours and difficulties of the fiege, Cortes determined tp^abkyethe make one great effort to get pofTeffion of the city ftorm. before he relinquifhed the plan which he had hi therto followed, and had recourfe to any other jnode of attack. With this view, he fent inftrue- tions to Alvarado and Sandoval to advance with their divifions to a general affault, and took the command in perfon of that pofted on the caufeway of Cuyocan. Animated by his prefence, and the expectation of fome decifive event, the Spaniards puttied forward with irrefiftible impetuofity. They broke * B. Diaz. c. 15 J. u8 HISTORY OF AMERICA. BOOK broke through one barricade after another, forced v- their way over the ditches and canals, and having v*T>-f/ entered the city, gained ground inceffantly, in J5ZI- fpite of the multitude and ferocity of their oppo nents. Cortes, though delighted with the rapidity of his progrefs, did not forget that he might ftill' find it neceffary to retreat ; and in order to fecure it, appointed Julian de Alderete, a captain of chief note in the troops which fie had received from Hifpaniola, to fill up the canals and gaps in the caufeway as the main body advanced. That of ficer deeming it inglorious to be thus employed, while his companions were in the heat of action and the career of victory, neglected the important charge committed to him, and hurried on inconfi- derately to mingle with the combatants. The Mexicans, whofe military attention and .(kill were daily improving, no fooner obferved this, than they carried an account of it to their monarch. Kepuifed. Guatimozin inftantly difcerned the confe- quences ofthe error whicli the Spaniards had com mitted, and, with adrhirable prefence of mind, prepared to take advantage of it, He commanded the troops pofted in the front to flacken their ef forts in order to allure the Spaniards to pufh for ward, while be difpatched a large body of chofen warriors through different ftreets, fome by land, and others by water, towards the great breach in the caufeway which had been left open. On a fignal which he gave, the priefts in the great tem ple ftruck the great drum confecrated to the god of war. No fooner did the Mexicans hear its doleful folemn found, calculated to infpire them with con tempt of death and enthufiaftic ardour, than they rufhed upon the enemy with frantic rage. The Spaniards, unable to refill men urged on no lefs by religious fury than hope of fuccefs, began to retire HISTORY OF AMERICA. 119 retire at firft leifurely, and with a good counte- BOOK nance ; but as the enemy preffed on, and their v- own impatience to efcape increafed, the terror and v— T^' confufion became fo general, that when they ar- l521' rived at the gap in the caufeway, Spaniards and Tlafcalans, horfemen and infantry, plunged in promifcuoufly, while the Mexicans rufhed upon them fiercely from every fide, their light canoes carrying them through fhoals which the brigantines could not approach. In vain did Cortes attempt to flop and rally his flying troops ; fear rendered them regardlefs of his intreaties or commands. Finding alt his endeavours to renew the corribatK fruitlefs, his next care was to fave fome of thofe who had thrown themfelves into the water ; but while thus employed with more attention to their fituation than to his own, fix Mexican captains with confi. fuddenly laid hold of him, and were hurrying him derabie iocs. off in triumph ; and though two of his officers refcued him at the expence of their own lives, he received feveral dangerous wounds before he could break loofe. Above fixty Spaniards perifhed in the rout ; and what rendered the difafter more af flicting, forty of thefe fell alive into the hands of an enemy never known to fhew mercy to a cap tive*. The approach of night, though it delivered theThofewho dejected Spaniards from the attacks ofthe enemy, drifted™ ufheredin what was hardly lefs grievious, the noifethes°dof of their barbarous triumph, and of the horrid fefti-war" val with which they celebrated their victory. Every quarter ofthe city was illuminated; the great temple lhone with fuch peculiar fplendour, that the Spaniards could plainly fee the people in motion, and the priefts bufy in haftening the pre parations * Cortes Relat. p. 273. B. Diaz. c. 153- Gomara Cton. c. 148. Herrera, dec. 3. lib. 1. c. 2.0. i2© HISTORY OF AMERICA. BOOK parations for the death of the priforiers. Through v- the gloom they fancied that they difcerned their Vto^"°~'w companions by the whitenefs of their fkins, as IS21- they were ftript naked and compelled to dance before the image ofthe god to whom they were to be offered. They heard the fhrieks of thofe who were facrificed, and thought that they could dif- tinguifh each unhappy vidtim, by the well-known found of his voice, Imagination added to what they really faw or heard, a°d augmented its hor ror. The moft unfeeling melted into tears of com- paffion, and the ftouteft heart trembled at the dreadful fpedtacle which they beheld *. New Cortes, who, befides all that he felt in com-* efforTsrfrtt mon Wltn ms foldiers, was oppreffed with the ad, Mexicans, ditional load of anxious reflections natural to a general on fuch an unexpected calamity, could npt, like them, relieve his mind by giving vent to its anguifh. He was obliged to alTume an air of tranquillity, in order to revive the fpirits and hopes of his followers. The juncture, indeed, required an extraordinary exertion of fortitude. The Mexir e£ns, elated with their victory, fallicd out next rooming to attack hirn in his quarters. But they did not rely on the efforts of their own arms alone* They fent the heads of the Spaniards whom they had facrificed to the leading men in the adja cent provinces, arid affured them that the god of war, appeafed by the blood of their invaders, which had been fhed fo plentifully on his altars, had declared with an audible voice, that in eight days time thofe hated ePemies fhould be finally deflroyed, and peace and prosperity re-eftablifhed in the empire. A prediction. *-See NOTE XXIV. HISTORY OF AMERICA. 121 A prediction uttered with fuch confidence, B O O K and in terms fo void of ambiguity, gained univer- V. fal credit among a people prone to fuperftition. V^T>*' The zeal of the provinces which had already de- 1521- clared againft the Spaniards augmented, and feve- Cortes de_ ral, which had hitherto remained inadtive, tookfertedby arms with enthufiaftic ardour to execute the de- ^"Ltiiies. crees of the gods. The Indian auxiliaries who had joined Cortes, accuftomed to venerate the fame deities with the Mexicans, and to receive the refponfes of their priefts with the fame implicit faith, abandoned the Spaniards as a race of men devoted to certain deftrudtion. Even the fidelity of the Tlafcalans was fhaken, and the Spanifh troops were left almoft alone in their ftations, Cortes finding that he attempted in vain to difpel the fuperftitious fears of his confederates by argu ment, took advantage from the imprudence of thofe who had framed the prophecy, in fixing its accomplifhtfient fo near at hand, to give them a ftriking demonstration of its falfity. He fufpended all military operations during the period marked out by the oracle. Under cover ofthe brigantines which kept the enemy at a diftahce, his troops lay in fafety, and the fatal term expired without any difafter *. His allies, afhamed of their own credulity, re- He regains turned to their ftation. Other tribes, judging4^ fricnd" i that the gods, who had now deceived the Mexi- i cans, had decreed finally to withdraw their pro- J tedtion froni them, joined his ftandard ; and fuch j was the levity of a fimple people, moved by every ii flight impreffion, that, in a fhort time after fuch a general defection of his confederates, Cortes faw himfelf, if we may believe his own account, at (ithe head of an hundred and fifty thoufand In dians, * B. Diaz. c. 153. Gomara Cron. c. 138. 122 HISTORY' OF AMERICA. BOOK dians. Even with fuch a numerous army, he V. found it neceffary to adopt a new and more wary N— nr**-' fyftem of operation. Inftead of renewing his at- !521- tempts to become mafter of the city at once, by newryftemafUCn bold but dangerous efforts of valour as he, pf attack, had already tried, he made his advances gradually, and with every poffible precaution againft expo- ring his men to any calamity fimilar to that which they ftill bewailed. As the Spaniards pufhed for* ward the Indians regularly repaired the caufeways behind them. As fooii as they got pofiefiron of any part of the town, the houfes were inftantly levelled with the ground. Day by day, the Mex* icans, forced to retire as their enemies gained ground, were hemmed in within more narrow, limits. Guatimozin, though unable to flop the career of the enemy, continued to defend his ca pital with obftinate refolution, and difputed every inch of ground. But the Spaniards having not only varied their mode of attack, but, by orders, of Cortes, having changed the weapons with which they fought, wprp again armed with the long Chinantlan fpears, which they had employed with fuch fuccefs againft Narvaez, and, by the firm array in which this enabled them to range themfelyes, they repelled, with little danger, the loofe affault ofthe Mexicans : incredible numbers of them fell in the conflicts which they renewed every day*.: While war wafted without, famine began to con- fume them within the city. The Spanifh brigan tines having the entire command of the lake, ren dered it impoffible to receive any fupply of provi fions by water. The vaft number of his Indian auxiliaries enabled Cortes to fhutup the avenues to.the city by land. The ftores which Guatimozin had laid up were exhaufted by the multitudes which crouded, * Cortes Relat. 275, C. 276. F. B. Diaz.c 15.3. HISTORY OF AMERICA. 123 crouded into the capital, to defend their fovereign BOOK and the temples of their gods. Not only the peo- V. pie, but perfons of the higheft rank, felt the ut- ^-nr^ moft diftrefies of want. What they fuffered »52i- brought on infectious and mortal diftempers, the laft calamity that vifits befieged cities, and which filled up the meafure of their woes * . But, under the preffure of fo many and fuch courageand various evils, the fpirit of Guatimozin remained Gua