The pleasant historie of the conquest of the VVeast India, now called new Spayne: atchieued by the vvorthy Prince Hernando Cortes, marques of the Valley of Huaxacac, most delectable to readeLópez de Gómara, Francisco
History
The pleasant historie of the conquest of the VVeast India, now called new Spayne: atchieued by the vvorthy Prince Hernando Cortes, marques of the Valley of Huaxacac, most delectable to reade
López de Gómara, Francisco
Cortés, Hernán, 1485-1547; Mexico -- History -- Conquest, 1519-1540; Nahuatl language -- Glossaries, vocabularies, etc.
The house where the Spaniardes were lodged was great and large, with
many fayre chambers sufficient for them all: it was nete, cleane
matted, and hanged with cloth of Cotten, and feathers of many colours,
pleasant to behold. When _Mutezuma_ was departed frö _Cortes_, he
began to sette his house in order, and placed the ordinaunce at his
dore, and hauing all his things in good sorte, he went to a sumptuous
dinner that was prepared for him. As soone as _Mutezuma_ had made an
ende of his dinner hearyng that the straungers were rysen from the
table, and reposed a while, then came he to _Cortes_, salutyng him,
and satte downe by him. He gaue vnto him diuers iewels of gold plate,
feathers, and many garmëts of Cotten, both riche, well woven, & wrought
of straunge colours, a thing comely, that did manifest his greatnesse,
and also cöfirme their imagination. This gifte was deliuered honorably,
and then began his talke as foloweth: Lorde and Gentlemen, I doe much
reioyce to haue in my house such valiant men as ye are, for to vse you
with curtesie, and entreate you with honour, according to your deserte
and my estate. And where heretofore I desired that you shoulde not come
hither, the onely cause was, my people had a greate feare to sée you,
for your gesture & grimme beards did terrifie them, yea, they reported
that yée had such beastes as swallowed men, and that your cöming
was frö heauen, bringing with you lightning, thunder & thüderbolts,
wherwith you made the earth to trëble & to shake, and that yée slew
therewith whom ye pleased. But now I do sée & know that you are mortall
më, & that ye are quiet & hurt no man: also I haue séene your horses,
which are but your seruauntes, and youre Gunnes lyke vnto shootyng
Trunkes. I do now hold all for fables and lyes which hath bin reported
of you, and I do also accept you for my méere kinsmen. My father tolde
me that hée had heard his forefathers say, of whome I doe descende,
that they helde opinion howe they were not naturals of thys lande, but
come hither by chance, in companye of a mighty Lorde, who after a while
that they hadde abode héere, they returned to their natiue soyle: After
manye yeares expyred, they came agayne for those whome they had left
héere behind them, but they would not goe wyth them, bycause they had
héere inhabited, and hadde wyues and children, and great gouernement in
the land. Nowe these myghtie Lords séeyng that they were so stubborne,
and woulde not returne with them, departed from them sore displeased,
saying, that he woulde sende his children that should both rule and
gouerne them, in iustice, peace, and auntient Religion, and for this
consideration, wée haue alwayes expected and beléeued, that suche a
people should come to rule and gouerne vs, and cösidering from whence
you come, I doe thinke that you are they whome we looked for, and the
notice which the greate Emperour _Charles_ had of vs, who hath now sent
you hither.
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