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.
All creatures in the world (mightie prince, and yée Gentlemen and
religious persons whether it be yée here or we in Spayne, or whatsoeuer
other nation that it may be) haue I say, all one begynnyng and ending
of mortall lyfe, whiche is had from God: we are al formed and made of
one mettall, and haue all soules and senses, euen so doubtlesse as we
are like in proportion of body and soule, yea and kinsfolke in bloud,
although that by the prouidence of the same our God, some are borne
fayre and beautifull, and other some fowle and disfigured: some of one
colour, and some of another: some prudent and wise, and other some
fonde and foolishe, without eyther iudgement or vertue: in the which
his maruellous works God sheweth himselfe iuste, holy and almightie,
giuyng those seuerall giftes, to the entent that the wise and learned
mought teache the rude and ignorant, and to guyde the blinde into the
right way of saluation, by the steppes of true and vnfayned religion.
Therfore I and my fellowes, as your gestes and kinsmen, according to
equitie doe procure and wish the same vnto you. A man and his life
consisteth in thrée things as yée shal vnderstande, that is body,
soule, and goodes: as for your goodes and ritches, whiche is the least
that wée desire, for yée know well that we haue taken nothing forcible
from you, but onely those things whiche yée haue fréely and liberally
giuen vs. Likewise we haue not hurt, misused or molested your persons,
wiues or chyldren, nor yet do meane any such thing, your soules health
onely is the thing we séeke, for your saluation, and that we nowe
pretende to shewe, and to giue vnto you perfite notice of the true and
euerlasting God. There is none of naturall iudgement can denie, but
that there is one God, but yet through ignoraunce and deceyte of the
Diuell, will also thinke that there are many Goddes, and not acerte
vnto the true God. But I doe say and moste assuredly certifie you, that
there is no other true God, but onely he whome we Christians doe serue,
adore, and worshippe, the which is one eternall, without beginnyng and
without ende, the onely creator & gouernour of things created: he
alone made the Heauens, the Sunne, the Moone, and Starres, the whiche
his creatures ye doe worship: he (I say) founded and made the Sea, and
the sundry and maruelous fishes therein: he planted and made the lande
with all the monstrous beastes therein, foules likewise in the ayre,
Plantes, Hearbes, Stones and suche like. Al the whiche creatures ye as
blinde and ignorant do hold for Goddes.
[Sidenote: It vvas maruel that Cortes vvas not taken for an heretike.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account