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.
And also considering that _Teudilli_ and hys menne were departed,
fearing also the want of victuals, and likewise, that hys Shyppes
myghte perishe vppon the shore, he commaunded to lade aboorde all theyr
stuffe, and hée wyth foure hundred menne, and all his Horses, followed
on the hygh way that the _Indians_ hadde gone.
After hée hadde iourneyed thrée leagues, hée came to a fayre vadeable
Riuer, and passing ouer the Riuer, hée found a towne not inhabited,
for the inhabitantes thereof were fledde with feare: he entred into a
great house, which séemed the place of the Lorde of the Towne, built
with timber and earthen walles, the foundation whereof was raysed with
handie worke, about a fadome high: the roofe was couered with strawe,
but of a fayre & strange workemanshippe inwardes, with many greate
pertitions, some full of pottes of honey, and Maiz, with other grayne
whiche they kéepe in store all the yeare: other roomes had cloth of
Cotten wool, wrought with feathers, golde and siluer.
_Cortez_ commaunded Proclamation to be made, that none of his company
shoulde take any thyng away, vppon payne of deathe (onely victuals
excepted) to the intente to obtayne the good will and friendship among
the _Indians_.
There was in that Village a Temple, whiche hadde a little Tower with a
Chappell on the toppe, and twentie steppes to come vnto the Chappell,
where they found some Idolles, and many bloudy papers, and much mans
bloud of those which hadde bin sacrificed, as _Marina_ dyd certifie.
They found also the blocke wherevppon they vsed to cutte open the menne
sacrificed, and the razors made of Flint, wherewyth they opened their
breastes, and plucked out their heartes béeyng aliue, throwing them
vppe toward Heauen as an offering, and after this done, they annoynted
their Idolles, and the papers they offered, and then burned them.
This sight put a great compassion, yea and a feare among our
_Spanyards_, who did beholde these things. From this Village they went
to other thrée or foure, and found none aboue two hundred houses, and
all without people, yet well prouided with victuall, as the firste
towne was. _Cortez_ returned from thence to discharge his Shippes,
and to take order to sende for moe men: and with desire to beginne
habitation, in these affaires he occupyed hymselfe tenne dayes.
Hovv Cortez rendred vp his charge
_and office with pollicie_.
VVhen _Cortes_ was come where his Ships were, and the residue of his
company, hée began this talke, saying:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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