The Mastering of Mexico/Chapter 15
CHAPTER XV
What Cortes said to a so-called notary; how he addressed us at Cempoala and we rallied to his call: our victory over Narvaez and his forces, and the surrender of mates and masters of the fleet; how the smallpox reached New Spain.
From Cholula our captain sent to the Tlaxcalans begging them to despatch at once five thousand warriors. To this our friends answered that if we were going to war against Indians like themselves they would gladly do so, but against teules like ourselves, and cannon and crossbows, they had no wish to fight. They accompanied their refusal, however, with as many fowls as twenty men could carry.
We kept on our way, ready at a moment's notice for battle. Our scouts with two of our soldiers, trustworthy and swift of foot, were always a day's journey ahead of us, lurking in paths where horses could not go, to hear from Indians about the newly arrived troops, and on the lookout to seize any strollers from Narvaez' camp. It was not long before they came upon five Spaniards, and sent us word they were approaching. As the new arrivals came near they made profound bows and our captain dismounted when their chief, Alonzo de Mata, said he was a notary and wished to serve a decree he had brought. Cortes interrupted him and asked if he were a king's notary. Mata said yes. Cortes then ordered him to show his appointing paper, and if it were regular he was at liberty to read his message, and he, our captain, would then know what was due him in the service of God and his majesty. But if he, Mata, had not brought the original appointment signed by the king, it was useless for him to read the paper.
Mata was not a little staggered at this demand, for he really was no notary. He was fairly dumbfounded, and the four men with him equally. Cortes overlooked their embarrassment and ordered food set before them, for we were then halting a few moments. Further he told them we were marching to Tanpaniguita, not far from the camp of Narvaez, and there he could be found if they had any communication to make. In all he said Cortes spoke not a word of reproach against Narvaez, and after he had had a private talk with the men and had thrust a few pieces of gold into their hands, they went back to their camp sounding the praises of Cortes and of all of us. While they were with us many of our soldiers out of pure love of display hung gold collars and chains round their necks and arms. All this made great impression on the five men, and they told such wonderful stories of our riches in their camp that many of the officers wanted to make peace with Cortes.
As soon as our troops arrived at Tanpaniguita we despatched that remarkably shrewd man, Padre de Olmedo, with a letter to Narvaez. Towards the commander the friar comported himself in a particularly humble manner, but he made secret overtures to a number of gentlemen and gave some of them bars of gold. We also sent other skilful mediators. But, to pass briefly their work, let me say that in the end all negotiations proved useless, and finally we continued our march to Cempoala and halted in a beautiful meadow skirting a brook, about four miles from the town. We now posted sentinels of entirely trustworthy men, and Cortes assembled us round him, as he sat on horseback, and begging a few minutes' silence, spoke to us in this wise:
"You well know that Diego Velasquez, governor of Cuba, named me captain general—but not because there are not many gentlemen among you worthy of the post—and that you left Cuba thinking you were coming to settle in this country. I was preparing to act up to the publication, and was ready to return to Cuba and render account to Diego Velasquez, when your honors ordered—yes, compelled me to form a settlement here in the name of our emperor, a settlement that, thanks to God, has so far succeeded. You then made me your captain general and chief justice of New Spain, to continue vested in such powers till our king should order otherwise. Once there was talk among some of you of return to Cuba; but this I need not mention, it is past history, and our determination to stay here has proved a service to God and our king.
"Above all I must remind you of what we promised when we forwarded gold, silver, jewels and other valuable things we had acquired, and sent his majesty report and story of our doings, how we begged the king, since this land was of vast extent and rich in mines and cities, not to give it away to be governed by an agent or any partisan of the bishop of Burgos, but that it was good and proper to bestow It on some great prince. Now, you well remember, gentlemen, how often we have been at the point of death in battles we have fought. You all know how we are wonted to hunger and hardships, sleeping on bare ground In rain and snow and never laying aside our arms. Fifty comrades who have died in our wars I can not refer to; indeed I make no mention how all of us are maimed with wounds, some not even yet healed. I remind you of the troubles when we were still at sea, of the battle of Tabasco, how nigh we were to total destruction in battle at Tlaxcala, how we had hardly taken breath when we found at Cholula that they had made ready the pots In which to cook our flesh for a feast. No one of us can ever forget our march through the mountain passes where Montezuma had posted troops to exterminate us, and had blocked the road with felled trees. Still, we marched into Mexico and quartered ourselves in the very heart of the great city. And how often since then has death stood before our eyes!
"You who came here twice before I did—look at the hardships you underwent in discovering these lands, the miseries you suffered. I can not speak in detail of this for night is now fast approaching. But see now, gentlemen, how Panfilo de Narvaez comes tearing along with fury and desire to get us in his power, calling us thieves and vagabonds and sending messages to the great Montezuma, not in the manner of a prudent captain but in that of a rebellious mischief-maker. Consider how already he has declared war of extermination against us, just as if we were a troop of Moors.
"Up to this moment," continued Cortes, "we have fought to defend our lives, but now we have to fight for our lives and our honor, for our enemies have nothing less in mind than to capture us and rob us of all we have gained. If Narvaez and his men conquer us, which God forbid, all the services we have rendered the Almighty and our king will be turned to crimes. They will bring against us suits saying we killed, robbed and destroyed, where in truth they are the ones who rob and render ill service to our king. All this you must see with your own eyes, honest gentlemen as you are, and that we are bound to fight for the honor of our king and our own property. We lately left Mexico with confidence in God and in another, and now we bid defiance to injustice."
One and all we cried out to him that he might feel sure, we would, God aiding us, conquer or die. This rally of ours greatly rejoiced Cortes and he said that because he had confidence in us he had made the march from Mexico, and not regret but wealth and honor should be the reward of our courage. He once more begged us to remember that in war and battle, prudence and knowledge accomplish more than utmost daring, and he knew so well our great courage, how every man of us strove to be first to dash into the enemy's ranks, that he begged us to be ordered in companies. The enemy's guns were the first object for us to capture. For this he chose sixty of our youngest men, of which number I was one, and put Pizarro, a daring young man, in command—in those days neither Pizarro nor Peru were known to fame. The order was that as soon as we had captured the cannon we were to storm the quarters of Narvaez on the top of a lofty temple. To seize Narvaez himself was the duty of Sandoval and sixty men with him, Cortes promising to give three thousand dollars to the soldier who first laid hands on Narvaez, two thousand to the second, and one thousand to the third. Twenty men Cortes kept with him to hasten to whatever point aid might most be needed.
As soon as these lists were given out, Cortes again addressing us said, "I am fully aware that Narvaez has four times as many soldiers as we. But most of them are not used to arms, numbers of them are hostile to their captain, many are ill, and we shall fall on them unawares. God will give us victory. They will not oppose us for they know they will fare better with us than with Narvaez. So, gentlemen, our lives and our honor depend, after God, on your valor and strength of arm. In our hands now lies the estimate all future generations will put upon us. To die in battle is better than to live dishonored."
With this Cortes ended, for it was beginning to rain and getting late. Often since then, when thinking of his speech, I have wondered why our captain said nothing of the secret understanding he had with some of Narvaez' officers, but merely repeatedly urged the need of our employing utmost courage. I now see that by doing this he showed the prudence of a great general, for by making us feel that our only hope was in God and our own bravery, he forced us to the very limit of our valor.
We were in camp during the first part of the night, and spent our time In preparations and thinking of the task we had before us. It was useless to think of supper, for we had not a morsel to eat. We sent our scouts and posted pickets, of which I was one. I had not been standing long before a scout came up and asked me If I had heard a noise. I said no. Then came an officer and said Galleguillo, who had come over from the camp of Narvaez, was nowhere to be found, that he must have been a spy, and that Cortes ordered us at once to march to Cempoala. An Instant after I heard the fife and drum, and we began our march, and at this juncture Galleguillo came to light;—the poor fellow, not used to rain and cold, had crept under some cloaks and fallen fast asleep.
Cortes now ordered drum and pipe silenced and we marched steadily forward to the river. I shall never forget our crossing the stream, how it was swollen by the rain, how slippery the stones were, and how we were encumbered by our arms. Near the river we came upon two spies, and one of them, Carrasco, when captured, cried in a loud voice, "Take care, Captain Cortes, Narvaez with all his troops is waiting for you." The other spy, Hurtado, escaping us ran giving the alarm, "To arms! to arms!" so that Narvaez calling his men and our charging with our lances happened at the same time.
We under Pizarro had the good fortune to capture the cannon before the gunners had time to fire more than four pieces, every ball of which passed over our heads save one that killed three of our comrades. Now we had gained the guns Narvaez was shooting down at us with arrows and musket-balls from the top of the temple. At this moment Sandoval came up and, in spite of Narvaez making strong resistence, he and his men made a rush to scale the steps. Seeing this and confident they had given up trying to recover the guns, we ran to Sandoval's aid. We got to him just as Narvaez had beaten him back five or six steps, and our arrival turned the scale against the enemy. With our long lances we did hard work, and when I was least expecting it we heard shouts from Narvaez, "Santa Maria, protect me! They have thrust out one of my eyes and are killing me! "At once we shouted" Victory! Victory! Narvaez is fallen! "Still, for all this, we were not able to force our way to the temple until one of us who was very tall, Martin Lopez (he of the sloop building), set fire to the straw on the top of the temple, and all the men of Narvaez came rolling down the steps. Then Pedro Farfan, a good soldier, was the first to lay hold of Narvaez, and in an instant we were shouting, "Long live the king! Long live the king! and in his royal name Cortes! Victory! Victory! Narvaez is dead!"
In the hurry of the moment we merely fastened fetters about Narvaez' legs, but now Sandoval came up and ordered him better secured. Our captain came also at the same time, and in full armor. The weather was hot and he had so heated himself, going from place to place and shouting to our soldiers and giving orders, that he was dripping with perspiration and panting for breath. Twice he said, "Where is Narvaez? What about Narvaez?" before Sandoval could understand what he was saying. "He is here, he is here, and well guarded," cried Sandoval when at last he understood. "That is all right, my son Sandoval," answered Cortes, still much out of breath, "do not leave him, nor suffer your men to go away. Keep strong guard over all the officers who are prisoners with him. I will go and see how matters stand at other points." With these words Cortes rode off to issue summons that all followers of Narvaez, under pain of death, should at once surrender themselves under the banner of the king, and in his royal name, to Hernando Cortes, captain general and chief justice.
All this took place in the night. When we forced our way into the town it was as dark as pitch, for the moon did not rise till later, and it rained heavily at intervals. But even the darkness favored us, for numbers of fire-flies kept flying about, and the soldiers of Narvaez mistook their recurrent giving off light for the matches of our fire arms, and so they gained an idea that we had a vast number of matchlocks.
Narvaez was badly wounded besides the loss of an eye, and he asked leave for his surgeon to attend his and other officers' wounds. When permission was unhesitatingly given, and the surgeon was at work, Cortes came near, unknown as he fancied, to look at his foe. Someone whispered to Narvaez that Cortes was standing by, whereupon Narvaez cried, "Captain Cortes, you may well be proud of this victory and my being a prisoner." "I am," said Cortes in answer, "in every way thankful to God for it, and likewise to these brave companions who shared it, but to defeat and capture those who dared to arrest an officer of our king is the least brilliant victory we have won in New Spain."
Broad daylight had come before a detachment of forty horsemen, whom Narvaez had sent to oppose our crossing the river, persuaded by Olid and Ordas, quietly returned. When they reached our camp drummers and fifers of Narvaez sounded their instruments and shouted, "Long live these Romans who, few in number, conquered Narvaez and his troops"; and a merry-making fellow who had come with Narvaez, a negro called Guidela, cried at the top of his voice, "Hark ye! The Romans themselves never could boast of such a victory as this!"
The forty horsemen at once came in a body to pledge themselves to Cortes who, with us standing round him, was seated in a armchair, an orange-colored robe covering his armor. The serenity and joy of his face and the gracious words he spoke as he welcomed them, were very notable. And how cheerful he was! He indeed had good cause, seeing himself that moment so raised to power. After the horsemen had given their fealty each one passed to his quarters.
I must not omit to say that Cervantes and Escalona, who had deserted to Narvaez, fared badly, for Escalona suffered severe wounds and Cervantes by order of Cortes was well whipped. Of the braggadocio, Salvatierra, his soldiers said that never in all their lives had they seen a more cowardly man, or one so alarmed at the chance of death, as when he heard the first clash of arms. And when we cried, "Victory! Victory! Narvaez is fallen!" he promptly said he was sick at the stomach and threw down his arms.
After the whole of Narvaez' troops had been disarmed, Cortes directed Francisco de Lugo to go to the port where the fleet of the defeated commander lay and order all the masters and mates of the ships to put sails, rudders and compasses ashore, so that they could not carry news to Diego Velasquez in Cuba, and to come to Cempoala. The mates and masters promptly came and pledged themselves to Captain Cortes, and after they had taken solemn oath that they would not leave his command, he appointed a master of one of the ships, but a man Cortes trusted, Pedro Cavallero, admiral of the flotilla. Him all masters and mates were to obey. To Cavallero our captain gave orders that no ship should leave the port, and should Diego Velasquez send other ships, the admiral must seize them, send their sails, rudders and compasses on shore, and await further orders. Let us now leave the fleet.
At our headquarters these plans between ourselves and the followers of Narvaez were formed:—Leon was to proceed to the province of Panuco and form a settlement there, Cortes allotting him for the expedition one hundred followers of Narvaez with twenty of our men experienced in war; with two ships to explore the coast and the river Panuco. Another one hundred and twenty soldiers of like proportion between us and the raw recruits were to go under command of Ordas to settle in the region of Coatzacoalcos. Ordas also was to have two ships to despatch from the river to the island of Jamaica for mares, calves, pigs, sheep, goats, fowls of Spanish breed that these creatures might multiply in the country, for the province of Coatzacoalcos was particularly adapted for such husbandry.
In order that these two officers and their soldiers might set out fully equipped, Cortes ordered all prisoners except Narvaez and Salvatierra freed and their arms returned to them. Now, after our victory some of our soldiers had taken possession of many horses, swords and other things, and no one of us felt inclined to give back what he had got. Our captain's order caused a good deal of angry discussion and discontent, we soldiers maintaining that we held very rightfully what we had taken, for Narvaez had declared war against us, to capture us and rob us of our property, and had branded us, faithful servants of his majesty, as traitors. Therefore the loot we had got belonged to us. Still, Cortes was determined that we should give up what we had captured, and as we had elected him captain general, we could do no less than obey him. I surrendered a horse I had taken saddled and bridled, and two swords and three daggers.
Alonzo de Avila, an officer who dared speak out boldly to Cortes, and also Padre de Olmedo, privately reproached our captain for this action of his and told him that he seemed to be imitating Alexander of Macedon, who, when he had made some great gain, rewarded and honored those conquered rather than the soldiers and officers who had won him the victory. And there were other reasons for their making this remark, for every day we stayed there after the vanquishing of Narvaez, the Indians brought gold and food to him, and all the presents he gave to the conquered officers and left us unnoticed. This, they maintained, was base ingratitude after we had raised him to the post he held.
Cortes was never wanting for an answer, however, and he said that all he possessed was ours, but for the time being he could not do other than gain the good will of the followers of Narvaez with fair words and gifts, for they were many in comparison with ourselves and if they were once to rise up in anger, they might put us all to the sword.
A very great misfortune now came to New Spain. Narvaez had with him a negro servant who was ill of small pox. From this man the terrible disease spread through the whole country. Never before, the Indians said, had they had such a sickness, and in their ignorance of what to do they bathed very often in cold water, as was their custom. Great numbers of them died. The lot of Narvaez was black; but blacker still the death of so many who had not become Christians.