CHAPTER III.

THE STORY OF THE CONQUEST.

Spain in the 16th Century-Discovery of Cuba-Hernando Cortez His early history-Sails to San Domingo-Discovery of Yucatan-Cortez appointed by Velasquez over the Expedition to Mexico-Suspicions of Velasquez-Armament sets sail-Character of Cortez Cozumel reachedAguilar-Yucatan-Conversion of the Tabascans-Landing at Vera Cruz—Embassy from Montezuma-Negotiations— Refusal of Montezuma-Determination to proceed-Dissensions in the Camp-A Colony formed-Cortez re-appointed Leader-Cunning Policy of Cortez-March to CempoallaBeautiful Scenery-Joy of the Spaniards-Civilization of the Indians-Character of Spanish Religion-Preaching at Cempoalla-Further Dissensions-March to Tlascala-Fierce Battles-Enter Tlascala-Embassy from Montezuma-Cortez goes to Cholula-Conspiracy against the Spaniards-Massacre at Cholula-Reflections-March to Mexico--First View of the Capital-Montezuma's Fears-Hospitable ReceptionImprisonment and Unworthy Treatment of MontezumaFresh Troops arrive from Velasquez-Narvaez ConqueredInsurrection of the Mexicans-Death of MontezumaPerilous Position of Cortez-The Sad Night-Retreat from Mexico-Tactics of Cortez-Towns on the Lake of Tezcuco -Siege and Fall of Iztapalapan-A New Fleet builtBattle of Xaltocan-Launch of the Fleet-Naval Battle-Sufferings of the Spaniards-Mexico Invested-Rash Assault -Losses of the Spaniards-Aztec Obstinacy- Horrors of the Siege-Mexico taken-Capture of Guatemozin-Reflections on the Conquest-False and True Greatness.

THERE were few countries that could vie with Spain in the early part of the 16th century. Its

different divisions had been united under one government by the marriage of Ferdinand of Aragon with Isabella of Castille, from whom the country descended entire into the hands of Charles V. The states thus combined retained their own representative bodies, and so large a measure of freedom as to occasion much disgust to their haughty sovereign. The people were a bold and manly race, possessed of considerable energy of character, the fruit of many years contest with the Moors for the freedom of their native land; and now that there was peace at home, they were looking eagerly abroad for new scenes of fame and wealth, either on the fields of Italy, or in the yet unknown country across the sea which had just been revealed to them by Columbus.

Before the period of which we are about to treat, the West India Islands were already known, and among them Cuba and Hispaniola had been made the seats of Spanish settlements. From these islands several expeditions had set out to explore the new country. Vasco Nunez, of Balboa, had landed at Darien, and had there met with a civilization superior to anything that had been seen upon the islands. The western point of Cuba approaches so nearly to Yucatan, that we are quite prepared to learn that this portion of the mainland was soon visited: this was done by Hernandez, of Cordova, in 1517. The following year, Velasquez, the governor of Cuba, despatched a fleet under the command of Grijalva, which, after sighting Cozumel, entered the river of Tabasco that falls into the Gulf of Mexico. On this occasion, the name of New Spain was first applied to the surrounding country. Grijalva was severely blamed on his return for having made no settlement in the new territory;

remembered in the Before his arrival,

a circumstance which should be course of the following narrative. Velasquez had fitted out a larger armament with a view to prosecute further researches, and over this he placed Hernando Cortez, the future conqueror of

Mexico.

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Hernando Cortez was born at Medellin, in Estremadura, A.D., 1485. He came of a poor but noble family. His continued sickness in infancy, his idle habits at school, and profligacy at the University of Salamanca, were a source of constant anxiety to his parents and when the youth came home from Salamanca, wearied with law and a poor student's life, his irregularities broke in upon the order and destroyed the peace of his father's hearth. To such a lad the only refuge was a soldier's career, and adopting this, Cortez, being then only sixteen years old, determined to sail with Ovando, who had just been appointed governor of Hispaniola. But in pursuing some intrigue he fell from the wall of a court-yard, and the fever which followed detained him in bed whilst the

expedition started. He next proposed to join the Italian army, and went to Valencia with that object; but here he again fell ill and passed a year in poverty and sickness. This discipline seems for a time to have steadied his wild recklessness; for, before finally setting out for the Indies, he went home to receive his parents' blessing. The vessel that bore him reached St. Domingo after a stormy voyage, which, as well as Cortez's behaviour in the hour of peril, was an emblem of his future career.

Ovando, the governor of Hispaniola, was absent when Cortez arrived at St. Domingo. But his secretary assured the young adventurer that he would, no

doubt, obtain a liberal grant of land on which to settle. "I came to get gold," was the reply, "not to till the soil like a peasant." The handsome lad of seventeen, however, soon ingratiated himself into the governor's favour and received substantial tokens of his regard; and when Diego Velasquez was despatched to subdue the Island of Cuba, Cortez accompanied him as one of his secretaries.

At Cuba, we find Cortez involved in trouble from his old habits of profligacy and intrigue. He had some dispute with Velasquez, who required him to marry a certain Catalina Xuarez, to whom Cortez is said to have pledged himself, although he was now unwilling to fulfil his promise. The accounts of his subsequent conduct are not very clear. For some time he was in bitter hostility to Velasquez, and stories are told of his behaviour that well accord with his audacity and libertine habits. At length he was reconciled to the governor, and after his marriage with Catalina, their friendship was confirmed by his appointment to be alcalde of Santiago, the new Cuban capital. As, according to one of his biographers, he threw great diligence into everything he did, Cortez now became a prosperous man, was master of a valuable estate, and with a number of Indians who were assigned to him, he worked gold mines and amassed a considerable sum of money. 'God, who alone knows at what cost of Indians' lives it was obtained," says Las Casas, “will take account of it."

When matters were in this state, Alvarado returned to Cuba with the account of Grijalva's discovery of Yucatan. The news caused great excitement throughout the island. It told that there was a vast continent peopled by races far more civilized than any that had

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hitherto been met with. It held out a prospect of obtaining wealth far more speedily than even by the reckless employment of slaves in Cuba. There was, too, all the inducement which adventure offers to the explorers of an unknown country and to these motives yet higher considerations were added. It was reported that some Spaniards, the remnant of a former disastrous expedition, were still living in Yucatan. Velasquez accordingly determined to fit out another fleet, and he selected Cortez to command it, as has been already stated.

The appointment of Cortez is said to have been due to the good offices of Amador de Lares, the royal treasurer in the island, and of Andres de Duero, the secretary of Velasquez; but there were many persons about the court who were incensed at having been passed over, and they did not fail to urge every kind of objection against sending Cortez on so important a mission. They reminded the jealous governor of his former quarrel with the new commander, and they employed Cervantes, the jester of Velasquez, to give utterance to their enmity. One day, when Velasquez and Cortez went to the sea-side to see how the preparation of the fleet was progressing, Cervantes cried out, "Diego! look what you are about; we shall have to go and hunt after Cortez." Andres de Duero answered angrily, "Be quiet, and do not play the rascal any more; we know well that these malicious things, which pretend to be jests, do not come from you." But the jester went on saying, "Here's to the health of my friend, Diego, and his lucky captain, Cortez! and I vow that I shall go with Cortez myself to these rich lands, that I may not see you, friend