Hovv the Emperour sent to take accompt of Cortes of his gouernement in the newe Spayne.

TOC

The revvard of a knaue.

In these dayes Cortes was the man of the greatest name of all the Spanish nation, although many had defamed him, and especially Pamfilo de Naruaez, who was in the Court of Spaine accusing him. And where, of long time the Counsell of India had receyued no letters from him, they suspected, yea and beléeued, whatsoeuer euil was spoken of him. Wherevppon they prouided the Admirall Don Diego Colon, for Gouernour of Mexico, who at that time went to lawe wyth the king, pretending the said office and many others, with condition to carrie at his owne coast a thousand men to apprehend Cortes. They prouided also for Gouernour of Panuco, one Nonio de Gusman, and Simon de Alcazaua portingall, for gouernour of Honduras. To kindle more thys mischiefe, and to set this businesse forward, one Iohn de Ribera, the Attourney of Cortes, was a fitte and an earnest instrument againste his maister, and the cause was, for falling out with Martin Cortes, father vnto Hernando Cortes, about foure thousand Duckates which Cortes had sent by him to his father, which money the said Ribera his Attourney kept to his owne vse, and therefore raised many slaunders against his maister, yea and credite was giuen to his tales, but on a night he had a morsell of bacon gyuen him vppon a skaffolde, wherewith he was choked in the chiefe time of his businesse. These newe officers, and their prouisions, were not so secretely obteyned, but the matter was as secretely talked in the Courte, whiche at that time was abiding in the Citie of Toledo, and the procedings séeme not iust vnto the friends of Cortes. The Commendador Pedro de Pina opened the matter to the Licenciat Nouez, and vnto father Melgareio, wherevppon they reclaymed of the Counsels determination, beséeching them to stay for a season, to sée what newes should come from Mexico. Also the Duke of Beiar tendred the cause of Hernando Cortez, for that Cortez by promise of faith and troth, was assured in marriage to his brothers daughter, named the Lady Iane de Zuniga, who aplaked the Emperoure his anger, and the saide Duke became suretie to aunswere in all causes for him.

The matter standing in this estate, there arriued in Spayne Diego de Zoto, with a whole Coluerin made of siluer, and 70000. castlins in golde, the newes whereof was blowen ouer all Spaine. And to say the troth, this presente was y^e cause, that Cortes was not put out of his office, but a Iudge of residence was sent thither to take an accompt of him. Now a wise and a learned man was sought for that purpose, yea suche a one as could rule the matter, for some souldiers are oftentimes vnmanerly: whervpō they thought the Licenciat, Lewes pouce de Leon a fitte mā, who had bin Lieutenante to Don Martin de Cordoua, Earle of Alcaudete, & chiefe gouernour of the citie of Tolledo. This Licenciate with power sufficient, was sent vnto the new Spaine, who carried in his company as assistant, the batcheler Marcus de Aguillar, who hadde ruled in time past, in a worshipfull office of Iustice in the Ilande of Santo Domingo.

With prosperous weather they departed from Spayne, and in shorte tyme arriued at Vera Crux, Cortez hauing newes of their arriuall by foote postes within two dayes. And vppon Midsomer day came letters to Cortes from the Licenciate Ponce, with another letter from the Emperour, wherby he vnderstood y^e cause of their comming. He returned backe incontinēt an aunswere, and desired to know which way he would come to Mexico, eyther by y^e way inhabited, or else the other way which is néerer. The Licenciate replyed, that he woulde for a while abide in Vera Crux, to refresh himselfe, béeyng seasicke, and a man y^t had not heeretofore at any time passed the seas, thinking that Cortes meante to haue done iustice on certain offenders, yea & also to haue takē hym by the way: wherefore he suspected, that Cortes had sent, bycause he woulde knowe whiche way he meant to come, wherevpon he secretely tooke post horse, with certaine Gentlemē, and other religious persons that came in hys company, & passed through the Townes, although it was the farther way, and made suche hast, that in fiue dayes he came to Iztacpallapan, refusing the entertaynement and prouision of meate and lodging that Cortes had prepared by his Gentlemē, that wēt both the wayes to méete him.

In Iztacpallapā they receyued him with great feast and maiestie, but after dinner, the Licenciate fell a vomiting, and the most of hys companye, and after the vomite, they fell into a flixe. They thoughte that certayne hearbes was the cause thereof, whiche were in a dishe of curdes. The Licenciate was somewhat gréedie of the curdes, and tooke the dishe, and offered it to father Thomas Ortiz, no (quoth the Stewarde) hys reuerence shall haue another dishe, no (quoth father Ortiz) I will none of these, nor yet of anye other, of whyche wordes there were afterwardes Verses made, suspecting somethyng of the curdes: but truely there was no hurte, or anye euill thyng putte in them, (as héereafter shalbe declared) for the Comendador, Proano, who was then chiefe Sheriffe, did eate of all those dishes, yea in the same dishe that the Licenciat eate of, who neyther vomited nor yet receyued any hurte or alteration. But I thinke, that they cōmyng hoate, wery and hungry, did eate too muche, and dranke also colde water, whereby their stomackes reuolted, and thereof followed the flixe with vomite. On the behalfe of Cortes there was presented to the Licenciat a riche present, but he refused it.

Cortes with al the flower of Gentlemen in Mexico, came to receyue him, and giuyng him the right hand, they went togyther vntill they came to Sainct Frances abbay, where after their praiers made, Cortes demaūded to sée the kings prouisions, who answered, that the nexte day he woulde shew them vnto him: then they accompanied him to his house, where he was well lodged.

The nexte day followyng, all the magistrates of the Cittie mette the Licentiat in the cathedrall Church, and by acte, before the notary, he presented his auctoritie from the Emperour. He tooke the Vares of Iustice from the Iudges and Sargeants, and incontinent restored them agayne, and saide with gentle speach, this rodde of the Senior gouernour, I will haue for my selfe. Cortes with all the other Magistrates kissed the Emperours letters, and put them vpon the crowne of their heads, in tokē of great obedience, saying, that they woulde obserue and obey all that was therein contayned, as the commaundement of their king and Lorde, requyring the same to be set downe by acte and testimony.

After these things done, they proclaymed the residence and account of iustice, of Hernando Cortes, to the intent that all persons who coulde accuse him of any vnrightful dealing, should come and make their complaint, and to haue remedy for the same. There should you then sée the stirre and talke among them, euery officer fearyng his owne cause, with desire to sée the ende of their businesse.