The Oration of Mutezuma to the Spanyardes.

TOC

A strange opinion.

The house where the Spaniardes were lodged was great and large, with many fayre chambers sufficient for them all: it was nete, cleane matted, and hanged with cloth of Cotten, and feathers of many colours, pleasant to behold. When Mutezuma was departed frō Cortes, he began to sette his house in order, and placed the ordinaunce at his dore, and hauing all his things in good sorte, he went to a sumptuous dinner that was prepared for him. As soone as Mutezuma had made an ende of his dinner hearyng that the straungers were rysen from the table, and reposed a while, then came he to Cortes, salutyng him, and satte downe by him. He gaue vnto him diuers iewels of gold plate, feathers, and many garmēts of Cotten, both riche, well woven, & wrought of straunge colours, a thing comely, that did manifest his greatnesse, and also cōfirme their imagination. This gifte was deliuered honorably, and then began his talke as foloweth: Lorde and Gentlemen, I doe much reioyce to haue in my house such valiant men as ye are, for to vse you with curtesie, and entreate you with honour, according to your deserte and my estate. And where heretofore I desired that you shoulde not come hither, the onely cause was, my people had a greate feare to sée you, for your gesture & grimme beards did terrifie them, yea, they reported that yée had such beastes as swallowed men, and that your cōming was frō heauen, bringing with you lightning, thunder & thūderbolts, wherwith you made the earth to trēble & to shake, and that yée slew therewith whom ye pleased. But now I do sée & know that you are mortall mē, & that ye are quiet & hurt no man: also I haue séene your horses, which are but your seruauntes, and youre Gunnes lyke vnto shootyng Trunkes. I do now hold all for fables and lyes which hath bin reported of you, and I do also accept you for my méere kinsmen. My father tolde me that hée had heard his forefathers say, of whome I doe descende, that they helde opinion howe they were not naturals of thys lande, but come hither by chance, in companye of a mighty Lorde, who after a while that they hadde abode héere, they returned to their natiue soyle: After manye yeares expyred, they came agayne for those whome they had left héere behind them, but they would not goe wyth them, bycause they had héere inhabited, and hadde wyues and children, and great gouernement in the land. Nowe these myghtie Lords séeyng that they were so stubborne, and woulde not returne with them, departed from them sore displeased, saying, that he woulde sende his children that should both rule and gouerne them, in iustice, peace, and auntient Religion, and for this consideration, wée haue alwayes expected and beléeued, that suche a people should come to rule and gouerne vs, and cōsidering from whence you come, I doe thinke that you are they whome we looked for, and the notice which the greate Emperour Charles had of vs, who hath now sent you hither. Therefore Lorde and Captayne, be well assured, that we wyll obey you, if there be no fayned or deceytefull matter in your dealings, and will also deuide wyth you and youres all that we haue. And although this which I haue sayde were not only for youre vertue, fame, and déedes of valiant Gentlemen, I would yet do it for your worthinesse in the battayles of Tauasco, Teocazinco, and Chololla, béeyng so few, to ouercome so many.

Now agayne, if ye ymagine that I am a God, and the walles and routes of my houses, and all my vessell of seruice to be of pure golde, as the men of Zempoallan, Tlaxcallan, and Huexozinco hath enformed you, it is not so, and I iudge you to be so wise, that you giue no credit to such fables. You shall also note, that through your commyng hither, manye of my subiectes haue rebelled, and are become my mortall enimies, but yet I purpose to breake their wings. Come féele you my body, I am of fleshe and bone, a mortal man as others are, and no God, although as a King I doe estéeme my selfe of a greater dignitie and preheminēce than others. My houses you do also sée, which are of tymber and earthe, and the principallest of Masons worke, therefore nowe you do both knowe and sée what odious lyars those talebearers were. But troth it is, that golde plate, feathers, armour, iewels, and other riches, I haue in the treasory of my forefathers a long time preserued, as the vse of Kings is, all the which you & yours shal enioy at all times. And now it may please you to take your rest, for I know that you are wéery of your iourney. Cortez with ioyfull countenance humbled himselfe, séeing some teares fall from Mutezuma his eyes, saying vnto him, vppon the trust I haue hadde in youre clemencye, I insisted to come both to sée and talke wyth your highnesse, and now I know that all are lyes which hath bin tolde me. The like youre highnesse hath hearde reported of vs, assure youre selfe, that the Emperoure Kyng of Spayne is your naturall Lorde, whome yée haue expected for, he is the onely heyre from whence youre lynage dothe procéede, and as touching the offer of youre highnesse treasure, I do most hartyly thanke you.

A louing aunsvvere.

After all this communication, Mutezuma demaunded whether the bearded men whiche came with him, were eyther his vassals or his slaues, bycause he would entertayne eache one according to his estate. Cortes aunswered, that they were all his bréethren, friendes, and fellowes, except some that were his seruauntes.

Then he departed, and wente home to his Pallace, and there enformed himselfe particularlye who were Gentlemen, and who were not, and according therevnto, sent euery one particular gift or present. To the Gentlemen he sente the rewarde by his Controller, and to the Marriners & other seruitors, by a Page of his housholde.