The Oration that Mutezuma made vnto his Noble men, yeelding himselfe to the King of Castile.

TOC

After the imprisonment of Cacama, Mutezuma proclaymed a Parliament, vnto the which came all the Seniors Comarcans, and beyng all together, he made the Oration followying vnto them.

A fonde beliefe.

My kinsmen, friendes and seruants, yée do well know that eightene yeares I haue bene your kyng, as my fathers and Grandfathers were, and alwaies I haue bene vnto you a louing Prince, and yée vnto me good and obedient subiectes, and so I hope you will remayne all the dayes of my life. Ye ought to haue in remembrance, that eyther ye haue heard of your fathers, or else our adeuines haue instructed you, that we are not naturalles of this countrey, nor yet our kingdome is durable, bycause our forefathers came from a farre countrey, and theyr king and captayne who brought them hither, returned againe to his naturall countrey, saying that he woulde sende suche as shoulde rule and gouerne vs, if by chaunce hée himselfe returned not. Beleeue ye assuredly, that the king whiche wée haue looked for so many yeares, is he that hath nowe sente these Spaniardes, whiche yée here sée. Who dothe certifie, that wée are their kinsmen, and that they haue had notice of vs a long tyme: lette vs therefore gyue thankes vnto the Goddes, that nowe they are comen in our dayes, beyng a thing that we so muche desired.

Poore Mutezuma.

Yée shall nowe doe me seruice and pleasure, that yée yéelde your selues vnto this Captayne for vassals of the Emperoure King of Spayne our soueraygne, I my self haue already yéelded me for his seruitour and friend, praying you that from hence forwardes ye obey him as ye haue obeyed mée. And that yée yéelde and pay vnto him the tributes, customes and seruice that ye were wont to pay vnto me, and in so doyng, ye can doe me no greater pleasure. Hys harte then woulde not suffer hym to speake any more, with the sobbes, sighes, and teares, that fell from hys eyes. All his subiectes there presente fell into a crie, wéepyng and mournyng, that for a good space they had no power to speake: they gaue thankes, and sighings, vtteryng with their mouthes many dolefull, and sorrowfull speaches, yea that it pitied our owne men at the hartes. But in conclusion, they answered that they would obey his commaundement. Then Mutezuma and the Burgesses of Parliament in order yelded themselues for vassals of the king of Castile, promising loyaltie. This acte was set downe by the Notarie, and with witnesses auctorized. Then the Indians departed home to their houses with sorowfull hartes, God knoweth, as you may imagine. It was a straunge thing to sée Mutezuma wéepe with so many Noble men and Gentlemen, yea and with what griefe they became subiects to an vnknowē Prince, but they coulde not otherwise doe, seyng that Mutezuma did commaunde the same.

A true prophecie.

Also they had a certaine Prognostication and forwarning by their Priestes of the comming from the east parties a straunge people, white of colour and bearded men, who should winne and rule that countrey. Likewise there was a secrete talke amōg them, that in Mutezuma should ende and finishe, not alone the lynage of Culhua, but also the Empyre and kingdome: therefore some were of opinion, not to name him Mutezuma whiche signifieth, agrieued with misfortune. They say also that Mutezuma himself had many times answere of the Oracle of the Gods, that in him shoulde finishe the Mexican Emperours, and that no childe of his shoulde succéede in his kingdome, and that he should lose his seate in the eyght yeare of his raigne: & for these causes he woulde neuer procure warre to withstande the Spaniardes, beleuyng that they should be his successours. Yet on the other side he thought his opinion would take no place, for that he had raygned seuentene yeares: But this should séeme to come from the prouidence of God, whiche giueth kingdomes and taketh them away.

Cortes gaue vnto Mutezuma moste hartie thankes on the behalfe of the Emperour, and for himself, and comforted him, who was very sad, promysing also that alwayes he should be king and Lorde, & commaunde as heretofore he had done, and better, yea and also he should be chief ruler of all the other landes and countreys, that he shoulde gette and bryng to the seruice of the Emperour.