The talke that Cortes had vvith his owne Souldiers.

TOC

Cortes perceyuing the small fruyte that his letters (presentes) and messengers, obtayned at the handes of Naruaez, and that in no case, he woulde shewe his commission whiche came from the kyng, he determined to goe vnto him, and according to the olde Prouerbe, Face to face doth get respect, and likewise if it were possible, to agrée vpon some good order and quietnesse: wherevpon he sent Rodrigo Aluarez his surueyor, with Iohn Velasques, and Iohn del Rio, to treate with Naruaez of many matters, whereof thrée things were the principalest. The first was, that they two might méete alone, or else so many, for so many, and that Naruaez should permit Cortes to abyde in Mexico, and he withall his company shoulde cōquere Panuco or other kingdomes, also that Cortes would pay the charges, and haue consideration to gratifie his souldiers, or else that Naruaez should abide in Mexico, and deliuer vnto Cortes .400. of his men, to the intent that with them, and his owne men he myght procéede to séeke other countreys to conquere. Laste of all, he required to sée the kings commission, for that he would obey the same. Naruaez liked none of these offers, only he accepted that they should méete togither with ech of them ten Gentlemē for securtie, bound with solemne othe, and firmed this agréement with their names. But it tooke no effect, for Rodrigo Aluarez aduised Cortes that Naruaez had made a snare to apprehend him, or to kill him at their méeting. Cortes vnderstoode the matter, or else he had some other intelligence by some that loued him wel. And this former agrement taking no place, Cortes determined to goe vnto him.

But before his departing, he declared vnto his cōpany, saying, I trust ye haue in remembrāce what & how much I haue done for you, since y^e beginning of this enterprise, yea & also how louingly & friendly yée haue dealt for me: Yée shall now vnderstand that Iames Velasques, in stéede of thankes giuing vs, hath sent to murder vs, Pamfilo de Naruaez, who is a stubborne & an vnreasonable man, one readie to execute our good desertes done in the seruice of God & our Prince, with an euill reward. And the cause is only, for doyng our duetie in the sending of the Kings parte & portiō to his Roiall person & not vnto him. Also this Naruaez hath already confiscated our goodes, and giuen them to other men, and our bodies condemned to the Gallows, yea and our fame and honour plaide at tables, with great iniurious & slanderous wordes proclaymed agaynst vs, which things truly are not of a Christian, no nor yet we with Gods helpe will let the matter so to slippe: yea and though we ought to leaue the reuengment vnto God, yet we will not suffer them to enioy our trauayles & paynes, who are now comen white fingered to spoile the bloud of their neighbours, yea & like madde men to striue against their owne nation, sowing slander among those Indians which serued vs as our friēds, yea & procuring more cruel warres, than the ciuill warre betwene Mario & Sila, or of Cesar & Pompeio, who turned vpsidowne the Romaine Empire. Wherfore I do determine to méete him by y^e way, & not to suffer him to come vnto Mexico, for it is better to say, God saue you, than they to come & say who is there? yea & though they are many, a good hart doth breake euil fortune, as it hath appered by vs, who haue passed thorow the pikes since our cōming hither: moreouer, I doubte not but that many of Naruaez his cōpany will come vnto vs. Therfore my déere friends doe I giue you aduise of my pretence, to the entent y^t those which wil go with me, may them prepare thēselues, & those that will not, let them remaine to kéepe Mexico & Mutezuma, whiche is as much in effect. At the end of this talke he promised great rewards if y^t with victory he returned. His mē answered al w^t one voyce, y^t they were al at his cōmandemēt, & ready to fulfil his wil, yet some feared the pride & blindnesse of Pamfilo de Naruaez: on the other side the Indians began to be lusty, to sée dissention among the Spanyardes, & that the Indians of the coast were ioyned in league with the new come mē.