Book I. 
78 ^he Expedition of H e k N A n C o R T E 
Mil5r5 wliica elil Ms Time was compofed of middling 
People ; and under colour of greater Decency he made 
his Nobles ferine him, even in the meanelf Employments 
of his Houfe. He Ihewed himfelf feldom to his Subjeds, 
and only when it was neceffary to his Minifters and Do- 
meftics, looking upon Retirement and Melancholy as a- 
Part of Majefty. And for thofe who obtained Leave to 
come into his Prefence he invented new Obeifances and 
Ceremonies, inlarging Refped almoft to Adoration. He 
perfuaded himfelf that he had the intire Command of the 
Lives and Liberties of his Subjects, and exercifed great 
Cruelties that he might put it out of Doubt with others •, 
he impofed new Taxes, without NecelTity, at a certain 
rate on each Head of his Subjeds, and exaded it with 
fo much Rigour, that even Beggars were not exempted 
bringing to his Treafury Ibme mean things, which were 
received and then throwri away before their Faces. 
Thefe violent Adions made his People fear him, but 
as it is ufual for Fear and Hatred to go together, fome 
Provinces rebelled; to reduce which, he went himfelf 
in Peifon, being too jealous of his Authority to fuffer 
any other to command his Armies. But, however, it 
cannot be denied, that he had a martial Inclination and 
Spirit, and that none were able to refift his Power, ex- 
cept die Provinces of Mecoacan^ Tlafcala, and 1 "ehcacay 
and he was wont to fay, “ He did not fubdue them be- 
caufe he wanted thofe Enemies to fupply him with Cap- 
tives for the Sacrifices of his Gods.’* He had reigned 
fourteen Years when Cortes arrived on his Coaft, and had 
fpent all that Time in eftablifhing the moft thorough Ty- 
ranny that any Hiftory has recorded. Many ftrange things 
fell out at this Junfture, which were magnified by Re- 
port, and falling in with the fuperftitious Temper of the 
Emperor and his Subjects, formed fuch a Series of Pro- 
digies as frighted all Ranks and Degrees of People, in a 
Manner, out of their Wits. 
2. Whilft Motezuma^s Court was taken up with melan- 
choly Refledions, Hernan Cortes endeavoured to obtain 
fome Account of the Country ; at that time Francifeo 
Montejo returned from his Voyage, having coafted fome 
Leagues to the Weftward, and difeovered a Town cal- 
led ^iabijlan, fituated in a fertile Soil, and well culti- 
vated, near an anchoring Place or Bay, capacious enough, 
where, in the Opinion of the Pilots, the Ships might ride 
and be fecure, under the Shelter of fome great Rocks 
which broke the Force of the Winds. This Place was 
diftant from St. Juan de Ulna about twelve Leagues, and 
Hernan Cortes began to confider it as a commodious Situ- 
ation : But before he came to a Refolution Motezumah 
Anfwer anived. 
5T eutik^t with the principal Captains of his Troops, came 
with their little perfuming Pans, burning Gum Copal. 
After theSmoaking, Courtefies, and Ceremonies were over, 
Y eutile ordered Motezumal^ Prefent to be produced, wliich 
was fomewhat lefs, but of the fame Sort of Goods and 
Pieces of Gold as came with the firft Embaffy. All that 
they brought particular, were four green Stones like Eme- 
ralds, called Chalcuities ; and Feutik told Cortes^ with a 
great deal of Gravity, that Motezuma had fent thofe 
Stones to the King of Spain as Jewels of an ineftimable 
Value. The Embaffy was delivered in Terms refolute 
and difagreeable, and the Conclufion of it was to dif- 
mifs the Guefts without giving them leave to reply. 
Night drew on, and when Cortes was beginning his An- 
Tw5, the Ave-Maria Beil rung in the Barrac, that ferv- 
cd for a Chapel, and he kneeled down to fay that Prayer, 
as did all the reft after his Example. Their Silence and 
Devotion ftrack the Indians with Admiration, and F entile 
alked Donna Marina the Meaning of that Ceremony ; 
Cortes underftood their Qiieftion, and thought it proper 
to make ufe of this Opportunity, while he fatisfied their 
Curiofity, to talk to them upon the Subjedt of Religion, 
beginning to return to his Anfwer, by telling Feutile that 
one Point of his Embaffy, and the principal Motive 
which his King had to offer his Friendfhip to Motezuma., 
was the Obligation Chriftian Princes lay under to oppofe 
Idolatry, and the Defire he had to inftruft him in the 
Kjiowledge of the Truth, and to help him to get free 
from tlie Slavery of the Devil, tlie invifible Tyrant of his 
Kingdoms^ Who, in realityj held him a Slate and a Vaf- 
fal, though^ in outward Appearance, he was fo powerful 
a Monarch; and that coming from fuch remote Countries 
upon Affairs of fuch a Nature, and in the Name of another 
more powerful Monarch, he could not omit inaking new 
Efforts, and perfevering in his Inftances till he fiiouid 
prevail to be heard ; Since he came on a peaceful Ac- 
count, as appeared by the fmall Number of his Men^ 
from which no Sufpicion could be had of greater Defigns. 
No fooner had Feutife heard the Refolution of Cortes'^ 
than he ftarted up hafdly, and with fome Sort of Impa- 
tience, between Anger and Confufion, told him. That 
hitherto the great Motezuma had treated him as a Gueff, 
but that if he continued obftinate it would be his own. 
Fault if he found himfelf treated as an Enemy ; and, 
without ftaying, for an Anfwer, or fo much as taking 
leave, he turned his Back and went haftily out' of his Pre-* 
fence, followed by FUpatoe and the reft of his Attend- 
ants. Hernan Cortes was a little ftartled at Feutile'^ Pro- 
ceeding, but fo much Mafter of himfelf, that, turning to 
his People with a Smile in his Countenance, “We fhall 
“ fee, fays he, where this Challenge will end ; we know-, 
“ for the moft Part, Threats are the Effects of Fear. 
And that very Night the Guards were doubled, and Cor^- 
tes provided againft what was poffible, as againft a Thing 
certain, for Commanders can never be too careful. As 
foon as Day appeared the Spaniards found a confiderable 
Alteration, which gave them fome Difturbance ; for thofe 
Indians which inhabited Pilpatoe*^ Cabins were retired, 
and not a Man appeared in all the Country : Thofe 
alfo kept away who ufed to bring Provifions from the 
neighbouring Towns. 
Thefe Beginnings of Want were fuffident to make 
fome Soldiers begin to be uneafy, looking upon it as 
very unadvifed to think of fettling in that Country, 
which Murmuring, fome Friends of Velafquez took Ad- 
vantage of, and began to exclaim, Lying in common 
Difeourfe, That Hernan Cortes had a Mind to deftroy 
them, and ambitioufiy purfued a Defign Avithout a Force 
proportioned to the Undertaking. That the Intention of 
maintaining themfelves with fuch a Flandful of People 
in the Dominions of fo powerful a Prince, would be 
judged ralh by all Men. And that it was now neceflary 
that they ftiould all demand to return to the Eland of 
Cuba., in order to refit the Fleet and reinforce the Army. 
Cortes being informed of this, made ufe of his Friends 
and Confidents to enquire the Opinions of the reft of his 
Men, and found that he had on his Side the moft, and 
thofe too of greateft Confequence, upon which he fuffered 
himfelf to be feen by the Malcontents. Diego de Ordaz 
was the Perfon who fpoke in the Name of all, and with 
fome Heat and Difrefped; told him. That as his Forces 
were very unequal to the Attempt he was about to make, 
his Soldiers thought he would do much better to return 
and endeavour to get fuch Reinforcements ,as might 
enable him to purfue his Defign with fome Probability 
of Succefs. Cortes heard him patiently, and then told 
him calmly, that if all the Soldiers were of that Opinion 
they were very unfit for fuch an Enterprize, and he would 
think of returning home. 
3. After Ordaz and his Party had left Cortes^ he gave 
Diredlion for publiftiing the Return to the Hand of Cuba., 
and ordered the Captains ftiould embark with their ref- 
peflive Companies on board the Veffels under their Com- 
mand, and be ready to fail the next Day early. But no 
fooner was this Declaration publiftied, than thofe who 
were under-hand in the General’s Intereft began to ftir in 
the Affair, crying out. That Cortes had deceived them 
by profeffmg he meant to fettle in that Country, that 
they would not leave it, that if he had a Mind to retire 
he might, with fuch as were willing to follow him, for 
they Ihould not want fome Gentleman that would take 
the Command. This Clamour was fo well managed, 
that it brought over many that had been forced or per- 
fuaded into the contrary Faction ; and Corteses Friends 
who had ftirred up one Part v/ere obliged to appeafe the 
other. 
They commended their Refolution, and offered to 
Ipeak to Cortes to fufpend the Execution of his Order, 
and 
