The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo Vol. 2

1/25/22, 8:50 PM The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo written by himself, containing a true an…
Besides all this, Cortes sent refreshments for these monks to everystage along their route,
and wrote most affectionate letters to them.When they had arrived within a short distance
from Mexico, Corteshimself, accompanied by father Olmedo, and the whole of his brave
officers and men, went out to meet them; as also Quauhtemoctzin, lordof Mexico, with the
most distinguished Mexicans, and a great number of other caziques from the principal
townships. As soon as we beheldthese pious men, Cortes and all the rest of us dismounted,
and walked up to them; and the first who went down on his knees before Francisco de
Valencia was our general himself; but when he was going to kissthe reverend father's hand,
the latter would not allow him, and Cortesthen only kissed his cowl.
The meeting between father Olmedo and the newly-arrived was of the most affectionate
kind, and they embraced each other most heartily; then we officers and soldiers, with
Quauhtemoctzin, andthe other caziques, likewise knelt down before them, and kissed their
garments.
Cortes' respectful conduct towards these monks made a deep andastonishing impression on
the Mexican monarch, and the other grandeesof the country; and it served as an excellent
precept to all Indians,when they beheld the man whom they almost feared, and revered as a
god, humble himself before these religious men, and stand in theirpresence with his head
uncovered. In the presence of men who came without any covering to their feet, their
garments of the meanest kind, their appearance altogether poverty stricken, and their
countenances emaciated, besides that they came on foot, and not on horseback; all this
amazed the Indians, who ever after throughout the whole country paid the greatest
veneration to these men.
Our reverend guests were quartered in a house which had been purposelyprepared for their
reception; and father Olmedo, at the desireof Cortes, acted as their host.
About four years afterwards twelve other monks of the Dominican order arrived in New
Spain, with their provincial or prior, fatherThomas Ortiz, a native of Biscay, and who had
been prior in a cloisternear Punta del Drago, but unfortunately he and his companions were
unable to bear the hot climate; for they all fell ill, and most of themdied; however, I will
relate these circumstances more fully in theproper place. Subsequently several other very
pious and excellent men of this same order arrived from Spain, who were particularly
assiduous in their endeavours to convert the Indians of Guatimalato Christianity.
[Pg 223]
With all this, Cortes' mind was never at ease, and he constantlyapprehended that the bishop
of Burgos and the agents of Diego Velasquezwould renew their complaints against him to
his majesty, or injure himin some way or other; and as his father, with Diego de Ordas, sent
him the most favorable account of their progress in settling the preliminariesof marriage
between himself and Doña Juana de Zunniga,he considered it would be great policy on his
part to send all the goldhe could possibly collect to Spain, partly to convince the duke of
Bejar of the riches he possessed, and of the magnitude of his conquests,but particularly to
ingratiate himself further with his majesty to obtain additional honours and favours from
him.
[Pg 224]
CHAPTER CLXXII.
How Cortes sends his majesty 30,000 pesos worth of gold, with anaccount of
the conversion of the Indians, the rebuilding of the city ofMexico, and of the
expedition of Christobal de Oli to the Honduras;also how the vessel which
conveyed this gold at the same time carriedsecret letters to Spain, written by
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