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…
Montanes; a number of performerson the sackbut, clarion, and dulcimer; lastly, a buffoon
and ajuggler, who likewise entertained the men with puppet-shows; further,he took with
him a large herd of swine, in order that the troops mighthave a constant supply of fresh
meat on their march. Besides the numbers of Indians which accompanied the several
caziques, a body of3000 Mexican warriors were also joined to this army.
Just as Cortes was about to commence his march from Mexico, thefactor Salazar and the
veedor Chirinos, who were both hurt and disappointedthat Cortes had not thought proper to
give them any particular appointment during the time he would be absent, urged on the
licentiate Zuazo and Rodrigo de Paz, besides all the veteran Conquistadores and Cortes'
intimate friends who remained behind in the metropolis, earnestly to dissuade him from
leaving Mexico, and not to intrust thegovernment of the country to other hands, as there
was not the leastdoubt but that the whole of New Spain would revolt in his absence.These
representations occasioned much debate between both parties;but as Cortes abided by the
resolution he had taken, the factor and veedor begged of him to allow them, at least, to
accompany him toGuacasualco, through which his march lay, and so far to accept oftheir
services.
Cortes thus left Mexico [45*] at the head of his army, and took the roadleading to the lastmentioned
province. The splendour with which hewas received in every township he came
to, and the festivities which tookplace in his honour, were really astonishing. On his march
he was alsojoined by fifty men who had but recently arrived from Spain, all light-hearted
extravagant young fellows.
In order that his troops might not be detained on the road for wantof provisions, and to
procure these the more readily, he divided his army into two bodies, which marched by
different routes to Guacasualco. Immediately about his person were Sandoval, the factor
and the veedor,who vied with each other in their attentions to him; but none of themcarried
their politeness so far as the factor, who, whenever he addressed Cortes, bowed himself
almost double, with his head uncovered, and took every opportunity, under the most
flattering assurances of his devoted attachment, to dissuade him from this tedious and
perilous expedition,and summoned to his aid all the subtlety of rhetoric in representing to
him the evils that might ensue from it, and the little advantage he could gain. He would
often sing out, when riding along at the sideof Cortes:
[Pg 236]
Turn back, dear uncle, turn back;
Dear uncle, turn back!
To this Cortes likewise replied, in a singing tone of voice:
Forward, nephew; forward, nephew;
Let not omens dishearten you;
The will of God it must be done;
Forward, nephew; forward, nephew!
When the division which was commanded by Cortes himself arrivedin the neighbourhood
of Orizaba, the property of the squinting Ojedo, Doña Marina was married to Juan
Xaramillo, and the hymeneal knotwas solemnly tied in presence of witnesses.
The army now marched further on towards the extensive townshipof Guazaltepec, which
was comprised in the commendary of Sandoval.From this place we received intelligence in
Guacasualco of Cortes' approach,and the whole of us officers and distinguished personages
ofthe town, with the alcaldes, regidors, and all the chief authorities, immediatelymarched
out, and we advanced about 132 miles into the country to receive our general. This was
done with such zeal on ourpart as if we were each going to receive some large benefice;
and Imerely mention this circumstance to show the reader how much Corteswas esteemed
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/32475/32475-h/32475-h.htm 158/282