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

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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… he threw out against us, of there being plenty ofsoldiers in Spain, we, in our turn, could remind him that there werealso numbers of governors and celebrated captains in Mexico at present,who would be too happy to receive us, and to return our Indiansto us; wherefore we were not exactly dependent on his kind considerations. With this letter Sandoval set out for Truxillo, accompanied by Pedrode Sauzedo the snubnose, and Francisco Donaire the blacksmith. WhenSandoval was mounting his motilla, he made a solemn oath that he would do all in his power to persuade Cortes to embark for Mexico. [Pg 292] Since I have mentioned Sandoval's motilla, I may as well take theopportunity of saying a few words of this splendid horse. This animalwas remarkably well trained for the field of battle, was of a dark chesnut colour, and so exquisitely beautiful in its proportions, that there wasnothing to equal it in New Spain. The fame of this horse was so great,that it even reached the ears of the emperor, which induced Sandovalto present it to his majesty. While I am speaking about horses, Iremember that Sandoval once offered to exchange one of his horses formine, which was likewise a powerful and well-trained animal; indeedI had paid Avalos, the brother of Saavedra, 600 pesos for it, after Ihad lost a former one in our attack upon the township of Zulaco, forwhich I had paid a similar sum. I took Sandoval's offer, and we madean exchange; but I had scarcely done so, when it was killed in anengagement. I had now only a miserable young colt left, which Ipurchased from the merchants who had put into Truxillo with the twovessels above mentioned. Sandoval, before his departure, addressed us in the most affectionateterms, and appointed Luis Marin chief in command during his absence.We quartered ourselves in the Marayani townships, and afterwards in the large township of Acalteca, where we were to await Sandoval's return. When Cortes had read our letter, he appeared greatly perplexed, particularly as he had sent out all his troops under his cousinSaavedra against the Indians, who had risen up in arms, and refusedall further obedience to him. Sandoval, with Pedro Sauzedo, andfather Juan, who likewise longed to return to Mexico, might say whatthey liked; it was all to no purpose; our general obstinately refusedto embark. CHAPTER CLXXXVIII. How Cortes despatches one of his servants, named Martin de Orantes to Mexico, with letters to Francisco de las Casas and Pedro de Alvarado, in which he empowers them to take upon themselves the chief government of New Spain; but in case they were absent he conferred the same power on Estrada and Albornoz. As Cortes could not be persuaded to embark in person for NewSpain, but was determined to continue the colonization of the countryabout Truxillo, although he could do no more than he had done, Sandoval and he at length agreed to despatch to Mexico one of the officers of his household, named Martin de Orantes, a remarkablyshrewd and clever man, who might have been intrusted with businessof the greatest importance. This Orantes was furnished with papersby Cortes, in which he gave Pedro de Alvarado and Francisco de las Casas, if they were in Mexico, full power to take upon themselves thechief government of New Spain until Cortes' return thither. If, however, they were not staying there, then he conferred this power on the treasurer Alonso de Estrada, and the accountant Albornoz. Cortes, atthe same time, deprived the factor and veedor of any share in the government,and wrote very friendly letters both to Estrada and Albornoz,although he was well aware how the latter had calumniated him to his majesty. He likewise sent letters to all those of the [Pg 293] https://www.gutenberg.org/files/32475/32475-h/32475-h.htm 194/282
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… Conquistadoreswhom he knew favoured his party. Orantes himself took the chiefcommand of the vessel which was to convey him, and he was instructed to run into a certain bay which lay between Vera Cruz and Panuco.No one was to go on shore but Orantes, and the vessel was instantlyto return when he had landed, to which the pilot and sailors werebound down by a solemn oath, and richly remunerated, that theymight not be induced to break it. The best of the three vessels lying in the harbour was fitted out forthis purpose, and after Orantes, with all the crew had attended mass, he set sail with a favorable wind. The Almighty prospered this voyage so greatly that the vessel arrived in the bay determined upon, and Orantes, according to his instructions, immediately disembarked.After he had offered up his prayers to Heaven for his safe arrival, hedisguised himself in the dress of a labourer, and so set out on foot forMexico. He had taken the great precaution to conceal his papersnext to his skin, and as he was an excellent pedestrian he soon reachedsome Indian townships, where also a few Spaniards were staying, whom he avoided as much as he possibly could, that he might not be recognizedby them. Now and then, indeed, he could not help coming upwith a Spaniard, yet they did not recognize him, as he had been absent for two years and three months, in which time he had allowed hisbeard to grow. If any one asked him who he was and whence he came, he told them, that his name was Juan de Flechilla, and that he was a poor labourer. By this means he passed through the country without being recognized, and he made so much haste that he arrived in Mexico on the fourth day after landing. It was in the night-time he entered the town, and he instantly repaired to the cloister of theFranciscans, where he found a considerable number of Cortes' friends,who had sought refuge there from the factor's persecutions. Of thesethe principal personages were Jorge de Alvarado, Andreas de Tapia, Juan Nuñez de Mercado, Pedro Moreno Medrano, and several other ofthe veteran Conquistadores. [Pg 294] As soon as these men recognized Orantes, and learnt from himthat Cortes was alive and had despatched him with letters to them,they were almost overcome with joy, and jumped about the room as if they had been out of their senses. Even the Franciscan monks themselves,with brother Toribio Motolinia, and brother Domingo Altamirano,danced about the room with delight, and offered up fervent thanks to God for this good news. All the doors of the cloister were immediatelyfastened and no one allowed egress, as there were several personsamong them who were not to be trusted. About the hour of midnightthe treasurer Estrada and the accountant Albornoz were sent for,besides several other of Cortes' adherents, the whole of whom hastened to the cloister in all secrecy. The commissions which Orantes hadbrought were read aloud, and all present were unanimously of opinion that their first step must be to seize the factor's person. The whole night was spent in deliberations and letting into the secret those in whom they could place confidence; the necessary arms were got inreadiness, and early in the morning a sudden attack was to be madeupon the factor's palace. Fortunately, the veedor was still stationedwith the troops in Coatlan, so that they had not much opposition to fear. As soon as daylight appeared the whole of Cortes' adherents sallied forth in a body from the cloister, accompanied by Orantes, thatevery one might see him, and they hastened off to the factor's abode,under the cry of: "Long live the emperor, and in his imperial nameHernando Cortes, who is still alive and will shortly arrive in person! I, his servant Orantes, have come to announce his approach." The inhabitants, hearing this sudden alarm so early in the morning,flew as usual to arms, imagining their aid was required in the name of his majesty; and scarcely had they recognized Orantes, and heard that Cortes was alive, when they joined Estrada in great numbers. The accountant Albornoz, however, though Cortes had appointed him joint governor with the former, evinced very little zeal in this matter; thesteps which had been taken did not seem to meet with his approbation,and he expressed himself in so dubious a manner that Estrada was obliged to put him in mind of a few circumstances which soon brought him to his proper senses. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/32475/32475-h/32475-h.htm 195/282
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The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo Vol. 2

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