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…
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.
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