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…
obliging and friendlyterms, requesting of him at the same time to state along which road he
intended journeying to Mexico, in order that he might make thenecessary preparations for
his reception at the different stages alonghis route.
The licentiate, in reply to this letter, returned Cortes the most sincerethanks for his kind
wishes, saying he was desirous of staying a fewdays where he was, to rest from the fatigues
of the sea voyage.
While staying at Medellin, various accusations were brought againstCortes, both by letter
and word of mouth, as the latter had manyenemies at Medellin, composed partly of those
who had accompaniedhim on the expedition to the Honduras, partly of those who had been
previously banished from Panuco; besides which, there were severaldiscontented persons in
Mexico, who would gladly have worked outour general's ruin. Here, it was said, Cortes was
hastening to bringthe trial of the factor and the veedor to a close, before the licentiateLeon
should arrive. The latter had better be upon his guard; forCortes, with his courteous and
flattering sentences, only wished to learnfrom him by which road he intended journeying to
Mexico, in order to put him to death by some means or other. The same artifice he had
employed against Narvaez and Garay. Further, they assured Leon thatCortes had sacrificed
the lives of a considerable number of Spanishtroops, and of above 3000 Mexicans, in the
expedition to the Honduras;that he had left there Diego de Godoy, one of his officers, with
thirtySpaniards, all suffering from ill health; the whole of whom hadsince perished. This
we found indeed to be a fact. They then begged of the licentiate Leon to leave all other
considerations, to hasten toMexico, and to remember what had befallen Narvaez, Garay,
and Tapia, to whom Cortes likewise made every show of respect and affection, but had,
some how or other, obliged them to return home again withoutaccomplishing their object.
In short, they calumniated our general inevery possible manner, and actually succeeded in
persuading Leon thatCortes would not listen to his commission.
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The licentiate was accompanied by several cavaliers, among whomwere the alguacil-mayor
Proaño of Cordoba and his brother, Salazarde Petraza, who came with the appointment of
alcalde of the fortifications of Mexico, but he died shortly after of pleurisy; further, the
bachelor or licentiate Marcos de Aguilar, a soldier of the name ofBocanegra of Cordoba,
and several monks of the order of the Dominicians, with their provincial father Thomas
Ortiz, who had been forseveral years prior of some cloister, but I forgot where; however,
everyone was of opinion that he was better suited for business than for a religiouslife. With
these personages Leon held a consultation as to whetherhe should proceed immediately to
Mexico or not; and they were unanimouslyof opinion that he should repair thither without
delay.
The licentiate accordingly set out on his journey, and arrived inIztapalapan when Cortes
was about to despatch other couriers withletters and refreshments to him. Here, however,
he met with a mostsplendid reception, and a sumptuous banquet was prepared for him, at
which Andreas de Tapia figured as master of the ceremonies. Ponce de Leon enjoyed
himself very much at table, and was perfectly astonishedwhen fresh cream and cheese were
also handed to him. He and the cavaliers who accompanied him eat so heartily of these
dainties, that several of them were obliged to leave the table, having been seized with
sudden pains in their bowels. Although the others felt not the slightesteffects of the cream,
father Thomas Ortiz instantly declared it had beenpoisoned, and that he would take good
care not to touch it. The othergentlemen, however, who sat at table declared that he had
stuffed downas much of it as any of them; but as Tapia had been master of theceremonies
on this occasion, the newly-arrived guests declared that allwas not right.
Cortes himself was not present at this banquet in Iztapalapan, buthad remained in Mexico,
where a rumour was soon spread that he hadimmediately forwarded to Leon a considerable
present of gold bars.Whether there was any truth in this I cannot say, though many persons
positively asserted there was no truth in it.
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