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…
if historians relate of the imperator and celebratedgeneral Julius Cæsar, that he fought fiftythree
battles, I may say thatI fought in many more battles than Julius Cæsar, as may be seen
frommy narrative. Historians also say of Julius Cæsar how courageous hewas, and always
ready for battle at a moment's notice, and how hedevoted his nights in writing down his
valorous deeds with his ownhand; for though there were numbers of historians, he would
not trusthis fame in their hands. It should therefore be no matter of surpriseto any one,
when I mention a few words about myself, in describing thebattles at which I was present,
that future generations may say: this Bernal Diaz del Castillo wrote, in order that his
children and descendantsmight share in the praise of his heroic deeds, in the same way as
the fame of those heroes of old has been handed down in their escutcheonsto their latest
posterity.
I will not, however, say anything further on this head; for what Ihave already said will not
be relished by malice and envy, who will beof opinion that I have praised myself too much.
What I have said ofmyself has, so to say, happened but yesterday, and not centuries ago,as
the exploits of the Romans. There are still sufficient of the Conquistadoresliving to confirm
what I have related. If they found anyuntruths, or even any obscure passage, they would not
allow it to passunnoticed. However, it is so in the world; malice always malignstruth. I will
now enumerate in their regular order all the battles atwhich I was present, from the first
discovery of New Spain, down to thepacification of the whole country, in order that the
reader may have a short and clear view of them all at once; however, there were many
hostilerencontres at which I was not present, either because I was woundedor knocked up
with fatigue, or while the provinces were so numerous,that we were obliged to march out
against them in different bodies.
The first was the pretty sharp conflict at the Punta de Cotoche, duringmy first voyage of
discovery, under Cordoba. Next followed the severebattle at Champoton, where we lost the
half of our troops; I myself was dangerously wounded, and our captain had two severe
wounds, ofthe consequences of which he died.
On our return to Cuba, when we landed on the coast of Florida insearch of water, we had
another sharp conflict, in which I was wounded,and one of our men was carried off alive by
the Indians.
In the expedition under Grijalva, we fought a second battle inChampoton, on the same spot;
ten of our men were killed, and Grijalvahimself wounded.
In the third expedition under Cortes, I was present at the followingengagements:
The two battles on the Tabasco, subsequently called the river Grijalva.
The battle of Tzinpantzinco.
A few days after, the three pitched battles against the Tlascallans.
The conspiracy and chastisement of the inhabitants of Cholulla.
[Pg 404]
Entrance into Mexico, and seizure of the person of Motecusuma. Ido not count this exactly
among the battles, yet it was a bold step totake so mighty a cazique prisoner.
[Pg 405]
The great victory over Narvaez, whose troops amounted to nearly1400; we were only 226
in number.
On our return to Mexico, to the relief of Alvarado, we were attackedby the whole armed
force of Mexico. The battles continue, without intermission, for eight days and nights. I
will, however, say, that Ionly fought six battles during this time. We lost 860 of our troops.
The battle of Otumpan, and that in our expedition to the provinceof Tepeaca.
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