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…
Cortes then turned his attention to those who daily went out a fishing,and found they were
mostly natives of Palos, Moguer, Triana,or other coast towns, which were celebrated for
producing capital sailors. All these persons were commanded under threats of severe
punishment, to enter without delay upon the service of the brigantines.Many, indeed, who
were men of noble birth, remonstrated with ourgeneral, and told him, it was insulting to
think of setting them to such work; but Cortes paid no respect to persons, and by these
meanshe mustered one hundred and fifty capital oars, who indeed had betterdays of it than
we who had to fight on the causeways, and obtained amuch greater share of booty than we
did, as will be sufficiently seenhereafter.
As soon as each brigantine was fully equipped for war, Cortes ordereda flag, bearing the
royal arms, to be hoisted; and a second one,bearing the number of the vessel. The following
were the commandersappointed: viz. Pedro Barba, Garcia Holguin, Juan de Limpias, the
deaf Carvajal, Juan Xaramillo, Geronimo de la Mota, the otherCarvajal, who now lives at
an advanced age in the street San Francisco;a certain Portillo, an excellent soldier, who had
just arrived from Spain and had brought a beautiful wife with him. The naval captain
Zamora, who lives at present in Guaxaca. A certain Colmero, whowas both a good sailor
and a good soldier. Further, Lerma, Gines,Nortes, Briones of Salamanca, Miguel Diaz de
Auz, and one otherofficer, whose name has slipped my memory.
[Pg 59]
The whole of the crews were strictly enjoined to pay implicit obedience to their
commanders; and any one who left his vessel was liableto severe punishment. The several
commanders then received theirparticular instructions as to the manner in which they were
to cooperatewith the land forces.
All these matters had just been arranged when Cortes received intelligence that the
Tlascallan chiefs were marching with a large body oftroops, consisting of Tlascallans and
Huexotzincans. The chief commandof these had been intrusted to the younger Xicotencatl,
the same who commanded against us in our battles with Tlascalla. He was likewise
accompanied by his two brothers, the two younger sons of theexcellent Don Lorenzo de
Vargas. One of the chiefs of Cholulla likewisemade his appearance, but with a very small
body of men; for,though the Cholullans had broken off their alliance with Mexico fromthe
time we had punished them so severely, yet they never stood uponthe best of terms with us;
on the contrary, they appeared as if waitingto see how matters would terminate, and then to
side with the triumphantparty. After our direful retreat from Mexico, they werealmost upon
the point of declaring against us.
When Cortes was informed of Xicotencatl's approach, who had comea day before the time
appointed, he went out with Alvarado and severalother officers to a distance of about a mile
from Tezcuco, and welcomed him and his brothers with every demonstration of joy.
Xicotencatl,with his men, marched forward in the best order, and all were accoutredin their
best garments. Every company had a standard, on which wasembroidered a white bird with
expanded wings, being the arms ofTlascalla, and resembled an eagle. Every one of the men
had a bunch ofplumes stuck on his head; they struck up their war music, waved theirflags,
and continually cried out, "Long live the emperor, our master!Spain for ever! Tlascalla for
ever!"
It took these troops about three hours before they had all enteredthe town, and our general
ordered them to be provided with goodquarters, and the best food we could get. When they
had all enteredthe town, he once more bid them heartily welcome, assuring them hewould
enrich them all, and then desired them to rest from their fatigues,adding, that he would let
them know the next day the duty they wouldhave to perform.
[Pg 60]
Almost at the very moment these Tlascallans were marching intoTezcuco, a letter was put
into Cortes' hands from Hernando de Barrientos, who was at Chinantla, about 360 miles
from Mexico. Barrientosrelated that, while he was exploring the mines, being left behind
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